The Institution Of Nian Ban On Mongolian Aristocrats In Qing Dynasty

Since China has always been a nation of many ethnic groups, rulers in all dynasties have attached great importance to the issue of controlling the frontier and establishing harmonious relations with the neighboring ethnic minorities. As the last feudal dynasty in Chinese history, Qing government sensibly drew on the experiences and lessons from previous dynasties in governing the frontier areas. Taking its existing historical circumstances into account, Qiug government adopted the policy of "cementing friendly relation through political marriages" and "granting titles and lands to the nobles". In this way, the "frontier regions were not totally governed by the government itself and the purpose of "taking the Mongolian tribes as the Dynasty's natural frontier" was achieved through winning over the upper class nobles among the ethnic groups in the frontier regions. In order to carry out this policy and consolidate its reign, corresponding regulations and measures were implemented in the Mongolian region by Qing government. The Institution of Nian Ban on Mongolian aristocrats served as one of the fundamental policies the Qing government adopted to rule the Mongolians. Based on the principle of "clemency-bestowing and authority-imposing", the institution played an essential and effective role in pacifying the Mongolian aristocrats, strengthening the Man-Meng coalition and intensifying the ruling of the frontier areas. However, in the meantime the institution also inflicted many negative consequences upon the economic development and the daily life of the peasants and herdsmen. The thesis attempts to make a thorough and systematic analysis on the Institution in the following four aspects:I . The establishment of the Institution of Nian Ban. Originating from the system of "paying tribute to an emperor", the Institution had a long history and dated back to the Zhou Dynasty. Second, the establishment of governmental authority and the consolidation of the reign necessitated the pursuance of such an Institution. Finally, the Institution of Nian Ban was produced by the Man-Meng coalition and their constant changes and shifts of powers.II. The main contents and features of the Institution of Nian Ban. The Institution not only demonstrated that the Mongolian aristocrats submitted themselves and acknowledged the allegiance to the rule of the Qing government, but also suggested that it was taken as an important political measure to control the upper class nobles among the frontier ethnic minorities. Therefore, the government paid full attention to the Institution and relevant provisions and regulations were specified to perfect it.III. The evolutionary stages of the Institution of Nian Ban. Generally three stages were marked in its development, which included the early formation,developing into maturity and the declining period.IV. The functions and influences of the Institution of Nian Ban. The positive effects were that the economic and cultural communications between the Mongolian region and the Central Plains were greatly enhanced. In addition, the visions of the Mongolian aristocrats were broadened and new insights were introduced. The negative results were that the degeneration of the Mongolian aristocrats was hastened and the lives of the peasants and herdsmen were severely burdened.