. It can be distinguished as either a central or local government post.
Historical Development
The Transport Commissioner was responsible for transportation affairs. In the second year of Tianxian (713 AD), during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong, the positions of Water and Land Transport Commissioners were established. In the first year of Qianyuan (758 AD), these roles were expanded to include all circuits. In the second year of Tianxien (713 AD), Li Jie was appointed as the Water and Land Commissioner of Shanzhou. In the second year of Kaiyuan (714 AD), Li Jie again served as the Water and Land Transport Commissioner for Henan, controlling grain transportation between Luoyang and Chang'an. In the twenty-second year of Kaiyuan, Pei Yaoqing was appointed as the Jianghuai Transport Commissioner. After the reign of Emperor Daizong, the Transport Commissioner was often concurrently held by a chancellor, sometimes combined with the Salt and Iron Commissioner, known as the "Salt and Iron Transport Commissioner." Liu Yan once served in this role.
In the time of Emperor Taizong of Song, each circuit had both a Chief Transport Commissioner and a Transport Commissioner, controlling the finances of one or several circuits, known as "Transport Commissioner for Waterways of Several Circuits," commonly referred to as the Grain Transportation Office (Cao Si). When the emperor traveled, there was a Special Envoy Transport Commissioner, and during military campaigns, there was a Military Transport Commissioner. After Emperor Zhenzong, the power of the Transport Commissioners grew increasingly significant. According to the History of Song in its "Official Positions" section, it states: "Chief Transport Commissioner, Transport Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and Assistant Judge, responsible for managing all financial resources along a circuit, monitoring their surplus or deficit to ensure sufficient supplies for the imperial court and local counties; annually inspecting their jurisdiction, checking reserves, auditing accounts, addressing any bureaucratic corruption or public grievances, and reporting them comprehensively to higher authorities, as well as being responsible for evaluating and supervising officials." Eventually, "all matters of a circuit were under their control," making the Transport Commissioner gradually become the highest administrative official of a circuit.
The Liao and Jin dynasties also established Transport Commissioners in each circuit, with the Jin dynasty additionally setting up a Chief Transport Commissioner in the capital to manage revenue collection, transportation, and warehouse administration.
The Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties had Chief Salt Transport Commissioners specifically for salt affairs; the head of the Two Huai Chief Salt Transport Commissioner's Office was known as the Two Huai Chief Salt Transporter, or the Transport Office Head.
Notes
References
• Dai Yangben: "A Study of Song Dynasty Transport Commissioners"
• Bao Weimin: "Research on Local Finances in the Song Dynasty," Chapter 1, "The Status and Role of the Transport Office"
• Huang Xianfan: "Transport Commissioners and Grain Transport Commissioners in the Tang and Song Dynasties," 'Progress Monthly' 2:12 (1933)
References
• 轉運使 (Chinese)
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Transport Commissioner, an ancient Chinese official position, was first established during the Tang Dynasty. It can be distinguished as either a central or local government post.