GOVERNMENT 269 



The Emperor is the source of all power, 

 but the administration of the central 

 government is entrusted to two councils, 

 known as the grand secretariat (Nui-Koh) 

 and the grand council (Kiun Ki-ch'u). The 

 grand secretariat is of greater antiquity 

 than the grand council, and has been the 

 more important division of the cabinet 

 from early times. This grand secretariat 

 is composed of four members who sustain 

 the closest official relations to the Emperor ; 

 they submit to him all papers relating 

 to the affairs of the empire and receive 

 from him the instructions necessary to the 

 preparation of official edicts ; they keep the 

 seals used for the departments and docu- 

 ments, and are the four officials whom it is 

 supposed the Emperor more frequently con- 

 sults. The grand council was provided for 

 in 1730. The members are generally chosen 

 from among those of the grand secretariat, 

 the presidents and vice-presidents of the 

 boards, and the principal officers of all the 

 courts in the city of Peking. This is the 

 division before which the boards of the 

 departments appear when the Emperor is to 

 be consulted. In theory both the grand 

 secretariat and the grand council have daily 



