Textual Research on the Zhipin of Zuo Min Cao in the Western Jin Dynasty
It is generally accepted in the academic community that after being demoted,the position held by the Western Jin official Liu Bian ranked ninth in the Nine-rank system.But the record in Chuxueji on Liu Bian's being appointed as Zuomin Ling Shi after his demotion,provides us with another interpretation.Through textual research,it is found that Zuomin Ling Shi were a subset of Shangshu Ling Shi,reporting to Zuo Min Cao's main officer at Shangshu Tai,or the Secretariat.Zuo Min Cao's duty changed from overseeing construction to controlling household registration and concurrently managing construction affairs from the Han dynasty to the Western Jin Dynasty.Viewing from the available information,the position held by Liu Bian before his demotion-Tai Sipin Li was likely to be Shangshu Lang,which ranked sixth,or Shangshu Zuo You Cheng and Shangshu Du Ling Shi(Shangshu's assistant or deputy for administrative matters),which also ranked sixth,or even Shangshu Dianshi,which ranked seventh.After demotion,he served as Zuomin Ling Shi.Based on the obligations of his post,there is a high possibility that it is the eighth-ranking position Zhupu Lingshi recorded in Tongdian:J in Guanpin.
Nine-rank SystemLiu BianZuo Min CaoShangshu Ling ShiZuomin Ling Shi
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