General

• Hucker, Charles O. A Dictionary of Official Titles in Imperial China. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1985. The high quality and reliability of Hucker as a single source for all of imperial China, which is also clear about historical changes, obviates–except for the Yuan dynasty–the need for using the guides listed below for individual dynasties. The latter produce idiosyncratic results for the same title, even though there was no change in the function it describes. Several of those listed below for Yuan, however, are not obsolete. The Yuan poses particular problems due to the nature of its dual Sino-Mongolian rule, its civil service, and its odd titles for sub-official functions.
• Li dai zhi guan biao 歷 代 職 官 表 (Tables of official positions throughout the dynasties)–see the note at end of this section.
• Zhong guo li dai guan zhi da ci dian 中 國 歷 代 官 職 大 詞 典 (Greater dictionary of Chinese official offices throughout the dynasties), compiled by Lu Zongli 呂 宗 力. Beijing: Beijing chu ban she, 1995. ISBN 7-200-01635-7/2-170.