The Three Lords and Nine Ministers system (Chinese: 三公九卿) was a central administrative system adopted in ancient China that was officially instituted in the Qin dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC) and was replaced by the Three Departments and Six Ministries (Chinese: 三省六部) system since the Sui dynasty (AD 589–618).

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Three Lords referred to three highest rank officials in the imperial government, namely:

• the Chancellor (丞相)
• the Imperial Secretary (御史大夫)
• the Grand Commandant (太尉)

Nine Ministers comprised all the ministers of importance in the central government. They were:

• the Minister of Ceremonies (太常, formally known as 奉常)
• the Supervisor of Attendants (光祿勛, formally known as 郎中令)
• the Commandant of Guards (衛尉)
• the Minister of Coachmen (太僕)
• the Commandant of Justice (廷尉)
• the Grand Herald (大鴻臚, formally known as 典客 or 大行令)
• the Director of the Imperial Clan (宗正)
• the Grand Minister of Agriculture (大司農, formally known as 治粟內史)
• the Small Treasurer (少府)

• Five Directorates
• Government of the Han dynasty
• Nine Courts
• Political systems of Imperial China