NOTES TO CHAPTER 17 I 121ter's takeover by the central government of the appointment of officials and their clerks
as well is discussed in a memorial by Wei Hsiian-t'ung of Emperor Kao-tsung's reign (r.
650-684) in the Tang. Ibid. 14:I4b-15a, 30a.
- Ibid. 14:44a. For Emperor Hsiao-wcn's attempt at reform see Huang, "Recruit-
ment and Assessment of Civil Officials," p. 106. - PGSR 14:27a-30a; Tung-tien ch. IS, I: 103-4.
- PGSR 14:24b-26b; Tung-tien ch. 18, 1:103.
- PGSR 14:23b-24a; Huang, "Recruitment and Assessment of Civil Officials," pp.
237-41. - PGSR 14:24b-26b, Tung-tien ch. 18, 1:103.
- In 744, Li scandalized the court by an act of nepotism in the selection examina-
tions that was later discovered by Emperor Hsiian-tsung, and he waged bloody factional
war against his rivals in 746. Others have attributed equal blame for violating standard
procedures for examinations and appointments to Yang Kuo-chung, the archenemy of
An Lu-shan. Yang was a distant relative ofYang-kuei-fei, the emperor's paramour. Huang,
"Recruitment and Assessment of Civil Officials" pp. 224-28; Twitchett, "Hsiian-tsung,"
pp. 398,409-47 for Li Lin-fu's regime, and pp. 428-30, 447-53 for Yang Kuo-chung. - Huang, "Recruitment and Assessment of Civil Officials," pp. 256-72.
- For review of the Sung recruitment, promotion. and recommendation or sponsor-
ship systems see Kracke. Civil Service in Early Sung China. - See also ibid., p. 85, which stresses Wang's preference for selection of men of char-
acter rather than adherence to legal regulations. - PGSR 14:35b-39a.
- Ibid. I4:35b-39a. Yu also admired Ssu-ma Kuang's disapproval of jealousy among
officials, the cultivation of associates among colleagues and others to obtain promotion,
and the use of literary and writing skills rather than administrative competence. He cited
Ch'iu Chiin of Ming times, who reiterated in succinct form a version of the points raised
by Wang and Ssu-ma, admired long-term employment of officials, and criticized the Tang
practice of time-in-grade as the basis for promotion rather than a thorough investigation
of performance. Ch'iu deplored the disappearance of thorough review of performance
because the number of officials had become too large, and he endorsed Tung Chung-
shu's preference for emphasizing merit and ability over time-in-grade. See his comments
in Yu's discussion of personnel review procedures, in ibid. 14:39a-b, 42a-b. - Ibid. 14:40a-4Ib.
- Kracke, Civil Service in Early Sung China, pp. 165-68; for general review of spon-
sorship, pp. 103-85. - PGSR 13:8a-9a.
- Ibid. 13:22b-23a. This problem has been discussed in detail by Ch'oe Idon, "Sim-
nyuk segi Nanggwankwon iii hyongson kwajong" [The process of the formation of the
rights of nanggwan in the sixteenth century J. Hanguksaron 14 (February 1986):3-50. - PGSR 13:4b-5a.
- Ibid. 13:lb.
- Ibid. 13:23a-b.