What type of government did ancient China have?

The type of government in ancient China was a monarchy that was often autocratic and despotic. It was ruled by emperors who were sovereigns of Imperial China and recognized by their subjects as the rulers of "All under heaven."

Ancient China was under a dynastic rule where emperors from the same family ruled for generations. Dynasties from different regions often competed for supremacy to control China's resources and territories. The king of the dominant dynasty became the emperor, who ruthlessly implemented the law and formed massive labor forces. The emperor recruited vast armies to dissuade barbarians from invading their lands and to keep internal conflicts at bay.