local bailiff; village constable
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
local bailiff; village constable (Qing Dynasty & early Republic)
archaicA low-level official or community elder appointed by the local magistrate to handle minor administrative and policing duties in a village or town, such as tax collection, maintaining order, and reporting crimes. This role is historically specific and not used in modern contexts.
Qīng清
mò末
de的
cūn村
zi子
lǐ里
，
dì地
bǎo保
fù负
zé责
wéi维
chí持
zhì治
ān安
hé和
cuī催
shōu收
shuì税
kuǎn款
。
In late Qing Dynasty villages, the local bailiff was responsible for maintaining order and collecting taxes.
Mín民
guó国
chū初
nián年
，
dì地
bǎo保
zhè这
ge个
zhí职
wèi位
zhú逐
jiàn渐
bèi被
xīn新
de的
jǐng警
chá察
zhì制
dù度
qǔ取
dài代
。
In the early Republic of China, the position of village constable was gradually replaced by the new police system.
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Dì地
bǎo保
zài在
dì地
fāng方
shàng上
pō颇
yǒu有
wēi威
wàng望
，
cūn村
mín民
yǒu有
shì事
dōu都
xiān先
zhǎo找
tā他
。
The local bailiff held considerable prestige in the community, and villagers would seek him out first when they had problems.