Third level of the PRC’s four administrative divisions (provincial, prefectural, county, township) counties typically contain a county seat or town (a ‘county-level’ small city, or big town with administrative functions) plus satellite townships. Along with a higher military unit, the commandery (郡 jùn), counties (縣 or 县 xiàn) appear in history from 800 BC. They were for centuries the end-point of state power. A classic saying goes ‘imperial power goes no lower than the county’ (皇权不下县): the state-appointed magistrate (zhīxiàn 知县) had to rule via self-governed kinship groups or other forces.
The highest de facto authority of a county today is its Party Secretary (中共县委书记). Policies are rolled out by its People’s Government, whose head retains the traditional title of xiànzhǎng. The illustration reflects excessive concentration of powers of the Party Secretary, often a delegate of local kinship groups and hence a weakening of imperial-era governance. Waiting for the starting gun are rivals for the top job, only one of whom can win.
anticipate change