A Study on Chamberlain (侍衞) Position in the Northern Zhou in Association with the Nomadic Bureaucratic System

Recent studies have pointed out the limits of understanding the history of the Northern and Southern to Sui-Tang dynasties solely within the framework of Chinese history, and there has been an academic tendency to reassess this period from the more comprehensive, Eurasian perspective. Along these lines, one should note that within the bureaucratic systems of the Northern Dynasties, there are elements that originate in nomadic bureaucratic systems. Kawamoto Yoshiaki has already pointed out the similarities between the inner court official position, neichaoguan 內朝官, of the early Northern Wei and the Mongolian keshig. On the other hand, the Western Wei and the Northern Zhou, the origin of Sui and Tang ruling classes, implemented the Six Ministries System based on the Rites of Zhou, and here, influence of the nomadic administrative system cannot be observed. However, Hirata Yōichirō has reconsidered the Twenty-four Armies System of the Western Wei, and has concluded that it descended from the nomadic military system. Furthermore, Hirata also pointed out that the close advisors, qinxin 親信, who served the authorities of the Western Wei and the Northern Zhou, were derived from the inner court bureaucrats of the early Northern Wei. Taking these points into account, one should consider the possibility that the Northern Zhou Six Ministries System also involved elements of the nomadic bureaucratic system. This paper attempts to explain the relationship between the Northern Zhou Six Ministries System and the nomadic bureaucratic system, by focusing on the imperial chamberlains (侍衞) of the Northern Wei, their development, duties, and those appointed to the position. The position of chamberlain in the Northern Zhou was not directly derived from the early Northern Wei inner court official position. Rather, it was based on elements such as the Rites of Zhou, and the imperial guard positions of the Western Wei. The main duties of the Northern Zhou chamberlains were as imperial guardsmen, and thus they were more limited than those of the Northern Wei inner court officials. However, the position also included aspects of the nomadic bureaucratic system, firstly in that the chiefs of the chamberlains consisted only of non-Chinese, and secondly, in that the children and siblings of meritorious subjects were appointed as chamberlains, who then advanced onto higher bureaucratic ranks. This shows that the Northern Zhou administered the Six Ministries System through a deft mix of the Rites of Zhou and the nomadic bureaucratic system. In addition, it became clear that the Northern Zhou prepared a career path starting with the chamberlain position for the children and siblings of meritorious subjects and that this was passed on as the Sui-Tang career path starting with the position of Weiguan 衞官. Such findings invoke the need to also consider nomadic influence within the Sui-Tang bureaucratic system