The prefecture and county system is a two-level local management and administrative system that emerged after the patriarchal clan system and blood enfeoffment system in ancient China. It broke the patriarchal blood political relationship of the enfeoffment system. The establishment of prefectures and counties strengthened the centralization of power and improved the administrative efficiency of the country.
The characteristics of prefecture and county system
The prefecture and county system broke the patriarchal and blood political relationship of the enfeoffment system. The local government is absolutely subordinate to the central government. Prefectural and county officials are appointed by the emperor and have a certain term of office. They break the hereditary system of official positions and establish the bureaucratic system. The prefecture and county system weakened the local political power. The strengthening of the centralized system ensured the autocratic rule of the feudal monarchy.
The prefecture and county system is the embodiment of the ancient centralized system in the local political power. It was initiated in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and after the reform of Qin Shihuang, it officially became the local political system after the Qin and Han Dynasties.
Influence of County System
1. The centralization of power has been strengthened. After the implementation of the prefecture and county system, the prefectures and county magistrates were directly appointed and removed by the emperor, and could not be hereditary. The system of prefectures and counties effectively strengthened the centralization of the monarchy, which was conducive to political stability and economic development.
2. Broke the situation of separatism. The prefecture and county system fundamentally denied the enfeoffment system. The enfeoffment system was a system of enfeoffment of princes and nobles implemented by the Zhou Dynasty. They had their own military power and administrative power, so it was easy to cause the local government to disobey the central government. The implementation of the prefecture and county system effectively broke the situation of enfeoffment and separatism since the Western Zhou Dynasty.
3. The administrative efficiency has been improved. The prefectures and counties system can realize the supervision from top to bottom, so that the central decree can be more smoothly implemented to the most basic level, ensuring the uniformity of the decree.
4. It has laid a foundation for provinces and cities. The system of prefectures and counties in the Qin and Han dynasties replaced the system of enfeoffment in the Zhou Dynasty, which not only played a role in safeguarding national unity at that time, but also laid a solid foundation for the local administrative system in 2000.
The Historical Significance of County System
In terms of politics, the prefecture and county system proposed the title of emperor. The emperor held all the power of the country, especially the military power, and the "family under heaven" hereditary emperor system was followed by the rulers of successive dynasties, which ran through the whole feudal society of China.
In terms of economy, the prefecture and county system implemented the private ownership of land, protected the interests of the landlord class, promoted the organizational development of social production, and was the guarantee of the country's abundant financial income, but it also increased the tax burden of the people. The unification of currency and weights and measures facilitates the exchange of goods and materials among the people, while the unification of vehicle tracks and the construction of channels facilitate people's travel.
In terms of culture, the use of Xiaozhuan as a national character is conducive to the integration of the cultures of various kingdoms during the Warring States Period. Strengthen the unity of thought and ensure the development of national harmony and unity.
