Disadvantages of Bureaucracy in Ancient China

Feudal bureaucrats in China kept governmental power entirely in their own hands, often using it as a tool to dominate society. As a result, the ills of bureaucracy (corruption, inefficiency, and red tape) were more serious under an authoritarian system.

The mechanism of selecting officials in the feudal bureaucracy was bound to cause drawbacks due to its inability to overcome chronic problems. In terms of the quality of the officials, the election system under the feudal bureaucracy inevitably failed to ensure the quality of the officials. Caiju system in the selection and evaluation of power in the hands of individuals, easy to become a tool for officials to self-serving and party; the imperial examination system, although objective, but the content of the examination is a formality, and the specific administration of no connection; grace shade, donations is the cradle of official corruption, collusion between business and the Government. From the amount of officials, spit out the old stagnant, more than new, will inevitably result in redundant officials. Absorption of a large number of officials for three reasons, one is the royal family said that the feudal officials as a gift, the use of large; Second, the treasury is tight when the phenomenon of selling officials prominent; Third, the central government in order to control the local, and constantly set up new checks and balances institutions, overlapping responsibilities of the officials. In terms of spitting, since retirement in ancient times relied on officials taking the initiative to bring up the issue, those who coveted positions of power were greedy for their salaries and misrepresented their age. This essence is because ancient official positions were a combination of fame, profit and power. If bureaucrats were only a position, the situation of redundant officials would not have arisen. Bureaucrats gained more benefits outside of their positions due to their status. As the power to enter the bureaucratic hierarchy is constantly assigned to officials as a kind of salary, redundant officials also appear. Once redundant officials emerge, any reforms to reduce the bureaucratic establishment will be detrimental to vested interests and thus always end in failure.