Five Directorates Explained

The Five Directorates were five service agencies in the central government of the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties of China, apart from the Nine Courts.

The Five Directorates included:

• Directorate of Waterways (Chinese: 都水監)
• Directorate for Imperial Manufactories (Chinese: 少府監)
• Directorate for the Palace Buildings (Chinese: 将作監)
• Directorate for Armaments (Chinese: 軍器監)
• Directorate of Education (Chinese: 國子監), during the Sui and Tang dynasties
• Directorate of Astronomy (Chinese: 司天監), during the Five Dynasties period and Song dynasty

References

• Book: Hucker, Charles O.. Charles Hucker. A Dictionary of Official Titles in Imperial China. 569. Stanford University Press. 1985.