The cabinet of the Ming Dynasty was the advisory body of the emperor from the fourth year of the Ming Dynasty (1402) to the seventeenth year of Chongzhen (1644). After that, its power gradually increased and it became the administrative center of the Ming Dynasty. The number of assistant ministers in the cabinet varies from one to seven, and most of them call themselves cabinet departments. After the establishment of the cabinet, Ming Chengzu firmly held the decision-making power of the former prime minister in his own hands, divided the political power into the cabinet and the executive power into six parts. There are judicial, military and administrative departments at the local level, which are directly responsible to the six departments. After the development of Jiajing and Qin Long, the early years of Wanli should be a period of extremely powerful cabinet power.

The official system of the Ming Dynasty was a six-part centralized system. Specifically, the six departments are official departments: equivalent to the current organization department. However, it is more powerful than the organization department and has considerable decision-making power in the selection, appointment and dismissal of officials. It is called the first of the six departments. Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development: equivalent to the current Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, State Taxation Administration of The People's Republic of China and Ministry of Civil Affairs. In short, it is the department in charge of money and grain. Ritual Department: equivalent to the current Propaganda Department, Culture, Radio, Film and Television Department, Education Department, United Front Work Department and Religious Affairs Bureau. All matters related to religion, culture, ethics and imperial examinations are under the control of the Ministry of Rites. This is a clear and glorious department, and this is an excellent job. Criminal department: in charge of justice, equivalent to the current Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Public Security. The criminal department is responsible for the investigation, trial and judgment of cases and is a power department. Ministry of War: It is equivalent to the current Ministry of National Defense. In the Ming Dynasty, the Ministry of War did not have the right to transfer soldiers. The right to transfer troops is under the jurisdiction of the general commanders of towns, and only the emperor can transfer troops through the cabinet. The Minister of the Ministry of War only has the power to coordinate and make suggestions and organize martial arts examinations, and the country is basically idle in peacetime. However, it is very dangerous to go to the front to supervise the division when the war is fierce, but success is success.

The last of the six departments is the Ministry of Industry, which is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the capital and royal projects, as well as related projects to harness the Yellow River and the North-South Canal. Because the project funds have to be allocated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, although it can wipe some oil and water, the Ming Dynasty has always had little interest in infrastructure investment, which should be regarded as a relatively unpopular department.

In the Ming Dynasty, in addition to the six departments of officials, households, rituals, punishments, soldiers and workers, Douchayuan was also set up, which is equivalent to the current Ministry of Supervision, but its power is much greater than that of the Ministry of Supervision, and it is responsible for the discipline inspection and supervision of officials. The officials of Douchayuan are called Yushi, which is what we usually call "speaking officials". This "official" has great power to "get wind of it", that is, he can write a letter to impeach an official without real evidence, and he can directly lead a team to arrest people with the consent of the emperor. Another department is Dali Temple: equivalent to the highest inspection now. Dali Temple is idle at ordinary times, and only three judicial departments come together, that is, when the punishments, Dali Temple and Duchayuan are trying major cases, Dali Temple has a job.

The six chief officials are called ministers, such as officials and punishments. Below Shangshu is his deputy, called the left and right assistant, such as the right assistant of the Ministry of War. Each division has several divisions, the chief officer is called a doctor, and the deputy is called a foreign minister, such as a doctor in the official department (equivalent to the director, positive five products). The chief officer of Douchayuan is called Douchayuan's Doudoushi, and the deputy is the left and right Doudoushi. The chief official of Dali Temple is called the Minister of Dali Temple.