Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2011, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (4): 1-28.

• Articles •     Next Articles

Between Heaven and Earth: Dual Accountability of Chinese Bureaucrats in East Han Dynasty

Author 1: Yu Xie, Institute for Social Research (ISR), University of Michigan, Peking University; Author 2:Miranda Brown, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan.   

  1. Author 1: Yu Xie, Institute for Social Research (ISR), University of Michigan, Peking University；
    Author 2:Miranda Brown, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan.
  • Online:2011-07-20 Published:2011-07-20
  • Contact: Author 1: Yu Xie, Institute for Social Research (ISR), University of Michigan, Peking University E-mail:yuxie@isr.umich.edu；
  • About author:作者1：谢宇密歇根大学社会学系，北京大学社会学系（Author 1: Yu Xie, Institute for Social Research (ISR), University of Michigan, Peking University ）Email: yuxie@isr.umich.edu； 作者2: 董慕达密歇根大学亚洲语言文化系 (Author 2:Miranda Brown, Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan)

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Abstract:

From Qin Dynasty up to Qing Dynasty, officials appointed by the central government in imperial China were not only beholden to their superiors but also acted as brokers for local interests. We characterize such a structural position as having “dual accountability.” Although the accountability to superiors is readily understandable within the Weberian framework of bureaucratic hierarchy, the reasons behind the local accountability needs an explanation. This paper attempts to explain how officials worked for their regional interests by analyzing the dual accountability in East Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). By investigating the larger contexts of the government structure, political ideology, and personnel system at the time, we have offered three explanations in the paperpractical necessity, “Confucian” ideology, and reputational mechanism, which have received some supportive empirical evidence from multiple sources, including the administrative records and inscriptions on ancient stelae. In addition, we question Weber’s analysis of the Chinese imperial governing system and present new ideas about the social rationality underlying an “inefficient” system that was in place for two millennia.

Key words: Chinese bureaucracy ,   Han Dynasty, Imperial China, Confucianism, local accountability