A Study On The Selection And Appointment Of Civil Officials In Taiwan In Qing Dynasty

Taiwan is located in the front line of China’s coastal areas and serves as a barrier to the southeast coastal provinces.In July of the twenty-second year of Kangxi’s reign(1683),the Qing government succeeded in reclaiming Taiwan.Subsequently,it set up administrative districts and sent officials to Taiwan,which began its reign in Taiwan for more than 200 years.Selecting and appointing civil officials with good conduct and outstanding abilities was an important guarantee for the Qing government to maintain the stability of Taiwan and improve its governance effect on Taiwan.Therefore,the Qing government attached great importance to the selection and appointment of civil officials in Taiwan.With the adjustment of administrative divisions in Taiwan in Qing Dynasty,the civil service system in Taiwan experienced three stages of evolution.After the establishment of "one government and three counties" in the 23 rd year of Kangxi(1684),Taiwan initially established a civil service system.After the first year of Guangxu(1875),the Qing government successively added Taibei Prefecture and four counties of Hengchun,Hsinchu,Danshui and Yilan,and the administrative division pattern of Taiwan was transformed into "two prefectures,eight counties and four departments".During the process of adding new officials and eliminating old ones,the number of civil officials at all levels in Taiwan was expanded,and the nature of some subordinate officials also changed.In the thirteenth year of Guangxu(1885),Taiwan was established as a province,and a "provincial" level of civil officials was added to Taiwan’s civil service system.It can be seen that with the change of local administrative divisions,the civil service system in Taiwan evolved gradually,reflecting the development process of the Qing government’s management of Taiwan.In order to ensure the selection of suitable civil officials,the Qing government established a distinctive mechanism for selecting civil officials in Taiwan.In terms of the selection basis,in view of the special natural environment of Taiwan "far away from the ocean" and the complex social situation of the coexistence of the Han and the Han,the Qing government regarded the lack of characters of civil officials at all levels in Taiwan as the overseas need.In the way of selection,the use of the governor,the topic of the way to choose.Judging from the actual selection and appointment of civil officials such as Taoist officials in Taiwan,the selection and appointment mechanism of civil officials in Taiwan can basically guarantee smooth operation.After receiving the appointment notice,Taiwan civil officials in the Qing Dynasty had to accept the summons of the emperor before going to Taiwan.In addition,the Qing government also had some special regulations for Taiwan officials to go to Taiwan,including bringing their relatives on the way to their posts,following the emperor,the time limit for the transition to Taiwan,and the probation period and formal tenure after their appointment.As Taiwan’s social situation changes,regulations are often adjusted.To sum up,the selection and appointment of civil officials in Taiwan in the Qing Dynasty has always been attached great importance by the central government.The Qing Court appointed and appointed a lot of special civil officials.Like other civil officials at all levels,they participated in Taiwan’s local affairs,developed local education,and consolidated Taiwan’s coastal defense.They made great contributions to promoting the process of "Fujian and Taiwan integration",strengthening the ties between Fujian and Taiwan,maintaining the central government’s administration over Taiwan,and promoting Taiwan’s development.A situation that endangers Taiwan officials.