The origin of the Manchu Eight Banners:
The Eight Banners system is a social organization system that unites military and civilians in the Qing Dynasty. It was established by Taizu Nurhachi based on the Jurchen cattle recording system. In the ninth year (1601), four flags were built: Zhenghuang Banner, Zhenglan Banner, Zhengbai Banner, and Zhenghong Banner. In the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1615), four additional flags were added, called the Xianghuang Banner, the Xianglan Banner, the Xianghong Banner and the Xiangbai Banner. Three hundred people were designated as one Niu Lu, five Niu Lu were one Jia La, and five Jia La were one. In Gushan (Gushan is the flag), the Manchu people were divided into each banner according to the eight-banner system. They produced goods in peacetime and participated in conquests in wartime. When it was first built
it not only played an important role in the military, but also had administrative and production functions. After the unification of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Taizong and Huang Taiji strengthened the restraint on the bannermen and strengthened the military functions of the Eight Banners system. In order to expand military strength and win over people's hearts, they established the Eight Banners of the Han Army and the Eight Banners of the Mongolia. Each banner has regular troops such as military camp, forward camp, valiant cavalry camp, Jianrui camp and infantry camp, as well as imperial guards, ladders and formations. In addition, special camps such as the Xiangli Camp, the Tiger Spear Camp, and the Firearms Camp were set up to practice wrestling, archery, tiger stabbing, and gun inspection. Since the emperors of the early Qing Dynasty attached great importance to practical combat skills such as guns, artillery and martial arts, the Eight Banners Army achieved brilliant results in battles such as pacifying the San Francisco dynasty and taking over Taiwan to resist the Tsarist invasion. The Eight Banners soldiers are divided into two categories: operational and garrison. Jingying is the general name of the Eight Banners army that guards the capital. It is composed of Lang Wei and Bing Wei, who guard the royal family. To be called Langwei, he must be a person from the upper three banners of Xianghuang, Zhenghuang, and Zhengbai. For example, in the Forbidden City, the Wumen, Dongxihuamen, and Shenwumen are guarded by the Shangsanbanner. Garrison refers to the Eight Banners stationed in important places across the country. The total number of troops in the Beijing camp is about 100,000, and the total number of garrison troops is also about 100,000.
Xianlan Banner
Located in the eastern part of Ulanchabu League in present-day Inner Mongolia, it was one of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty. It was built in the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1615). It was named because the flag was blue with red. The blue flag was one of the five flags, which were divided into kings, Beile and Beizi. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, its scale had reached 87 general commanders and one and a half sub-commands, 27,000 soldiers, and a total population of about 135,000 men, women, and children. The famous performing artist Mr. Hou Baolin is a Blue Banner person.
Zhenglan Banner
In the southern part of present-day Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia, the Lightning River connects to Hebei. One of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty, it was built in the 29th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty. It was named after the pure blue flag color. Before Shunzhi, Zhenglan Banner was listed as the top three banners along with Zhenghuang and Xianghuang. At the beginning of Shunzhi, it was demoted to the lower five banners by Doer Gun. It was no longer under the direct control of the emperor but was divided between the kings, Beile and Beizi. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the scale reached 83 subordinates, 11 and a half subordinates, 26,000 soldiers, and a total population of about 130,000 men, women, and children.
Zhenghong Banner
Located in the eastern part of the present-day Ulanqab League, it was one of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty. It was built in the 29th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1601). It was named because the flag was pure red. The Zhenghong flag was the lower five flags, which were divided between Zhu Wang, Beizi and Beile. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, it was the banner with the smallest population among the Eight Banners. It had 74 subordinate commanders, 23,000 soldiers, and a total population of approximately 115,000 men, women, and children. The famous writer Lao She was originally affiliated with Zhenghong Banner; during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty Most of the corrupt officials and gentry were also Red Banners
Xiahongqi
One of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty in the eastern part of the Ulanchabu League in present-day Inner Mongolia. It was built in the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1615). It was named because the flag was red with white on it. The red flag was one of the five banners. It was divided between the kings, Beile and Beizi. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, the scale had reached 86 under its jurisdiction. The whole army had 26,000 soldiers, and the total population of men, women, and children was about 130,000. Zhenfei, the favorite concubine of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, was one of the people with the red flag.
Xianghuang Banner
Located in the southern part of present-day Xilin Gol League in Inner Mongolia, it was one of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty. It was built in the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1615). It was named because the flag was yellow with a red border. The bordered yellow flag was one of the top three flags. There was no king in the flag, and it was ruled by the emperor personally, and the soldiers were the emperor's personal soldiers. Members of the Imperial Guard were also selected from the Shangsanqi.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the scale expanded to include 84 general orders and two and a half sub-commands, 26,000 soldiers, and a total population of about 130,000 men, women, and children. Many members of the Qing royal family were wearing yellow flags, such as Emperor Jiaqing's Empress Xiao Herui, Emperor Qianlong's As imperial concubines, Cixi and Ci'an both "listened to politics behind the curtain", and many officials in the Xianghuang Banner Dynasty also came from.
Zhenghuang Banner
It is named after the pure yellow color of the flag. Zhenghuang, Xianghuang and Zhengbai are listed as the upper three flags. There is no king in the upper three flags, and they are all led by the emperor. Soldiers and members of the imperial guard were also selected from the upper three banners. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, it had the largest population among the Eight Banners. It had 92 general commanders and two and a half sub-commands, about 30,000 soldiers, and a total population of about 150,000 men, women, and children. Nalan Xingde, Kangxi's favorite minister and first-class bodyguard of the Qianqing clan, was from Zhenghuang Banner.
Bordered White Flag
In the southern part of Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia today, it is one of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty. It was built in the 43rd year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1615). It was named after the flag color is white with red. Named Xiangbai Banner, one of the five lower banners. It was not ruled by the emperor himself, but by the kings Beizi Beile. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, the scale was 84 commanders, with 28,000 soldiers, and the total population of men, women, old and young was about 130,000 people.
Zhengbai Banner
Located in the south of Xilinguole League in Inner Mongolia, it is one of the Eight Banners of the Qing Dynasty. It was originally designated by Nurhaci in the 29th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1601) because of the pure white color of the flag. Name, Zhengbai Banner is one of the Shangsan Banners among the Eight Banners. Before Shunzhi, there was no Zhengbai or Zhenglan Banner among the Shangsan Banners. Because at the beginning of Shunzhi, Duo Ergun incorporated his territory into the Shangsan Banners and Zhenglan Banner. The flag is lowered to the lower five flags, and then it becomes customization. Zhengbai Banner is one of the emperor's personal leaders. There is no owner in the flag. The soldiers are the emperor's personal soldiers, and members of the royal family are selected from them.
The establishment and evolution of the Eight Banners:
Age and location Characters setting flags
In 1601, Fushun Xinbinhe Tuala City (29th year of Wanli), Qing Taizu Nurhachi initially established the four flags: yellow, white, red, and black
Fushun in 1615 In the new Binhtuala City (the first year of Tianming), the four flags of Emperor Taizu Nurhachi of the Qing Dynasty were changed to: yellow, white, red, and blue
At the same time, the four flags of Pied were added: yellow, white, red, and Blue
In 1635, Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty established the Han Dynasty in Shenyang (the 9th year of Tiancong). In 1637, Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty established the Han Dynasty The second banner of the army: Zhengyang and Xianghuang
In 1639, when Shenyang was in the capital (the 4th year of Chongde), Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty Huang Taiji expanded the Han army to four flags, Zhengbai and Xiangbai
In 1643, when Shenyang was in the capital (the 8th year of Chongde), Emperor Taizong of the Qing Dynasty Huang Taiji expanded the Han army into eight banners
A total of 8×3=24 banners×7500 people/banner 180,000 people
2 , The three-level organizational form and personnel strength of the Eight Banners:
(1) The official position of the Eight Banners’ grassroots organizations—Niulu (zuoling) Ezhen
Niulu—in Manchu It means "arrow". The Manchus (Jurchens) travel together as a group when hunting, and the leader is responsible for all the "arrows". Therefore, the leader of the organization is called Niulu Ezhen. It started in 1601, with a fixed number of 300 people.
(2) The middle-level official position in the Eight Banners organization - Jia La (Zhalan, Jialan) is also called the Shenling, Ezhen. Five Niu Lu are compiled into - Jia La, one Jia La (Zhalan) = 5 Niu Lu (5×300) = 1,500 people.
(3) The highest official position in the Eight Banners organization - the flag owner is Gushan Ezhen
5 Jia La = 1 Gushan = 5 × 1500 people = 7500 people.
(4) 7,500 people per flag × 8 flags = 60,000 people.
3. The difference between the flags in the Eight Banners:
(1) The pronunciation of Zheng and Xiangqi in the Eight Banners:
There is a difference between Zheng and Xiangqi in the Eight Banners, also It is called "Zheng" or "Xiang" flag, and it is not difficult to understand its meaning literally.
Zheng - the whole, all; inlaid - the edge trimmed on the basis of the original solid color, also called "box".
(2) Difference: The dragon head of the four flags is facing to the right, and there are five flowers in the belly of the dragon. Auspicious clouds; the dragon head of the Four Flags is facing to the left, and there are three auspicious clouds in the belly of the dragon.
(3) Flag style:
1) The four flags are 7 feet 5 inches long from left to right, top and bottom 6 feet wide, rectangular; inlaid with four flags, the outer upper and lower corners are cut off to the size of the regular four flags
2) The eight-color dragon flags are all made of dragon patterns. The inlaid flags are formed, but after adding the edges, the middle area is small , the dragon shape is smaller.
3) Combination of dragon and flag color: yellow flag with blue dragon, white flag with blue dragon, red flag with yellow dragon, blue flag with red dragon.
4) Flagpole: one foot and five feet long, vermilion red, with the dragon head facing the flagpole and an iron spear head at the end.
4. The meaning of the colors of the Eight Flags:
The Jurchens were divided into five colors at that time: red, yellow, blue, white and black. The Jurchen generals at that time: red represents the sun, yellow represents the land, white represents the water, blue represents the sky, and black represents iron. Iron precedes earth. If there is earth, there are no five colors. There are only four colors: red, yellow, white, and blue.
Said: The Jurchens depend on the sky for food, and they rely on the sky for farming, water, and sunshine to survive and develop.
So use: yellow - represents earth; white - represents water; red - represents the sun; blue represents the sky. Therefore, heaven, earth, sun, and water are used to correspond to blue, yellow, white, and red.
5. The flag owners of the Shangsan Banner and the Eight Banners and the left and right wings are separated.
(1) The Upper Three Banners and the Lower Five Banners after entering Beijing
The Upper Three Banners are the "Emperor's own generals" and are mostly led by the emperor. They have the highest status and have the power of many people. The crowd became the core; they are: Zhenghuang, Xianghuang, and Zhengbai, guarding the imperial city and selecting bodyguards. Serving as the emperor's escort when traveling, he is a pro-military soldier.
The five flags were lowered to guard the outside of the capital, and a large number of guards were sent to various places to station guards. They are bordered with white, true red, bordered red, true blue, and bordered blue.
(1) The flag owners of the four flags established in 1601 are:
Zhenghuang Banner, flag owner Nurhachi is the commander;
The Zhengbai Banner is commanded by Nurha’s eldest son Xuying;
The Zhenghong Banner is the banner is led by Nurhachi’s second son Daishan;
Zhenglan Banner, the flag owner is Nurhaci’s younger brother Shuerhaqi.
The flag owners of the eight banners expanded to eight in 1615 are:
The Zhenghuang Banner, commanded by the flag owner Nurhaci;
The Xianghuang Banner, commanded by the flag owner Nurhaci;
The Xianghuang Banner is commanded by the flag owner Nurhaci;
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The white flag is led by Huang Taiji, the eighth son of Nurhaci;
The white flag is led by Azige, the twelfth son of Nurhaci.
The banner owners of Zheng and Xianghong Banners are led by Daishan, the second son of Nurhachi.
The Zhenglan Banner is led by Nurhaci’s nephew Amin.
The blue flag is led by Mang Gurtai, the fifth son of Nurhaci.
(3) Left and right wing settings:
Left wing: yellow, white, white, blue right wing: yellow, red, red, blue
6. After entering Beijing, the Eight Banners of the Manchu people were stationed in the garrison of Beijing (Beijing Banner) and (the Eight Banners were banned from traveling):
(1) The inner city of Beijing is a square city, according to the direction and color Deployment:
Two yellow flags stationed in the north (at Deshengmen and Andingmen);
Two white flags stationed in the east (Dongzhimen, Chaoyangmen);
Two red flags Stationed in the west (Xizhimen, Fuchengmen);
The two blue banners are stationed in the south (Chongwenmen, Xuanwumen).
(2) The positions of the Eight Banners armies are divided according to the "Five Elements Yin and Yang":
The two yellow flags are stationed in the north. The north represents water in the five elements, and the yellow represents earth. Earth can block water;
The two white flags are stationed in the east. The east represents wood in the five elements, and white represents gold. , metal can bring down wood;
The two red flags are stationed in the west, and the west represents gold in the five elements, and the red represents fire, and fire can overcome metal;
The two blue flags are stationed in the south, and the south is in the five elements. Medium represents fire, blue represents water, and water can extinguish fire.