Local Government in the Qing Dynasty

The Local Government of the Qing Dynasty is a landmark work by the renowned historian and sociologist Qu Tongzu. Written in English at the height of his academic career, it was first published by Harvard University Press in 1962, earning him a stellar international reputation. To this day, it remains required reading in Western Sinology courses and research on the subject. There is a popular saying, “Heaven is high and the emperor is far away,” and scholars have a related argument: “Imperial authority does not reach the county level.” As the smallest administrative unit, Qing county governments dealt directly with ordinary people, making their importance self-evident. The purpose of The Local Government of the Qing Dynasty is to describe, analyze, and interpret the structure and operation of local government at the prefecture and county levels. Drawing on manuscripts and notes as well as a wealth of official sources, Qu Tongzu uses concise prose to explain the duties, status, income, corrupt practices, and disciplinary controls of county magistrates and their four supporting groups: clerks, constables, personal attendants, and private secretaries. He emphasizes that local government in the Qing Dynasty was in practice a “one-man government” centered on the county magistrate. The book also examines the gentry's role in local administration. The Local Government of the Qing Dynasty is a classic scholarly work, but Qu Tongzu wrote it for English-speaking students unfamiliar with traditional China. His account is therefore clear, accessible, and easy to follow, even for general readers without an academic background.