The Recommendation and Functional Change of Basic Petty Officials in Qin and Han Dynasty: a Case Study of Minimum Level Officials

At earlier stage of Qin and West Han Dynasty,the state power outmatched social forces,so the recommendation of basic petty officials was not controlled by local social forces.Consequently,the state managed the officials according to the law and made them become loyal executors of basic administration.After mid-West Han Dynasty,with the development of social forces,the recommendation and administration of basic petty officials was greatly manipulated by despots and aristocratic families,thus the function changed therewith.Through the investigation of this question,we can better grasp the historical change of the basic social order of Qin and Han Dynasty and have a deeper understanding of the interaction of state power and social forces at that time.