A document recording an official's duties in Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was found in northern China's Shanxi Province. (Photo/Zhao Yongping)
What was it like working in the Qing Dynasty government? A document written two centuries ago offers insight...
TAIYUAN, July 30 (Xinhua) -- A document dating back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was found in northern China's Shanxi Province, a local museum said Monday.
The official work report, donated by a citizen, belonged to Zhang Jiuding, who was born in Duancun Village in Pingyao County in 1748, said the museum, which features the culture and history of civil service.
Zhang was dispatched to work in southwestern Guizhou in 1789, according to the work report.
The document was a record of Zhang's duties as an official such as delivering newly issued laws and regulations to the local ethnic groups every month, reporting his own work and daily expense, overseeing local officials and investigating and cracking down on crimes.
Zhang was a minor official, but the detailed work report indicates he was very disciplined, and behaved cautiously and conscientiously, according to Duan Ziming, a local expert.
Experts said that the work report reflects the government official system and the values of civil service at that time. And though the document may be 200 years old, it still has practical significance today.
