Censorate

During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Censorate was a branch of the centralized bureaucracy, paralleling the Six Ministries and the five Chief Military Commissions and was directly responsible to emperor. They were "the eyes and ears" of the emperor and checked administrators at each level to prevent corruption and misdoings, a common feature of that period. There are stories told about righteous censors revealing corruption as well as censors who accepted bribes. Generally speaking, they were feared and disliked and hence they constantly had to move around to perform their duties.

See also

• Three Departments and Six Ministries
• Grand Secretariat

Notes

References

• Li, Konghuai (2007). History of Administrative Systems in Ancient China. Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd..
• Lu, Simian (2008). The General History of China. New World Publishing.
• Wang, Yü-Ch'üan (1949). "An Outline of The Central Government of The Former Han Dynasty". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 12 (1/2): 134–187.