Description£º The so-called "hidden power", in the author's words, is a "power from personal relations network" outside the official authority during the era of imperial power. This power is informally awarded by the bureaucratic system and plays a very large substantive role. The author cites historical data from the acquisition to the use of the power in all aspects, and describes various examples of officialdom acquaintances doing favours for each other. The concept of "hidden power" provides a useful perspective for understanding the political reality of traditional China, which allows the reader to recognize the more important truthful side of the ruling game of the imperial power system.
