The highest administrative office in imperial China, managing national political affairs from the Wei and Jin dynasties until the early Ming dynasty. Along with the 中书省 zhōng​shū​shěng and 门下省 mén​xià​shěng, it was part of the Three Departments system, overseeing the Six Ministries. Also known as 北省 běi​shěng because it was often located in the northern part of the palace grounds.