By Li Jianwei & Wang Weijin, Research Team on “Innovative Development of Social Governance in China”, Institute of Public Administration and Human Resources, DRC

Research Report, Special Issue, No.82, 2019 (Total 1710)

2019-10-18

Abstract: China’s traditional governance philosophy and models have evolved continuously. Its national administrative mechanism changed from the enfeoffment system in the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC – 771 BC) to the prefecture system in Qin ( 221 BC – 206 BC) and Han Dynasties (206 BC – 220 AD) and beyond. Specifically, the central governance evolved from aristocratic separation of powers under the Zhou dynasty’s enfeoffment system, to centralized power and absolute monarchy in Qin and Han Dynasties, and to absolute monarchy based on the Three Departments and Six Ministries System and separation as well as checks and balances of power after Sui (581 – 618 AD) and Tang dynasties (618 - 907 AD). While the local governance evolved from rule of rites by township leaders in Zhou Dynasty to neighborhood governance under township guidance in Qin and Han Dynasties, neighborhood leader governance with township assistance in Sui and Tang Dynasties, and the neighborhood administrative system after Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD). The rule of virtue featured by Confucianism and the rule of law represented by Legalism had both been improved in the governance practice, so that the former forms a crucial shell enfolding the latter at its core. This becomes what is called the chiefly virtue-led but moderately penalty-featured traditional Chinese governance philosophy. Since the 1911 Revolution started the modernization drive of China’s national governance, China has gradually established a modern governance system fused with the idea of Western democratic decentralization and the essence of traditional Chinese governance. To promote the modernization of China’s governance system and enhance its national governance capability, we need to give full play to the positive role of traditional culture and governance philosophy.

Key words: social governance, governance philosophy, historical evolution