Its development process is as follows:
(1) Initial formation in the Warring States Period: With the economic development, the growth of the emerging landlord class and the emergence of local national unity, social conditions were created for the formation of centralization. Han Feizi, an important representative of Legalism, put forward the idea of centralization and governing the country according to law, which formed a set of systematic centralization theory and provided a theoretical basis for it. During the Warring States period, in order to meet the needs of the new landlords to strengthen dictatorship and protect feudal economic development, various vassal States initially established a political system of centralized monarchy. This provided a successful experience for Qin to establish specialized centralization.
(2) The Qin Dynasty was formally established: After Qin Shihuang unified China, he inherited the achievements of Shang Yang's political reform and practiced Han Feizi's theory. This is a great progress of the enfeoffment system before the Warring States Period. It plays a very important role in consolidating national unity and maintaining the foundation of feudal rule.
(3) Consolidation of the Western Han Dynasty: In order to solve the problem of the kingdom in the early Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty put down the rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms on the basis of separatist vassals, and recovered the right to appoint and dismiss officials of the kingdom. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, other measures were promulgated to alleviate the threat of the kingdom. At the same time, the practice of "ousting a hundred schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone" found the theoretical basis that was most suitable for the centralized political system of feudal absolutism. The whole feudal political system was basically finalized, and autocratic centralization of authority was consolidated.
(4) Perfection in Sui and Tang Dynasties: Sui and Tang Dynasties implemented the system of three provinces and six departments, which weakened the power of the prime minister. The imperial examination system also adapted to the development of political system at that time. The implementation of "three provinces and six departments" and "imperial examination system" has improved administrative efficiency, expanded the ruling foundation and further improved professional centralization.
(5) Strengthening in the Northern Song Dynasty: Song Taizu took measures such as "relieving soldiers with a glass of wine", recovered the military power of North Korean generals and our soldiers, and brought local administrative, military and financial powers back to the central government, thus preventing the emergence of local separatist regimes and strengthening centralization.
(6) The new development of the Yuan Dynasty: the Yuan Dynasty established a central book province; Local governments implement a provincial system. Even the Yuan Dynasty successfully consolidated a unified multi-ethnic country, which was a new measure to strengthen centralization, a major development of the ancient rank system and a far-reaching impact on later generations.
(7) The Ming and Qing Dynasties reached its peak: the Ming Dynasty abolished the prime minister in the central government, and the power was divided into six parts; In the local waste province, there are three divisions, and the local strength is further weakened. The establishment of factories and health secret service agencies in various parts of the Ming Dynasty and the recruitment of officials by stereotyped writing are outstanding manifestations of the strengthening of absolutism. The Qing Dynasty followed the Ming system, and then set up the Ministry of War and the literary inquisition, which made China's authoritarian political system reach its peak.
Authoritarianism is based on feudal economy. The dispersion of feudal economy needs strong centralization to maintain national unity and social stability, thus ensuring the development of feudal economy. In order to maintain its rule, the feudal landlord class needed strong political power to suppress the peasants' resistance and consolidate its ruling position. Scattered individual small farmers also need to rely on strong political power to stabilize society, resist foreign aggression and fight against major disasters.
The centralized absolutism was compatible with the feudal mode of production in China. On the one hand, it oppressed, exploited and suppressed the people, on the other hand, it promoted the formation and development of a unified multi-ethnic country, consolidated national unity, created conditions for the development of feudal economy, and was also conducive to national integration. However, its negative effects became more and more serious in the late feudal society, especially after the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which hindered the development of capitalism and social change, imprisoned people's thoughts and caused the stagnation of productive forces. This is also an important political reason for China's long-term stagnation in feudal society.