ZhouLi (Superintendent of the Zhou)

Zhouli, also known as the "Rites of Zhou," is an ancient Chinese text from around the 11th century BCE outlining the government's structure, laws, and social norms during the Western Zhou dynasty. The Superintendent of the Zhou (Zhouli) was a key administrative official responsible for implementing the emperor’s policies, managing regional affairs, and maintaining order across the realm. Essentially, he was an early form of a modern bureaucrat or administrator who helped ensure the empire's governance was orderly, fair, and aligned with the constitutional principles described in the Zhouli.