典籤考

Abstract

Some historians are of the opinion that the tien-ch'iens, ministers despatched from the Nan-chao Government were, so to speak, the overlords to the imperial local ministers and that whereby the Government was successful to consolidate a centralized state. But the more detailed study of the contemporary documents makes it clear that the tien-ce'iens' authorities were more limited than ever suggested--that is, their powers were originated from the commission of duty to supervise the local ministers independent directly upon the emperors. and these ministers alone; other ministers were out of the rule of the tien-ch'ien.