The Eight Banners System was a military and political organizational system established by the Qing Dynasty to administer and rule the Mongol and Han regions. It divides the Mongols, Han and Manchus into eight banners, each of which is further divided into several small flags, and the people under it are called banner people. The implementation of the Eight Flags system allowed the Qing Dynasty to effectively rule multi-ethnic areas, while also providing the Manchus with a special social status. In the early years of the Qing Dynasty, the Eight Flags system was mainly used for military purposes, but it gradually evolved into a comprehensive political and social organization system, and the banner people enjoyed special treatment and privileges in political, military, economic and cultural aspects. Over time, the Eight Flags system gradually declined and by the late Qing Dynasty had lost its original role.
The yellow flag, yellow flag, and white banner among the eight flags belong to the upper three banners, and the banner owners are personally ruled by the emperor. The white flag, the red flag, the red flag, the blue flag, and the blue flag belong to the lower five flags, and the banner owners are divided by the kings, the belle and the beizi. The surnames of the Baqi children include: Tong (Tong Jia), Guan (Gualjia), Ma (Ma Jia), Suo (Suo Luo), He (Hesheri), Fu (Fucha), Na (Nara), Lang (Niuhulu) and other surnames. The composition of the Manchu Eight Flags is not a surname cluster, but a military cluster, and the surnames of each flag will coincide, so it is not possible to look at the surname alone to determine which flag it belongs to.
Eight Flags disciples of the late Qing Dynasty
The Eight Flags disciples of the late Qing Dynasty playing eagles
In general, Manchus can know which flag they belong to in several ways:
1. Learn from the family: The Manchu family generally has its own genealogy and genealogy, which will record the banner to which the family belongs.
2. Know from the place of hukou: In the hukou location, there will generally be records of counting the Manchu population, which will also indicate the flag to which the Manchu belong.
3. Learn from Manchu organizations: Manchus can join various Manchu organizations, which will have their own membership roster, which will also indicate the banner to which the members belong.
4. Learn from family gatherings: Manchus often attend family gatherings, where someone is responsible for reading the genealogy and genealogy, from which they can know the banner to which they belong.