Abstract: This paper focuses on the difference and connection between “guan” (official) and “li” (staff) in imperial China, a system that by some is regarded as the precedent of the modern day Chinese bureaucracy. Since Wei and Jin dynasty, the relationship between guan and li experienced two important transitional changes because of the complexity of compatibility between official ranks and social statuses and the subsequent issues in personnel management. The boundary line between “guan” and “li” helped differentiate appointments, responsibilities, ranks and salaries but remained broad and elastic. The overall development was the ever deepening status division between the two groups while the boundary line became increasingly open ended. By allowing “li” to be promoted to “guan,” the central authority not just expanded governmental function but helped strengthen the bond between “guan” and “li,” reflecting an important link between the centralized rule and its relatively open bureaucratic structure. Up until Ming and Qing, this framework of the central government controlling “guan” and “guan” controlling “li” proved to be a stable structure. Under this structure, “li” was looked down upon by “guan” but it still enjoyed higher status than commoners. Although some of the issues and predicaments experienced by “li” in history can also be said about today's staff in Chinese modern bureaucracy, they are from different times and under different circumstances. Solutions to the problems, especially like reassignment and mobility, will be quite different as well.

Key words: difference between guan and li, situation of li, basic civil service, connection between guan and li