Power for a Price: The Purchase of Official Appointments in Qing China

The Qing dynasty office purchase system (juanna) was considered corrupt and anti-meritocratic, but Lawrence Zhang's study shows that it was a preferred method for wealthy and well-connected individuals to leverage their social capital to the fullest extent, raising funds for the state and tying the interests of official elites to those of the state.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 27 September 2022
Publisher: Harvard University Press

The Qing dynasty office purchase system, known as juanna, was a controversial practice in traditional Chinese historiography. It allowed individuals to pay for appointments in the government, bypassing the competitive government-run examination systems. While some viewed it as corrupt and anti-meritocratic, Lawrence Zhang's groundbreaking study challenges this perception.

Through a comprehensive analysis of new archival and printed evidence, including a list of over 10,900 purchasers of offices from 1798 and narratives of purchase, Zhang reveals that juanna was not just a last resort for those unable to secure official appointments through other means. Rather, it was a preferred method for wealthy and well-connected individuals to maximize their social capital. Office purchase not only provided a means to secure government positions but also tied the interests of official elites closely to those of the state.

Zhang argues that juanna was a valuable tool for the state, as it raised funds for the government and helped consolidate power. By investing in their positions, individuals could secure status and power, furthering the interests of the state. This system also created a network of loyal officials who were willing to serve the state's interests.

However, juanna was not without its criticisms. Some saw it as a means of nepotism and corruption, as it allowed wealthy individuals to buy their way into government positions. Others argued that it undermined the meritocracy of the government, as it favored those with connections and wealth over those with talent and qualifications.

Despite these criticisms, juanna remained a significant feature of Qing dynasty politics. It continued to be used by wealthy and well-connected individuals to secure government positions, and its impact on Chinese society and politics is still being studied today.

In conclusion, Lawrence Zhang's study of juanna challenges the traditional view of this system as corrupt and anti-meritocratic. It reveals that juanna was a valuable tool for the state, as it raised funds, consolidated power, and tied the interests of official elites to those of the state. While it was not without its criticisms, juanna remained a significant feature of Qing dynasty politics and continues to be a topic of study and debate.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674278295