Six Ministries of the Nguyễn dynasty



The Six Ministries (Sáu bộ, chữ Nôm: ; Sino-Vietnamese: Lục bộ, chữ Hán: ), or the Six Boards, were the major executive parts of the government of the Nguyễn period Vietnamese state from its establishment under the Gia Long Emperor in 1802 until 1906, with the establishment of the Học Bộ (chữ Hán: 學部) in 1907. These six core ministries would exist largely unchanged until the 1933 reforms of the Southern Court by the Bảo Đại Emperor.

History
The Six Boards included:
 * 1) Administration (Bộ Lại, 部吏)
 * 2) Finance (Bộ Hộ, 部戸)
 * 3) Laws (Bộ Hình, 部刑)
 * 4) Military Affairs (Bộ Binh, 部兵)
 * 5) Public works (Bộ Công, 部工)
 * 6) Rites (Bộ Lễ, 部禮)

The Six Boards were established in 1802 after Gia Long's coronation, however they were not fully operational until 1830. Each board had a president (Thượng thư, ), supported by two vice-presidents (Tham tri, ). In 1826 emperor Minh Mạng added two vice-minister into each board (Thị lang, ). By the mid-1840s, the six ministries comprised almost 100 people, included secretaries serving on their boards. In 1907, emperor Duy Tân founded the Ministry of Education to take over a number of functions of the Board of Rites. Cao Xuân Dục was chosen to be its first minister.