The term "
Ministry of Revenue" or "
Board of Revenues" is an English gloss of the department's purview. It is also similarly translated as the or . In Chinese, the various names of the department never referred to the government's monetary income. Instead, prior to the
Sui dynasty, it was known as the
Dùzhī from its role in overseeing government expenses. Under the Sui, it was known as the "Ministry of People" (
Mínbù) from its role overseeing the census and its associated taxation. From the Tang to the Qing, it was known as the "Households Department" (
Hùbù), again from its role in overseeing a census reckoned in households and associated taxation. ==Administrative level==