The System of the Vice Chief of the Three Sheng and the Privy Council Holding a Concurrent Post and Its Operation in the Southern Song Dynasty
Facing the turmoil of war in the early Southern Song Dynasty and based on the experience of the prime minister serving as the Shumishi in the Northern Song Dynasty,the Southern Song Dynasty appointed the Vice-Premier and the top two executive posts holders in the Privy Council to act in each other's role to solve the military and political problems during the war.After the agreement of the Song and Jin,this wartime measure shifted to a conventional system.The power of the assisting ministers concurrently holding other posts would be influenced by factors such as the talent of the person in charge,the ruling style of prime minister,and the degree of trust from the emperor,and its power was in a dynamic evolution.With the joint meetings of two governments and the prime minister concurrently serving as the Shumishi becoming a fixed system,and the frequent occurrence of the assisting ministers concurrently holding other posts,this system became more mature.It represented the streamlining of the number of ruling officials.On one hand,it enhanced decision-making efficiency and strengthened the relationship between the two governments;on the other hand,the reduction in the number of central ruling officials leaded to a more centralized power,objectively stimulating the authoritarian system of powerful premiers.The formation of the concurrent system had a profound impact on the political situation of the Southern Song Dynasty,making the trend of the central institution combining military and political affairs more apparent.
The Southern Song DynastyThree ShengPrivy CouncilVice ChiefSystem of Serving Concurrently
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