Abstract: The Ten Dao Maps is an administrative geographical work from the Tang Dynasty, serving the governance of local regions by the centralized state.The reform of the selection system for officials integrated the ranking of prefectures and counties into the Ministry of Personnel's nomination framework.In the later period of the Tang Dynasty, The Ten Dao Maps, along with The Following Qualifications and The Long-established Grades, became parts of the official regulations used by the Ministry of Personnel.From the Five Dynasties through to the early Northern Song period, the hierarchical rankings recorded in this document remained a critical administrative reference for central authorities.The Song Dynasty works such as The Nine Regions Map, The Yuanfeng Nine Regions Record, and The Nine Regions Record were all compiled based on The Ten Dao Maps, following its principles, structural format, and function in recording the hierarchy of prefectures and counties to serve administrative purposes.The documentation of the hierarchy of prefectures and counties is crucial to the administrative function of The Ten Dao Maps and The Illustrated Gazetteer of Nine Regions.Examining the development and evolution of administrative geographic records like The Ten Dao Maps and The Illustrated Gazetteer of Nine Regions is significantly important for studies related to the administration of prefectures and counties, and the reforms of the selection system during the Tang and Song periods.

Key words: The Ten Dao Maps, The Illustrated Gazetteer of Nine Regions, administrative functions, the hierarchy of prefectures and counties