Is the cabinet system in Ming Dynasty a constitutional monarchy?

Since Judy, the founding emperor of Ming Dynasty, a unique cabinet system has been formed. The emperor with supreme power handed over state affairs to the cabinet, but he left and retired behind the scenes, or cultivated immortality and alchemy, or indulged in debauchery, so that the Ming emperor did not go to court all the year round and the whole country operated smoothly.

However, the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty was completely different from that of Britain and other countries with constitutional monarchy. The fundamental difference lies in the ownership of power, not the management of the emperor.

In the history of China, many emperors failed to go to court, which is not only a phenomenon of the Ming Dynasty. For example, Xiao Yan, in southern Liang Wudi, once abandoned his official career because he believed in Buddhism. The first time I became a monk, I became a monk for three days, and I came back by myself, but not long after, I went to the temple to become a monk and recite scriptures. Ministers had no choice but to donate 1 100 million yuan to the temple, which brought Liang Wudi back. Later, Liang Wudi became addicted and became a monk twice, and ministers spent 300 million yuan to redeem the emperor.

The situation in the Ming Dynasty was quite special, because the cabinet system existed, the emperor could pursue his dreams regardless of state affairs, such as cultivating immortals and asking to be a carpenter, so as not to escape into an empty net and be stopped by a minister like Liang Wudi.

But just because Ming Chengzu doesn't take care of things doesn't mean he has no power, which is different from Britain? Mascot? There is an essential difference, which is also the core of the difference between Ming cabinets and modern cabinets.

The Formation of Cabinet System in Ming Dynasty

Shortly after the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, abolished the prime minister system that had been passed down for thousands of years through the Hu case, and took all the decision-making power of the country into his own hands. But in this way, everything needs to be solved by yourself, and it's really busy.

After all, Zhu Yuanzhang came all the way from the grassroots. Like a genius, he knows who to use and what to do, and naturally handles state affairs with ease. But later emperors all grew up with golden spoons. They don't have Zhu Yuanzhang's rich experience and ability to handle so many things, and they can't guarantee that they are familiar with all the problems. So there was the cabinet, the emperor's private secretary class.

When something needs to be handled by the emperor, officials first wrote to the court and then handed it over to cabinet ministers for inspection. According to their own experience and opinions, cabinet ministers drafted (drafted) several suggestions by voting, and finally submitted them to the emperor for decision. The emperor felt that there was no problem, so he wrote his own opinion on the passbook with a cinnabar pen (red batch) and stamped it with a jade seal. Thus formed the cabinet system.

In the cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty, two points are very important.

A, the Ming dynasty cabinet system is not written in? Constitution? The established written system is only an administrative habit formed from the Ming Dynasty, and it is not legally binding. The emperor can freely choose and recall cabinet ministers according to his own preferences.

(Emperor of the Ming Dynasty) Advisory Cabinet ... Those who join the Cabinet ... don't want official titles, and don't bully the department. Division should not be related to things. "Ming history? Control record

Second, the cabinet of the Ming Dynasty only had the power to draft bills, and the decision was still in the hands of the emperor. Therefore, without the consent of the emperor, cabinet ministers could not issue any effective resolutions.

(Emperor Xuanzong of Ming Dynasty) The cabinet was ordered ... All Chinese and foreign chapters are allowed to write small receipts in ink, and every written document is posted for advance, which is called a draft. Hongyi's book has been approved, and it is still a book, but there is still no .. Hanlin Chronicle.

Wanli shoufu Zhang

After the cabinet system was formed, the Ming emperors relieved a lot of pressure, but there were still lazy emperors who didn't even bother to make decisions. They simply handed over the power to the eunuchs around them, and let Li Si discuss it with the cabinet. It's no big deal, so don't bother yourself. Have the right to approve the red Li Si supervisor to become a eunuch. If director Li Si doesn't approve red, then the cabinet can't do anything.

The Ming emperor gave eunuchs so much power to criticize the red, not afraid of their rebellion? Different from the previous dynasties, the eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty were only eunuchs, and they did not hold official positions, nor did they hold military power as in the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, all the power of the eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty came from the emperor, and they were not afraid of eunuchs threatening their position. Famous eunuchs in the history of Ming Dynasty, such as Wei Zhongxian and Liu Jin, died even if the emperor wanted you to die.

Nine-year-old Wei Zhongxian

Therefore, the eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty were very powerful. Many eunuchs used their power to bring disaster to the country and the people, but they were still loyal to the emperor and would not abolish the emperor or kill the king like the Tang Dynasty.

To sum up, although there were many emperors in the Ming Dynasty who didn't do their jobs properly, it didn't mean they didn't have power. Therefore, the Ming Dynasty was essentially a feudal monarchy, and its cabinet system was very different from the modern cabinet system.