Regular Inventory,Sales,and National Governance in the Imperial Household Department in the Early Qing Dynasty
The Storage Office of the Six Stores supervised tax revenues and was the most important treasury of the Imperial Household Department.In 1728,a memorial approved quinquennial inspections and thereafter,the Imperial Household Department issued a list of officials to inspect the Six Stores.During the Qianlong reign,the Imperial Household Department continuously consolidated,improved,and innovated the system of routine inspections.During the inventory period,the disposal of waste and old items was gradually adjusted to five-year appraisals according to established regulations.In 1751,a memorial approved the transfer of inventory to Chongwenmen city gate for appraisals and sales.In the later period of the Qianlong reign,the Imperial Household Department was inclined to recruit merchants to appraise and bid on items,with a deadline for payments in silver.The silver that was obtained was handed over to the Storage Office of the Six Stores treasury,becoming one of the relatively fixed sources of funding for the Imperial Household Department.The routine inspection system of the Imperial Household Department had stability and continuity.It was approved in 1728,and continued until 1911.Finance is an important aspect of national governance.The establishment and development of the routine inventory system not only improved the financial management and supervision system of the Imperial Household Department,but also became an important measure for the emperor to rectify the royal finances and achieve national governance.
Qing Imperial Household DepartmentStorage Office of the Six Storesroutine inventoryappraisal of goodsnational governance
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