A Comparative Study of the Systems of Memorial to the Throne (Zou Zhe) during the Reign of Emperor Guang Xu and during the Reign of Emperor Yong Zheng

The number of the officials who presented memorials to the throne(Zou Zhe) in the reign of Emperor Yongzheng increased for the political needs while it also increased in the reign of Emperor Guang Xu due to the practice of specific memorial to the throne for specific affairs in addition to the political needs.In terms of the content of the memorials to the throne,there were more similarities between the reign of Emperor Yong Zheng and the reign of Emperor Guang Xu and minor differences.As for the reading of the memorials to the throne,the two courts basically employed the same kinds of officials,but Emperor Yong Zheng discussed the memorials to the throne with the out-court officials and the departments.The storage of the memorials to the throne was more strictly confidential during the reign of Emperor Yong Zheng than during the reign of Emperor Guang Xu.By the comparison of the above points,it can be concluded that the system of memorial to the throne was closely related to the political situation.