Holding to the Way

Han FeiBashu Publishing House · ChinaJun 2024

4.3

Word count: 904 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

In the early Qing dynasty, under the provincial administration commissioner, there were left and right state councillors and consultants stationed in a particular locality, known as shoudao. In addition, under the provincial judge, there were vice commissioners and assistant commissioners who could be dispatched to inspect a particular locality, known as xundao. During the Qianlong reign, these posts of state councillor and vice commissioner were abolished, and posts of fenshoudao and fenxundao were specially established, with military defense titles, governing prefectures and departments, becoming an institution between the province and the prefecture/department level, called daoyuan. Nominally, the dao was supposed to be an administrative agency dispatched by the province. The Qing dynasty also established some specialized daoyuan, such as those responsible for river affairs, and for salt, tea, grain, and so on.

Editor's review

Though titled "Shou Dao" (Guarding the Circuit), this book actually focuses on the office of daoyuan (circuit intendant) in the Qing dynasty's local administrative system. It traces the evolution from the early Qing arrangement in which the left and right canzheng and canyi (senior and junior aides) of the provincial administration commission were stationed in the provinces as "shou dao" (guarding circuits), and the fushi and qianshi of the provincial surveillance commission inspected regions as "xun dao" (inspecting circuits), through the Qianlong-era abolitions and reorganizations, to the creation of dedicated shou dao and xun dao posts carrying military defense titles. The book also covers specialized circuits for river works, salt, tea, and grain, presenting how this tier of government between province and prefecture actually operated. It offers clear guidance for understanding Qing local administrative structure, the division of officials' duties, and institutional change. The narrative emphasizes institutional evolution and draws on concentrated source material, making it suitable as an introductory topical reader on Qing local administration. Readers should consult it alongside an overall framework of Qing officialdom and note how the meanings of "shou dao," "xun dao," and "daoyuan" changed over time.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers of history and literature interested in Qing local administrative institutions
Students of traditional officialdom and local governance
Teachers and students needing background on Qing institutions for their writing
General readers who enjoy topical reading on institutional history

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting stories of Qing political events or personalities
Readers hoping to learn about contemporary administrative systems
Readers reluctant to engage with officialdom terminology and institutional evolution

Reading tips

First clarify the hierarchical relationship among the provincial administration commissioner, provincial surveillance commissioner, and circuit intendant, then read the sections on institutional evolution.
Arrange the establishment and abolition of shou dao, xun dao, and daoyuan chronologically in a simple table.
Note the division of labor among specialized circuits for river works, salt, tea, and grain to understand how the system connected with practical affairs.
Read alongside public-domain overviews of Qing officialdom to build an overall framework before delving into details.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
守道第二十六

FAQ

Are "shou dao" and "daoyuan" the same thing?

Not exactly. In the early Qing, the left and right canzheng and canyi under the provincial administration commissioner were stationed in the provinces and called shou dao. Later, during the Qianlong period, posts were abolished and reorganized, with dedicated shou dao and xun dao carrying military defense titles, collectively called daoyuan. Shou dao was the earlier designation; daoyuan became the more standard term later.

Is this book about Han Fei's thought?

No. Although the author is credited as Han Fei, the book discusses the establishment and evolution of the circuit intendant office in the Qing local administrative system and has nothing to do with Han Fei's Legalist thought. Readers should note the distinction between the attribution and the content.

Where does the circuit intendant sit in Qing administration?

Circuit intendants governed prefectures and departments, occupying a tier between the province and the prefecture, nominally as an outpost administrative organ of the province. The shou dao and xun dao carried military defense titles, while separate specialized circuits handled river works, salt, tea, and grain, each with its own focus.

Do I need prior knowledge of Qing officialdom to read this book?

It helps but is not essential. The book involves offices such as provincial administration commissioner, provincial surveillance commissioner, canzheng, canyi, fushi, and qianshi. Consulting a brief table of Qing officialdom to understand the basic hierarchy before reading will make comprehension smoother.

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About the author

Han Fei Author · Chinese

Han Fei (c. 280–233 BCE) was a nobleman of the late Warring States state of Han and a disciple of Xunzi, and he is regarded as the great synthesizer of pre-Qin Legalist thought. Combining Shang Yang's "law," Shen Buhai's "method," and Shen Dao's "position of power," he advocated rule by law and centralized monarchical authority. His writing is precise in argument and sharp in tone, often using historical examples and parables to persuade, and is marked by a cool, forceful style. His works include "Solitary Wrath," "The Difficulties of Persuasion," "The Five Vermin," and the Inner and Outer "Storage of Illustrations," later collected as the Han Feizi. His themes center on political strategy, ruler-minister relations, and statecraft, with excursions into prose miscellany and the use of language, giving him influence in both Eastern philosophy and literary appreciation. Sent as an envoy to Qin, he was slandered by Li Si and Yao Jia and died in prison.