Ten Essays on the Art of Royal Power

This is an introduction of over 100 Chinese characters to the art of imperial statecraft in ancient China.

Imperial statecraft in ancient China was a profound political art concerned with the exercise and balance of power. At its core was the use of various strategies and methods to control officials and consolidate imperial authority, thereby maintaining the dynasty’s long-term stability. It was not simply a matter of crude control. Instead, it emphasized combining and balancing “law, technique, and power.” For example, Qin Shi Huang ruled with absolute authority and established a centralized system of government; Emperor Wu of Han promoted Confucian benevolence on the surface while using Legalist methods behind the scenes, combining moral instruction with harsh laws; and Emperor Taizu of Song made skillful use of checks and balances to keep his ministers in competition with one another. Other models of statecraft include Emperor Kangxi’s use of both favor and force, Emperor Jiajing’s talent for keeping his intentions hidden, and Emperor Wu of Han’s strategy of dispersing power through the policy of favoring the emperor’s relatives. These methods helped preserve imperial rule during particular historical periods, but their excessive use often brought factional infighting and political darkness, reflecting the complexity and dual nature of wielding power.