The extensive use of Zhafu (mandate letter of designation) reflects the flexibility of the appointment of officials in the Mongol Yuan Dynasty (12711368 AD). It played an important role in the Yuan officialselecting system. As an instrument of appointment, it inherited the old system of Jurchen Jin Dynasty (11151234 AD) with some improvement. It was mostly written in Phagspa script with Chinese translation notes. The writing style evolved from minimal content to complicated forms. Institutions with power to issue Zhafu are not limited to the Central Secretariat (中书省 Zhongshu Sheng) and the Branch Secretariats (行省 provinces), but also include central and local government institutions and Touxia (投下 Soyurqal) institutions. The recipients include military officials such as Zongba (总把 chief commander), head of a hundred or centurian (百户), head of chiliads or chiliarch (千户) of auruq (奥鲁 military households), local investigating censors, miscellaneous officials and senior petty officials. Some administrative officials at the circuit (道 a prefecturelike division) and county levels were given Zhafu for their appointment, which was mostly a temporary measure in unusual times. Zhafu together with Xuanming (宣命 mandate of designation to royal and high officials of first to fifth ranks), Chidie (敕牒 mandate of designation to officials of sixth to nineth ranks) and Fushen (付身 letter of designation to petty officials) constitute the system of official appointment documents in the Yuan Dynasty.