明朝為中國君主專制政體發展至鼎盛的朝代之一，而欲強化皇權，當朝者則必須充分掌握各類訊息，因而明太祖於洪武十年（1377年）七月設置通政使司，職司掌呈章奏、通達下情。通政使司為正三品之獨立衙門，且首長通政使為大九卿之一，足見太祖對通政使司期盼頗深。 永樂十九年（1421年）正月，成祖下令遷都北京，於是通政使司便正式分為南、北，南京通政使司雖較早設立，但南京此後既為「留都」，政治重要性與北京相較，實不可相提並論，故在官員設置與職掌分配上，北京通政使司均遠較南京通政使司完備與重要。 本論文之研究主題為明代通政使司，透過該司之工作內容探究前朝相類似之職官與機構，並分析通政使司於明代之貢獻、演變與業務職掌；接著統計歸納南、北兩京通政使仕途遷轉之各項數據，探討明代諸帝對通政使司的重視程度；最後剖析導致明代通政使司發展每下愈況的關鍵原因。 Ming Dynasty is one of the dynasties during which the Chinese absolute monarchy reached its development peak. In order to strengthen the imperial power, the potentate has to take advantage of all kinds of information. Therefore, Mingtaizu, in July of Hongwu 10 years, (1377AD) established the office of Transmission dealing with memorials and delivering public opinions. The office of Transmission is an independent Yamun of the third grade rank and the secretary of the office of Transmission serves as one of the Grand Nine Cabinet Ministers , all of which explains Mingtaizu's high expectations on the office of Transmission. In the January of Yongle 19 years, (1421AD), Ch'eng-tsu ordained to move the capital to Beijing, the office of Transmission was then officially divided into north and south, one in Nanjing and the other in Beijing. The office of Transmission in Nanjing, as the “Former Capital”, though established earlier, can’t be equated with Beijing in terms of political importance. So in officials setting-up and posts allocation, the office of Transmission in Beijing is much more complete and important than that in Nanjing. The author of this research, by taking the office of Transmission of Ming Dynasty as the topic, explores the similar officials and institutions in the former dynasties through the duties of this Bureau and analyzes its contribution to the Ming Dynasty, its evolution and its authority. According to the statistical conclusion of the secretaries' transfer of official position respectively in the office of Transmission in Nanjing and Beijing, the author also discusses about the different degrees of importance attached by the emperors of Ming Dynasty to the office of Transmission and finds out the key reasons leading to the gradual decline of the office of Transmission of Ming Dynasty.
