Censorate

{{Short description|Former Chinese imperial agency monitoring and investigating officials}}

{{Chinese |altname=Pre-Ming |t2={{linktext|御|史|臺}} |s2={{linktext|御|史|台}} |l2=Terrace of Imperial Scribes/historians |p2=Yùshǐ Tái |w2=Yü4-shih3 t'ai2 |altname3=Ming, Qing |c3={{linktext|都|察|院}} |p3=Dūchá Yuàn |w3=Tu1-ch'a2 Yüan4 |l3=Metropolitan/Chief/General Inspection Court |qn=Đô sát viện |chuhan=都察院 }}

The '''Censorate''' was a high-level supervisory agency in Imperial China, first established during the Qin dynasty (221–207 BC).<ref>{{cite journal | first=Deshu|last=Xue|first2=Xiuqian|last2=Qi|title=Research on Supervision System in Ancient China and Its Contemporary Reference|journal=Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research|volume=319|page=415|url=https://www.atlantis-press.com/article/125909155.pdf}}</ref> It was a highly effective agency during the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271–1368).{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} 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 the emperor.<ref>{{harvp|Hucker|1958|p= 49}}</ref> The investigating censors were "the eyes and ears" of the emperor and checked administrators at each level to prevent corruption and malfeasance, a common feature of that period. Popular stories told of righteous censors revealing corruption as well as censors who accepted bribes. Generally speaking, they were feared and disliked, and had to move around constantly to perform their duties.

== Internal structure == The Censorate was divided into three branches ({{lang|zh|院}}). * The Palace Branch ({{lang|zh|殿院}}) was responsible for monitoring the behavior of officials during audiences. It was staffed by '''in-palace enquiry censors''' ({{lang|zh|殿中侍御史}}). * The Admonishment Branch ({{lang|zh|台院}}) was responsible for monitoring the behavior of the emperor, to ensure that he did not make mistakes and remind him of his duties. It was staffed by '''enquiry censors''' ({{lang|zh|侍御史}}). {{anchor|Detection Branch|Monitor censor}} * The Detection Branch ({{lang|zh|察院}}) was responsible for monitoring the behavior of local officials. '''Monitor censors''' ({{lang|zh|監察御史}}) would tour the country in circuits to ensure the proper discharge of the functions of government and good performance of local officials.

== Vietnam == [[File:Đô sát viện ấn (都察院印).svg|thumb|right|Đô sát viện ấn (都察院印), the Great Seal of the Censorate of the Nguyễn dynasty.]]

During the Nguyễn dynasty a representative from the censorate served as a member of a government commission formed to create inscriptions for the 1 mạch cash coins.<ref name="ThierryInscriptions">{{cite web|url= https://www.academia.edu/3442454|title= The Confucian Message on Vietnamese Coins, A closer look at the Nguyễn dynasty's large coins with moral maxims », Numismatic Chronicle, 2011, pp. 367-406.|date=2011|accessdate=22 August 2019|author= François Thierry de Crussol (蒂埃里)|publisher= Academia.edu|language=en}}</ref>

== See also == {{Portal|China|History|Politics}} * Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party * Control Yuan (Republic of China) * National Supervisory Commission (People's Republic of China) * Three Departments and Six Ministries (Imperial China) ** Department of Chancellery ** Ministry of Personnel ** Ministry of Justice (imperial China)

== References == === Citations === {{Reflist}}

=== Sources === {{refbegin}} * {{cite journal |last=Hucker |first=Charles O. |date=December 1958 |title=Governmental Organization of The Ming Dynasty |journal=Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies |volume=21 |pages=1–66 |doi = 10.2307/2718619 |publisher = Harvard-Yenching Institute |jstor=2718619 }} * {{cite book |last= Li |first= Konghuai |title = History of Administrative Systems in Ancient China |publisher= Joint Publishing (H.K.) Co., Ltd. |year= 2007 |language = zh |isbn = 978-962-04-2654-4 }} * {{cite book |last= Lu |first= Simian |author-link= Lü Simian |title = The General History of China |publisher= New World Publishing |year= 2008 |language = zh |isbn = 978-7-80228-569-9 }} * {{cite journal |last=Wang |first=Yü-Ch'üan |date=June 1949 |title = An Outline of The Central Government of The Former Han Dynasty |journal = Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies |volume=12 |issue=1/2 |pages=134–187 |doi = 10.2307/2718206 |jstor=2718206 |publisher = Harvard-Yenching Institute }} {{refend}}

Category:Government of Imperial China Category:Government of the Ming dynasty Category:Government audit Category:Ancient Chinese censors