This seminar will be held in English, for we will  have the pleasure to hear and discuss a presentation by Pr. Ulrich Theobald (Tübingen University), who sent the following abstract: "Beginning with the conundrum of understanding the precise meaning of administrative and legal terms, the presentation will focus on one of the many appointment methods called "careful selection" (linxuan). It was a method by which provincial governors and ministries were allowed to choose competent candidates for vacant internal positions. The specific rules for such internal pre-selections and recommendations changed over time, but remained particularly strict. There were, however, many issues involved that could only be settled by additional rules that became part of the Da-Qing huidian shili code. Selected sources can give evidence of the intricacies and loopholes of the system."

If time allows, we will also examine some relevant articles of the Ming and Qing code: art. 48 on irregular nominations of officials by high dignitaries; art. 52. on the recruitement of unqualified persons; and article 59 of the Ming code on "carreer records" of officials, which strangely disappeared from the Qing code.