Socio+-+Qing

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 * Socio-Political Structure:[[image:ImperialRobesOfficialsPayingRespectTrans.jpg width="388" height="291" align="right"]] **

 Sources: [] - Text Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, National Geographic, The New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, Reuters, AP, Lonely Planet Guides, Compton’s Encyclopedia and various books and other publications. [] Book: China's Imperial Past - Charles O. Hucker
 * The most important administrative body of the Qing Dynasty was the Grand council, which consists of the emperor and the high officials.
 * The ranks of the officials are stated according to their clothing.
 * Crane Embroidery for the first degree civil services and other animals for the others.
 * Colors represent the ranks as well. Yellow was reserved for the Emperors.
 * In order to get a high rank, people had to work hard for their positions. 315
 * Scholar officials took open, competitive, written examinations on their knowledge on the Confucian classics, history and literary skills to see where they stand. 303
 * 3 Stages to pass:
 * The first stage was a basic certification examination that happened at regularly by provincial education attendants. 318
 * After passing (they are named the hsiu-ts’ai) they are allowed to wear distinctive caps and sashes and were excused from state labor service. 318
 * Every three years, the hsiu-ts’ai would be able to participate in the provincial examinations were it required a general knowledge of the classics and history, the ability to relate classical precepts and historical precedents to philosophical principles or political issues. Also looked at their ability in literary compositions – passing hsiu-ts’ai then became chu-jen (Elevated men). 318
 * Sometimes chu-jen would be moved to the lower post or requested to take the metropolitan examination at the nation capital a few months after passing the second exam – passing chu-jen moved up another rank to chin-shih (scholar or doctor). 318
 * Confucians – respect their parents, ancestors, to be kind and generous, to work hard, pay taxes etc.
 * Lower rank officials or retired officials read the citizens in monthly assemblies these Confucians. 310
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Grand council kneels in front of the emperor while they discuss issues. 304
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">During the Qing dynasty, they changed the way in which officials were whipped in open court where all the other officials would be watching but no one forgot who was in power and were always cautious and obedient. 317
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">This is where the victim is held face down on the palace floor while eunuch hit their buttocks with wooden rods. 304
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Emperors were very careful is setting ranks for people so they pose no threat them.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Gave military leaders no power bases in which they might threaten the throne.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Most of the military commanders who whom the emperors could trust – their fellow Manchus.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">They protected themselves from the rise of any new well-established power group that may threaten them. 305
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">They were careful so the later dynasties were more durable and greater efficiency. 305
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">If it was the earlier times, marriage between imperial families and imperial relatives would have been appointed to the highest civil and military offices but they were now systematically excluded from the governmental positions or importance, sometimes they were even required to stay away from the palace. 305
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">The government centered around the emperor as absolute ruler in control over 6 ministries, each watched over by 2 supreme secretaries and were assisted by 4 assistant secretaries.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">A Manchu official and a Han Chinese were required to work together.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">**Board of War:** The board of war during this time had little power over military matters. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">**Board of Punishment:** They were in charge of the legal matters such as supervising various law courts and prisons. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">**Board of Works:** They were in charge of all the governmental building projects that included the palaces, temples and the repairs of waterways and flood canals. This department is also in charge of the minting coinage.
 * Board of Civil Appointments:** In charge of all the other civil officials – including evaluation, promotion and dismissal.
 * Board of Finance:** A department in charge of income collection and the financial management of the government.
 * Board of Rites:** They were responsible for all the matter concerning procedure at court.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Ensures the smooth running of the empire.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Looking after welfare of visiting ambassadors from other nations.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">The banner armies were under control of the Emperor, Manchurian and Mongolian Princes, leaving only the ministry with power over the Green Standard armies.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">They were monitored and directed by the Emperor, first through the Manchu ruling council and then the General Command Center.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">The Han Chinese was treated differently; they had a harsher penal code.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Source: []- <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Elegant, Robert S. //Manchu.// New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;"> Sources: [] Book: China's Imperial Past - Charles O. Hucker<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-fareast-font-family;">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Tax was collected by tax captains who were each assigned and were responsible for a different area. 310
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Qing emperors authorized policies that stimulated agriculture and favored the small farmers who made up of 80% of China’s population.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Reduced their tax system to benefit the poor who owned small plots of land.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Whenever harvest was bad, the tax was reduced once again.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">[[image:Once_upon_china.jpg align="left" caption="Queue hairstyles."]]- Men were required to shave their heads, leaving only a single braid at the back to signify the Manchu’s dominance – this hairstyle was called the queue.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">- Anyone seen without this hairstyle was executed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">- Although the Manchu’s were not Han Chinese, they followed their way in believing in Buddhist and Taoist.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">- Made offering to Ancestors in small shrines.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">- Believed that the dead traveled to another world that coexists with the living.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Corpses are removed through windows because doors were for the living.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">People believed in Shamanism.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">A religion of the people in which they believed in mediation between the visible and the spirit worlds.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">There are ones who chant scripture and performed dances at imperial services, ones that specialized in treating illnesses and ones who take control over ceremonies and sacrificial rites to the spirits.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">A shaman wears a smock, a bronze bell at the waist, a mirror on this chest and a pointed cap with colored strips that hung in front of the face during his jobs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Parents often arranged marriages and women married young (16-17). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">[[image:20080217-manchu%20osu.gif align="right"]]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Babies were kept in a suspended cradle.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Women had more freedom.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Didn’t bind their feet.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Walked freely in public places.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Ride horses and practiced archery.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Participated in hunts.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmsoAnsiLanguage;">Fought alongside the men on the battlefields.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">Picture Source: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[]