ministers ministers traditional chinese simplified chinese pinyin known high officials high officials simply traditional chinese simplified chinese pinyin advisory body emperors early dynasty derived informal groups created early council formally established son successor expanded staffed mainly dignitaries aristocratic institution served chief source advice military matters emperors particularly powerful enhance personal influence serving influential body dynasty century displaced obsolete mixed created late influence princes ministers formally abolished origins formal establishment called origin council complicated confusing process council originated informal institutions created promote rule sons organized society banners doubled number banners gave sons called princes control banner ordered meet deliberate major policies especially military matters sons known collectively princes deliberate government precursor council group high officials judges charge administrative judicial tasks claims group referred high officials deliberate government assisted princes discussing policy claims mere technical advisors point view supported high officials officials functions chiefly primary role let know princes succeeded son instead following father wish rule strong ruler laid institutional foundation dynasty placed banners command high officials told assist princes policy identifies reform origin main structure consulted foreign military matters year declared emperor dynasty officially excluded imperial princes council instead council manned lieutenant generals later called chinese deputies charge managing banners limiting council membership military leaders outside imperial clan enhanced personal power expense princes nonetheless council remained collective aristocratic rule government central role early died replaced young leadership dynasty defeated weakened dynasty moved capital beijing main body regency soon moving beijing gave council control military civil affairs expanded membership lieutenant generals deputy lieutenant generals held posts grand secretary board president far limiting power council served tool princes challenged authority instance son accused behavior enemies testify council method purge good death day emperor started personal rule ordered members council directly important matters state supporters court march regent number special appointments council foster loyalty elite added thirty new members lacked official positions banners metropolitan bureaucracy new chinese fan chinese appointed council future appointed council time emperor issued automatic appointment end reign council counted members reign council convened investigate important officials accused corruption emperor succeeded led took care state affairs minority regency prominent institution keeping seats council limited membership lieutenant generals presidents decided grant membership president independence emperor compromised reduced members chiefly senior leaders significant experience military affairs civil government emperor reverted bureaucratic reforms faction continued rely body consulted wide variety military civil matters especially sensitive complex handle regular bureaucracy emperor allowed president sit council rebellion suppressed peace decided lieutenant generals banners longer automatic members oriented civil administration nonetheless fought emperor consulted council deal khan enemies reign council met imperial request transmitted result emperor usually followed council advice replacement emperor succeeded crisis pitted sons nobles sided rivals succession struggle members avoid new appointments council consulted military matters worked undermine power bypass council created smaller parallel bodies found reliable entrenched slowly transferred powers trusted ministers informal institutions unlike membership exclusively counted chinese ranks mixed council served empire main body rest dynasty influence quickly declined period titles minister prince mainly held titles council formally abolished title revived second half nineteenth century prince head
Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers