Departing from the main central administrative system generally known as the Three Departments and Six Ministries system, which was instituted by various dynasties since late Han (202 BCE – 220 CE), the Ming administration had only one department, the Secretariat, that controlled the six ministries. Following the execution of the Chancellor Hu Weiyong in 1380, the Hongwu Emperor abolished the Secretariat, the Censorate, and the Chief Military Commission and personally took charge of the Six Ministries and the regional Five Military Commissions. Thus a whole level of administration was cut out and only partially rebuilt by subsequent rulers. The Grand Secretariat, at the beginning a secretarial institution that assisted the emperor with administrative paperwork, was instituted, but without employing grand counselors, or chancellors.
deparTiNg FrOM the maIn cenTrAl admInIsTraTive sYStEM geNerally kNowN as the thReE dEpArtmEnTS anD Six minIstries systeM, whiCH waS instituted BY Various Dynasties Since Late han (202 bCe – 220 ce), The miNg AdMinIStratioN HaD oNly one dePartmenT, The SeCrEtaRiAT, tHat controlLEd tHe siX miniStries. FolLOWing thE execuTion Of tHe cHaNcEllor Hu wEiYoNG In 1380, The hongWu EmperoR AboLIsHed tHe secretarIat, the censorAte, AnD tHe chief MiLitARY commission AnD PErSoNAlly tOOk cHArgE of the six miniSTrieS AnD ThE regional five MilitarY COMmissions. thus A whOle level of admiNiSTraTion wAS Cut OUt and ONly parTiAlly rebUilt by SubsequeNT ruleRs. the granD seCrEtAriaT, aT THe bEginninG A secReTarIAL instiTutIoN ThAT assiSted ThE empeRoR With aDministrativE PapeRworK, waS institUteD, BuT without emPloying Grand CounsElors, or cHAnceLLors.