398  APPENDIX  A
the  need  of  the  people,  and  their  staffs  often  indulge  in  profiting
themselves.  As  such  is  the  case  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  administration ­
  is  out  of  order  and  the  people  have  no  place  to
state  their  grievances,  a  fact  which  is  really  deplorable.  Now,
in  reforming  the  administrative  system  the  offices  of  the  department ­
  and  district  magistrate  are  very  important.  To  improve
the  capacity  and  status  of  the  nation  the  present  condition  ot
the  people  is  not  satisfactory  for  carrying  out  self-government,
and  it  is  necessary  to  prepare  them  for  self-government  before
effecting  the  same.  Therefore  we  hereby  order  the  Viceroys
and  the  Governors  of  provinces  concerned  to  state  their  views
regarding  the  best  way  to  improve  the^civil  administration,  to
prepare  for  self-administration,  and  to  check  any  abuses  noW
prevailing,  and  also  to  have  the  grievances  of  the  people  properly
heard  and  to  erase  the  same,  as  we  wish  to  get  the  best  system
and  to  adopt  it.
The  Government  establishes  officials  simply  to  have  the
people  properly  looked  after  by  educating  them  and  giving  them
the  enjoyment  of  life  and  carrying  on  their  respective  businesses-If
  such  hope  be  fulfilled,  then  there  will  be  harmony  and  peace
among  the  people,  and  thus  the  Empire  may  have  a  proper
system  of  looking  after  its  own  people.
These  decrees  are  issued  by  the  Emperor  on  the  instructions
of  the  Empress  Dowager.
A  subsequent  edict  regulates  the  relative  position  of  the
Ministries  as  follows  :—
The  order  of  the  yâmens  is  as  under  :
1.  —Waiwu  Pu  (Board  of  Foreign  Affairs).
2.  —Board  of  Civil  Appointments.
3.  —Board  of  Civil  Administration.
4.  —Board  of  Finance.
5.  —Board  of  Rites.
6.  —Board  of  Army.
7.  —Board  of  Justice.
8.  —Board  of  Agriculture,  Works,  and  Commerce.
9.  —Board  of  Colonies.
10.  —Imperial  Household.
11.  —Imperial  Board  of  Astronomy.
12.  —Hanlin  Yuan.
13.  —Censorate.  -,
14.  —Imperial  Clan  Court.
15.  —Board  of  Education.
16.  —Imperial  Equipage  Department.  r
17*—Court  of  Cassation.  ,  ,  1  •  I
18.—Board  of  Communications.  .  &gt;