What were the main political systems in early ancient China?

The abdication system refers to the system of democratic election of leaders by tribal alliances at the end of primitive society in China. The hereditary system of the throne means that in class society, the throne (or throne) can be passed down from generation to generation (the hereditary system lasted until the Qing Dynasty and lasted for nearly 4,000 years).

It is a historical progress that the hereditary system of the throne replaces the abdication system; Because the hereditary system of the throne is the result of the development of productive forces, private ownership and class opposition.

2. Patriarchal system

The patriarchal clan system of the Western Zhou royal family is a political system that is mutually exclusive to the feudal system. It evolved directly from the patriarchal clan system in primitive society, and has the method of defining the internal clan system to determine and consolidate the position of paternal parents in this clan, thus ensuring the stability of kingship.

The main contents of the patriarchal clan system in the Western Zhou Dynasty (that is, its characteristics): First, the biggest feature of the patriarchal clan system is the eldest son inheritance system. Second, the relative distinction between large and small cases is stipulated. Third, the patriarchal clan system is reflected in the political system by the enfeoffment system.

3. Authoritarian system

From the Qin Dynasty, the emperor became the title of the supreme ruler in ancient China, which was used by feudal dynasties. The national military and political power belongs to the emperor, and the main officials of the central and local governments are also appointed and removed by the emperor. Certificates for mobilizing troops were controlled and issued by the emperor.

The emperor system initiated by Qin Shihuang, on the one hand, shows that power cannot be transferred by hereditary throne, on the other hand, shows that the supremacy of imperial power cannot exceed its position. This is an important feature of China's ancient autocratic system.

Extended data

The manifestations of ancient autocratic system;

1, abolish the prime minister system

The prime minister of Yuan Dynasty had great power, unstable imperial power and frequent civil strife. Ming Taizu followed the Yuan Dynasty system in the early Ming Dynasty and thought that the prime minister system hindered the high concentration of imperial power and would lead to social unrest. 1376, Ming Taizu abolished the Ministry of Banking and established "three departments", which were subordinate to the relevant departments of the central government respectively, so that local power was centralized in the central government.

Conducive to preventing autocratic ministers and consolidating rule; Contribute to the unification and consolidation of multi-ethnic countries; China's prime minister system, which has been implemented for more than 1000 years since the Qin Dynasty, was abolished, and the emperor integrated imperial power and relative power, lacking the mechanism to restrict monarchical power, and the autocratic monarchy was further strengthened; However, the abolition of the prime minister and the excessive concentration of the emperor's power caused the confusion of eunuchs after the middle of the Ming Dynasty.

2, the emergence of the cabinet

Ming Taizu, as an adviser to the squire, set up the Diange University to help him deal with all kinds of government affairs. These college students seldom participate in politics, and all major events are still presided over by Ming Taizu himself. During the Emperor's reign of the Ming Dynasty, imperial academy officials were selected as university students in the palace, entered the Wenyuan Pavilion in the palace, served the emperor, and began to participate in the decision-making of confidential affairs, resulting in the emergence of the "Cabinet".

During the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty, the cabinet university students had the right to draft the throne for the emperor. Later, the position of the cabinet became more and more perfect. By the middle and late Ming dynasty, he actually mastered the power of the prime minister. When Zhang was appointed as the records, all the power went to the cabinet, and six departments almost became subordinate institutions of the cabinet.

The cabinet of the Ming Dynasty was not a statutory administrative or decision-making body at the central level, but a Chamberlain institution that advised the emperor. Cabinet is the product of the strengthening of autocratic monarchy, and it is impossible to restrict imperial power.

3. Establishment of military departments.

In the early Qing dynasty, the central institutions generally adopted the Ming dynasty system and six cabinets. However, the highest decision-making and central organization is the Council of Ministers, whose power is above the cabinet and six ministries, which greatly restricts the imperial power.

Emperor Kangxi established the south study room, which made the cabinet, the meeting and the south study room stand in three pillars and strengthened the imperial power. In Yong Zhengdi, in order to deal with the northwest military affairs, a military department was set up, and the military affairs minister was summoned by the emperor every day and knelt down to take notes. Military affairs are entirely decided by the emperor, and the role of the Minister of Military Affairs is only to upload and issue orders.

In this way, local military and political leaders actually obey the emperor's orders directly. The establishment of the military department has improved administrative efficiency and can quickly handle various documents; The national military and political power is completely concentrated in the hands of the emperor, the absolute monarchy has been strengthened, and centralization has been further consolidated; It is the product of the high expansion of imperial power, and marks the peak of centralization of feudal monarchy in China.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-political system