Official position: refers to an official who holds a certain position in a state institution, including his name, scope of authority and rank status. Imperial examination is an official selection system with examination as the main way, which is closely related to the official system and professional officials. Selecting officials by examination is an important invention in the ancient state system of our country. The emergence of China's ancient state began in the Xia Dynasty, and the establishment of official positions only appeared with the emergence of the state. Therefore, the official position can only start from the Xia Dynasty. In ancient China, the official positions of different dynasties were different, and the changes, increases and decreases were very complicated.

Xia and Shang Dynasties, about 1000. Xia monarch is called Hou, Shang monarch is called Wang, and its main officials are called Shi and Wu. In the late Shang Dynasty, the elders of the royal family were called "father teachers" and "Shao Shi", who were responsible for assisting the king, such as Ji Zi and Bigan. Servants who manage housework are called "ministers", "butchers" and "Yin". [When Yin was in office, he was fatuous and perverse, and his brother resigned; His uncle Ji Zi repeatedly remonstrated and was punished as a slave; Zhou Wang's other uncle, Beagan, died in protest. Confucius said, "Yin has three benevolence"]