Palace Library

For the library in Peace Palace, The Hague, see Peace Palace Library.

Palace Library was a central government agency in imperial China and dynastic Korea, generally in charge of maintaining and archiving the collection of the monarch's documents.

China & Inner Asia

Department of the Palace Library
Traditional Chinese 秘書省 or 祕書省
Simplified Chinese 秘书省 or 祕书省
Directorate of the Palace Library
Traditional Chinese 秘書監 or 祕書監
Simplified Chinese 秘书监 or 祕书监
Court of the Palace Library
Traditional Chinese 秘書寺 or 祕書寺
Simplified Chinese 秘书寺 or 祕书寺

The office was in existence for the most part from the mid-200s (Cao Wei) to 1380 (Ming dynasty). Over the millennia there were 5 names for this office:

In addition to preserving the emperor's official documents, the agency was sometimes also tasked to compile or edit historical records and state calendars. Before the Sui dynasty it also handled documents flowing into and out of the imperial palace, making it interchangeable with the Secretariat. During the late Tang dynasty (after early 700s) and Song dynasty the office was largely non-functional and staffed by eminent officials for sinecure purposes.

The office during the Tang dynasty was headed by 1 director (秘書監) and 2 vice directors (秘書少監), and during the Song dynasty by 1 director and 1 vice director. The office was also staffed with assistant directors (秘書丞) and assistants (秘書郎 or 秘書郎中). During the Yuan dynasty the office was headed by 4 chief ministers (秘書卿), 2 directors (秘書太監), 2 vice directors, and 2 assistant directors (秘書丞 or 秘書監丞), all eunuchs.

Korea

Department of the Palace Library
Hangul 비서성
Hanja 秘書省
Revised Romanization Biseo Seong
McCune–Reischauer Pisŏ Sŏng
Directorate of the Palace Library
Hangul 비서감
Hanja 秘書監
Revised Romanization Biseo Gam
McCune–Reischauer Pisŏ Kam

The office also existed during Goryeo under several names:

In general, the office was staffed by 1 supervisor (判事; "pansa"), 1 director (監 or 令), 1 vice director (少監 or 副令), 2 assistant directors (丞) and 1 assistant (郎).

References

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