Han Central Government System

Timeline

1. c. -202–-87Chang'an · ShaanxiEarly Han followed Qin institutions, with a chancellor overseeing government affairs, a grand commandant commanding the army, and an imperial censor supervising officials, with nine ministers handling specific duties; the commandery-county system and recommendation system together formed the basic framework of a centralized bureaucratic order.
2. c. -87–25Chang'an · ShaanxiEmperor Wu of Han used inner-court secretaries and attendants to decide state affairs, weakening the chancellor's power; the Secretariat Directorate gradually shifted from a clerical office to the decision-making core, while the outer court's Three Excellencies and Nine Ministers largely became honorary posts, marking a major shift in the power structure.
3. c. 25–220Luoyang · HenanEmperor Guangwu abolished the grand commandant, renamed the chancellor as Minister of Works and the imperial censor as Minister of Works (Sikong), concentrating real power in the Secretariat Directorate; in the mid-to-late Eastern Han, imperial in-laws and eunuchs alternated in power, and the Secretariat Directorate became the actual administrative hub, laying the foundation for the Three Departments system of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties.