The Grand Council or Junjichu (Traditional Chinese: 軍機處, Simplified Chinese: 军机处; pinyin: Jūnjīchù; Manchu: coohai nashūn i ba; literally, "Office of Military Secrets") was an important policy-making body in the Qing Empire. It was established in 1733 by the Yongzheng Emperor. The Council was originally in charge of military affairs, but gradually attained a more important role and eventually attainted the role of a privy council, eclipsing the Grand Secretariat in function and importance, which is why it has become known as the "Grand Council" in English. Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiÇŽntǐzì; also Simplified Chinese: 简化字; Traditional Chinese: 簡化字; pinyin: jiÇŽnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell(ing) and yin means sound(s)). This article describes the most common variant called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: 汉语拼音; Traditional Chinese: 漢語拼音; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... The Manchu language is a member of the Tungusic languages of Altaic family; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 100 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus. ... The Qing Dynasty (Manchu: daicing gurun; Chinese: 清朝; pinyin: qīng cháo; Wade-Giles: ching chao), sometimes known as the Manchu Dynasty, was founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what is today northeast China expanded into China proper and the surrounding territories of... The Yongzheng Emperor (born Yinzhen 胤禛) (December 13, 1678 - October 8, 1735) was the fourth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1722 to 1735. ... A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, especially in a monarchy. ...

Despite its important role in the government, the Grand Council remained an informal policy making body in the inner court and its members held other concurrent posts in the Qing civil service. Originally, most of the officials serving in the Grand Council were Manchus, but gradually Han Chinese officials were admitted into the ranks of the council. One of the earliest Han Chinese officials to serve in the Council was Zhang Tingyu. The chancellery was housed in an insignificant building just west of the gate to Palace of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City. The Manchu (Manchu: Manju; Simplified Chinese: 满族; Traditional Chinese: 滿族; pinyin: Mǎnzú) are a Tungusic people who originated in Manchuria (todays Northeast China). ... This article needs to be wikified. ... The Palace of Heavenly Purity, or Qianqing Palace (乾清宫) is a palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. ... Overview of the Forbidden City The Forbidden City or Forbidden Palace (Chinese: ; pinyin: Zǐjinchéng; literally Purple Forbidden City; Manchu: Dabkūri dorgi hoton, literally Layered Inner City), located at the exact centre of the ancient city of Beijing, China was the imperial palace during the mid-Ming and...

Origins of the Grand Council

Council of Advisor Princes

In the early part of the Qing dynasty, political power was held by the Council of Advisor Princes (議政王大臣會議), which consisted of eight imperial princes who served as imperial Advisors at the same time. It also included a few of Manchu officials. Established in 1637, the Council was responsible for deciding major policies of the Imperial government. Decisions of the Council had precedence over decisions of the Imperial Cabinet. In 1643, the Shunzhi Emperor expanded the Council's composition to Han officials, with its mandate expanded to all important decisions relating to the State. The Council's powers gradually waned after the establishment of the Southern Study and the Grand Council, and it was abolished in 1717. The Qing Dynasty (Chinese: ; Pinyin: QÄ«ng cháo; Wade-Giles: Ching chao; Manchu: daicing gurun), occasionally known as the Manchu Dynasty, is a Chinese term for the Empire of the Great Qing (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: dàqÄ«ngguó), founded by the Manchu clan Aisin Gioro, in what... The Manchu (Manchu: Manju; Simplified Chinese: 满族; Traditional Chinese: 滿族; pinyin: MÇŽnzú) are a Tungusic people who originated in Manchuria (todays Northeast China). ... Events February 3 - Tulipmania collapses in Netherlands by government order February 15 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor December 17 - Shimabara Rebellion erupts in Japan Pierre de Fermat makes a marginal claim to have proof of what would become known as Fermats last theorem. ... // Events January 21 - Abel Tasman discovers Tonga February 6 - Abel Tasman discovers the Fiji islands. ... The Shunzhi Emperor (March 15, 1638–February 5, 1661?) was the second emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China proper from 1644 to 1661. ... Han Chinese (Simplified Chinese: 汉族; Traditional Chinese: 漢族; Pinyin: hànzú) is a term which refers to the majority ethnic group within China and the largest single human ethnic group in the world. ... // Events January 4 — The Netherlands, Britain & France sign Triple Alliance February 26-March 6 What is now the northeastern United States was paralyzed by a series of blizzards that buried the region. ...

Southern Study

The Southern Study (Chinese: Nánshūfáng, 南書房; Manchu: Julergi bithei boo) was an institution that held the highest policy-making power after its establishment in 1677. It was abolished in 1898. The Southern Study was built by the Kangxi Emperor in the south-western corner of the Palace of Heavenly Purity. Members of the Hanlin Academy, selected on the basis of literary merit, were posted to the Study so that the Emperor had easy access to them when he sought counsel or discussion. When posted to the Study, officials were known as "[having] access to the Southern Study" (南書房行走). Because of their proximity to the Emperor, official posted to the Study became highly influential to the Emperor. After the establishment of the Grand Council, the Southern Study remained an important institution but lost its policy advisory role. Officials regarded secondment to the Southern Study as an honourable recognition of their literary achievements. In Chinese, the term "access to the Southern Study" in modern usage indicates a person who, through channels other than formal government office, has significant influence over leaders of the government. The Manchu language is a member of the Tungusic languages of Altaic family; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 100 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus. ... Events First performance of Racines tragedy, Phèdre Sarah Churchill marries John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough Battle of Cassel, Philippe I of Orléans defeats William of Orange Mary II of England marries William of Orange English Statute of frauds is passed into law Battle of Landskrona Elias... 1898 (MDCCCXCVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Kangxi Emperor (Chinese: 康熙; Pinyin: KāngxÄ«; Wade-Giles: Kang-hsi; May 4, 1654 – December 20, 1722) was the third Emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over all of China, from 1661 to 1722. ... The Palace of Heavenly Purity, or Qianqing Palace (乾清宫) is a palace in the Forbidden City in Beijing, China. ... The Hanlin Academy (翰林院) was founded in China in the 8th century. ...

Establishment of the Grand Council

In 1729, the Yongzheng Emperor launched a military offensive against the Dzungars. Concerns were raised that the meeting location of the Imperial Cabinet (outside the Gate of Supreme Harmony) did not ensure security for military secrets. The Junjichu was then established in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City. Trustworthy members of Cabinet staff were then seconded to work in the new Office.^[1]. After defeating the Dzungars, the Emperor found that the streamlined operations of the Office of Military Secrets avoided problems with bureaucratic inefficiency. As a result, the Junjichu turned from a temporary institution into a "Grand Council", quickly outstripping the powers of the Council of Advisor Princes, and the Southern Study, to become the chief policy-making body of the Empire. Events July 30 - Baltimore, Maryland is founded. ... The Yongzheng Emperor (born Yinzhen 胤禛) (December 13, 1678 - October 8, 1735) was the fourth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1722 to 1735. ... The Dzungars (also Jungars or Zungars; Mongolian: Зүүнгар Züüngar) were a tribe of the Oirat Mongols. ... The Gate of Supreme Harmony (center right). ... Overview of the Forbidden City The Forbidden City or Forbidden Palace (Chinese: ; pinyin: Zǐjinchéng; literally Purple Forbidden City; Manchu: Dabkūri dorgi hoton, literally Layered Inner City), located at the exact centre of the ancient city of Beijing, China was the imperial palace during the mid-Ming and... The Dzungars (also Jungars or Zungars; Mongolian: Зүүнгар Züüngar) were a tribe of the Oirat Mongols. ...

In 1736, the newly enthroned Qianlong Emperor abolished the Grand Council, with all members sent back to their original posts. However, this arrangement proved unsatisfactory, and two years later, in 1738, the Grand Council was reconstituted. Events January 26 - Stanislaus I of Poland abdicates his throne. ... The Qianlong Emperor (born Hongli, September 25, 1711 – February 7, 1799) was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China. ... Events February 4 - Court Jew Joseph Suss Oppenheimer is executed in Württenberg April 15 - Premiere in London of Serse, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel. ...

Composition

The number of officials comprising the Council varied from time to time, from as few as three to as many as ten. Usually, the number of officials serving in the Council was five, two Manchus, two Han Chinese and one Prince of the Blood, who acted as president. The most senior among them was called the Chief Councillor (Lǐngbān jūnjī dàchén, 領班軍機大臣), but this was simply a working designation and was not an official title.

References

Notes

1. ^ 梁章鉅《枢垣纪略》卷廿七

General

• Beatrice S. Bartlett. Monarchs and Ministers: The Grand Council in Mid-Ch'ing China, 1723-1820. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1991.