‘太傅’ (tài fù) was a prestigious official title in imperial China, referring to the Grand Tutor—one of the ‘Three Dukes’ (Sān Gōng), the highest-ranking civil officials who advised the emperor and oversaw state education and moral instruction. The character 太 (tài) means ‘supreme’ or ‘grand’, signifying the highest rank, while 傅 (fù) means ‘tutor’ or ‘instructor’, emphasizing the role’s educational and advisory function. Together, they denote the emperor’s chief mentor, often a highly respected elder statesman appointed for his wisdom and virtue.

This title originated as early as the Zhou Dynasty and continued through the Han, Tang, and Ming dynasties—though its actual power varied over time. While occasionally held by living officials, it was also frequently conferred posthumously as an honorific title. Today, 太傅 appears only in historical texts, classical literature, and scholarly discussions of imperial bureaucracy—not in modern administrative usage.