| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立中央大學 === 歷史研究所碩士在職專班 === 99 === Chu Yuan-chang, the first emperor of Ming Dynasty, had profound realization of the fact that many emperors lost their reign owing to eunuchs’ despotism in the past. For this reason, the eunuchs during his reign were not only strictly confined but also clearly divided according to their duties. Moreover, he established more organizations, one after another, during the years of Hung Wu. At last, they were separated into twelve Directorates, four Offices, eight Bureaus. Jointly they are called twenty-four major agencies, which were managed by eunuchs specified to keep the seals. Besides, the emperor even set up an iron plate of announcement in his palace forbidding eunuchs to interfere in political affairs. By doing so, he hoped his descendants and eunuchs would mark his words. Ironically, one of the main reasons why Ming Dynasty came to an end is that the eunuchs interfered with politics.
However, not all of the eunuchs could interfere in politics. Only Directorate of Ceremonial became the head of twenty-four major agencies during the middle of Ming Dynasty. They did so by taking the advantage of their work. In the later period, their power was even almost equal with the Cabinet’s. The reason why their status rose so rapidly is that Directorate of Ceremonial Chang Yin eunuch had the authority of not only arranging the memorials presented to the emperor but also validating administrative archives in place of the emperor. In addition, Ping Pi eunuch had the authority of writing imperial edicts. When the emperor was able to control the general political situation, Directorate of Ceremonial would become the emperor’s helpers through implementing these two rights. On the contrary, if the emperor couldn’t manage on his own and got too close with Directorate of Ceremonial eunuch, the problems of casting greedy eyes on powers would appear gradually.
With the situation of development, Directorate of Ceremonial had its unshakable position and influences on politics in the later period of Ming Dynasty. Even it appeared many eunuchs who were capable of controlling in politics. Moreover, most of the emperors in the late period were indolent in their government affairs, so the direction of the political situation was related to Directorate of Ceremonial.
After the decease of Ming Dynasty, many surviving retainer and scholars attributed the reasons why they lost their reign to Directorate of Ceremonial, but it was not definitely true. By the paper research, it was found that although Directorate of Ceremonial had a big influence on the politics in the later period of Ming Dynasty, there were lots of talents building communication with ministers and emperors to stabilize the political situation. At the same time to hold the authorities, they didn’t lose themselves but showed their loyalties to the emperors. Therefore, Directorate of Ceremonial was a eunuchs’ organization for serving and helping emperors to deal with trifles of politics instead of arrogating the authorities and disordering the politics.
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