Nine Courts (original) (raw)

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Nine Courts
Chinese 九寺
TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinJiǔ SìWade–GilesChiu Szu

The Nine Courts or Ministries were nine service agencies in Imperial China that existed from the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577)[_dubious – discuss_] to the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). Headed by the Nine Ministers, the offices were subordinate to the Three Departments and Six Ministries. They were mostly ceremonial in nature and held a fair amount of power. During the Ming dynasty, the term generally referred to the Six Ministries, the Censorate, the Office of Transmission, and the Grand Court of Revision. The number of courts was not always nine throughout history.

The Nine Courts and Ministers throughout most of Chinese history were:

The Nine Courts and Ministers

Court Minister
English Chinese English Chinese
Trad. Simp. Pinyin Trad. Simp. Pinyin
Court of Imperial Sacrifices 太常寺 Tàichángsì Minister of Ceremonies 太常 Tàicháng
Court of Imperial Entertainments 光祿寺 光祿寺 Guānglùsì Minister of Imperial Entertainments 光祿勳 光禄勋 Guānglùxūn
Court of the Imperial Clan 宗正寺 Zōngzhèngsì Minister of the Imperial Clan 宗正 Zōngzhèng
Court of the Imperial Stud 太僕寺 太仆寺 Tàipúsì Minister Coachman 太僕 太仆 Tàipú
Court of the Imperial Treasury 太府寺 Tàifǔsì Minister Steward 少府 Shàofǔ
Court of the Imperial Regalia 衛尉寺 卫尉寺 Wèiwèisì Minister of the Guards 衛尉 卫尉 Wèiwèi
Court of State Ceremonial 鴻臚寺 鸿胪寺 Hónglúsì Minister Herald 鴻臚 鸿胪 Hónglú
Court of the National Granaries 司農寺 司农寺 Sīnóngsì Minister of Finance 司農 司农 Sīnóng
Court of Judicature and Revision 大理寺 Dàlǐsì Minister of Justice 大理 Dàlǐ