Zhouli (《周礼》) is one of four extant collections of ritual matters of the Zhou Dynasty . The final redactional work on these books took place during the Han Dynasty. Three of them were incorporated into the Canon of Confucian Classics: Liji (《礼記》), Yili （《仪礼》), and Zhouli. The fourth, the Da Dai Liji (《大戴礼記》), has only survived in fragments and was almost forgotten for centuries.

  In 1950s two famous Chinese historians Gu Jigang and Yang Shangkui argued that Zhouli was written by legalists in QI state.

  The obscure book Zhouli consists of a long listing of the officials that the Zhou kings theoretically engaged to run the empire. It is therefore also known under the name of "Zhou Guan (周官) - Offices of the Zhou". The hundreds and thousands of offices are divided into six groups that were the foundation for the later six ministries. The origin of the Zhouli dates not before the Han Dynasty and seems to be an abstract description of the ideal Zhou government. But already in Han times people criticised it as a faked book. The Duke of Zhou (周公旦) - brother of King Zhou Wuwang (周武王) - is said to have composed this book among many others. Especially after the usurper Wang Mang (王莽) adopted it to form his goverment, it became the target of harsh criticism. Until now, its real author can only be supposed. Some said, it was a concoction of the middle Han time scholar Liu Xin (刘歆, a follower of Wang Mang), some supposed, disciples of Xunzi (荀子) had compiled it.

  As a lot of bronze vessels with inscriptions have been unearthed, we have evidence showing that Zhouli is not a fake book. In some way it is a description of the constitution of the Zhou Dynasty.

  There is still no English translation, only a French one by Biot.

  The following examples are taken from the beginning of the Zhouli where the highest officials under the Prime Minister and their taskes are described.

Chapters of the Zhouli

1. 天官冢宰 Tianguan Zhouzai, Celestial Ministry with the Prime Minister
2. 地官司徒 Diguan Situ, Terrestrial Ministry with the Overseer of Public Affairs
3. 春官宗伯 Chunguan Zongbo, Spring Ministry with the Overseer of Ritual Affairs
4. 夏官司馬 Xiaguan Sima, Summer Ministry with the Overseer of Military Affairs
5. 秋官司冠 Qiuguan Siguan, Autumn Ministry with the Overseer of the Penal Affairs
6.冬官考工記 Dongguan Kaogongji, Winter Ministry with the Overseer of Public Work. 
 
Exemplary translation

The Prime Minister and the Celestial Ministry:

The only person that constitutes the empire, is the king. He determines the [four] regions and fixes the [governmental] positions; he embodies the cities and measures the countryside; he creates the ministries and separates their respective functions; this all to make a fixed pole for the people. Therewith, he institutes the "Celestial Ministry" and the office of prime minister, he charges the prime minister with the duty of leading his subordinates and taking into his hands the administration of the state, to help the king regulate the fiefdoms and the state.

The ministry consists of the following persons:

The Great Administrator, one ministerial person. Small Administrators, two prefects of second rank. Assistant Administrators, four prefects of third rank. Eight graduated officers of first rank, sixteen graduates officers of second rank. Ordinary officers: thirty-two graduated officers of third rank, six officers for the magazins, twelve scribes, twelve aides, and one hundred and twenty retainers...
 
The office of Great Administrator:

He holds in his hands the duty to establish the Six Constitutions to constitute the empire, for he has to help the king to regulate the fiefdoms and the state.

First, the Regulating Constitution, to measure the fiefdoms and the state, to regulate the ministries and to structure the people.
Second, the Instructing Constitution, to consolidate the country, to instruct the Ministries and to civilize the people.
Third, the Ritual Constitution, to harmonize the country, to unite the Ministries and to bring the people together.
Forth, the Governmental Constitution, to appease the country, to correct the officers, and to make equal all people.
Fifth, the Punishment Constitution, to correct the country, to chastise the officers, and to bind the people to what is needed.
Sixth, the Labour Constitution, to enrich the country, to make active the officers, and to nourish the people...

By the Eight regulations, he regulates the Ministries,...
by the Eight Principles, he regulates the cities and the towns,...
by the Eight Handles, he helps the king to control the many officers,...
by the Eight Guidelines, he helps the king to control the people,...
by the Nine Offices, he employs the people,...
by the Nine Taxes, he reassembles the richness and values,...
by the Nine Measures, he equals and moderates the finances [of the ministries],...
by the Nine tributes, he effects the expenditures of the country,...
by the Nine Couplings, he helds together the people of the country...

At the end of the year, he orders all officers to regulate each one of their duties, and he receives their account, he makes them report how they effected their duties, and he suggests the king whom to dismiss and whom to confirm. Every third year, he carries out the great control of the government of all officers and punishes or rewards them.