Chapter 341

There were three ways to select officials in the Great Ming Dynasty: imperial recommendation, ministerial recommendation, and routine selection. Ministerial recommendation, also known as court recommendation, was primarily reserved for official posts of the third rank and above. When vacancies arose, the Ministry of Personnel would consult with the Nine Ministers to jointly recommend officials to fill the open positions. These vacancies included both central government posts and regional posts. Central government posts included the Left and Right Vice Ministers, the Left and Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief, the Director of the Office of Transmission, and the President of the Court of Judicial Review; regional posts included Regional Inspectors, Governors-General, Administration Commissioners, and Surveillance Commissioners. Ministerial recommendation was aimed at officials from the fifth down to the third rank, and was handled entirely under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel.