The Evolution from the Prefectural System to ‘Shared Governance Under Heaven’

Xiao Huang: How did the Qin Dynasty’s prefectural system propel Chinese civilization forward?

DOORM: By replacing the enfeoffment system with the prefectural system, Qin broke the aristocracy’s monopoly, realizing a transition from “rule by a single lineage” to centralized authority. Today’s concept of “shared governance under heaven” is precisely the sublimation of this institution in the contemporary era—a move from centralized imperial power towards a people’s republic, embodying the wisdom of a governance system that reconstructs itself with the times.