The Commentary Of Han Army In The Eight Banners Army Leaving The Banners Of Qianlong Period

The Han army of Eight Banners ("the Han army"hereinafter) that is called ujenchooha in the Manchu language is heavy-armed infantry equipped with firearms. The Han army was the last part to be formed in the three ethnic components of the Eight Banners——the Manchu, the Mongols and the Han Chinese, which was finally organized in the 7th year of Chongde of Emperor Qing Taizong (1642). It served as political tactics and force and played an important role in Manchu's war of unification of China. The Han army's effect was apparently presented in the use of firearms, friendliness of relationship between the Manchu and the Han Chinese, and appointment of local officials, etc.In the reign of Emperor Qing Gaozong, the Han army's leaving the Banners policy was put forward and implemented mostly during the 4th to 60th year of Qianlong. The Eight Banners had been divided into the Imperial Guard Eight Banners (禁旅八旗) defended Beijing and the Garrison Eight Banners (驻防八旗) stationed in some key cities of China. The Zuoling's (佐领,niru in Manchu) number of the Han army recorded in Qinding Baqi Tongzhi (《钦定八旗通志》)is merely that of the Han Imperial Guard Eight Banners. The Han Garrison Eight Banners with large number of soldiers are lack of clear record in Qinding Baqi Tongzhi·Qifenzhi (《钦定八旗通志·旗分志》), and that is the reason why only four Zuoling and two and a half of Zuoling (半分佐领) were repealed according to that book, however, actually far more the Han army were cancelled. In the execution of the Han army's leaving the Banners policy, the Zuoling's number in the Han Imperial Guard Eight Banners had no obvious changes, in other words, the amount of soldier was not largely reduced. In fact, the Han Garrison Eight Banners contributed the main body of veterans.Besides, leaving the Banners policy is a selective policy in practice rather than a sort of action against majority. The policy had some personnel classification standards, for instance, whether the one was the Liaodong Han people who followed the Manchu entering into the Shanhai Pass, the time surrendering to the Qing Dynasty, the contribution to the Qing, belonging to the Imperial Guard Eight Banners or the Garrison Eight Banners, whether the one got relatives to depend on in stationed place, status and the family background, the record of mistakes, and survival capability if leaving the Banners, all of these would be taken into account.The Han army soldiers'identity changes caused by the policy are inevitable results of resolution of interior conflicts and redistribution of interests among different groups, moreover, these changes are also connected with Qing rulers'attitude towards the Han army. The Qing rulers proclaimed"the Manchu and the Han as one family", but they potentially took discrimination against the Han people at the bottom of heart. At the same time, leaving the Banners policy influenced development of the Han army, formation of the Manchu and the social changes in the Qing Dynasty in different extent. First of all, leaving the Banners of the Han army is the exposure of latent crisis of the prosperous period. The Qing Dynasty had taken a"nurture"policy since they entered into the Shanhai Pass, which turned into the root of crisis. Furthermore, the Han army is an embarrassing interest group distinct from both the Eight Banners people and the Han civilians. Their embarrassing role originated from the persistent conflicts between Manchu the conqueror and the Han people of the Central Plains in the Qing Dynasty.