Preface
The Manchu Eight Banners ruled 300 million Han Chinese for 276 years, but puzzling enough, this large Han Chinese population did not mount an effective revolt. There are four key reasons for this.
This seemingly incredible phenomenon must contain a magnificent history behind it. Let's retrace that turbulent era and unravel this puzzling mystery.
1. Crush by force
The nomadic people in the north yearn for the fertile land and a prosperous life in the Central Plains. With their strong physique and superb riding and archery skills, they repeatedly invaded the Central Plains in an attempt to seize this coveted paradise. This yearning for the affluence of the Central Plains can be traced back thousands of years.
As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, the Huns had been harassing the Central Plains frontier, trying to break through the shackles of the Great Wall and enter this fertile land. They were brave and good at fighting, and the cavalry was especially good at fighting, which once plunged the Han Dynasty into a bitter battle.
Later, the Wuhu Chaos plunged the entire Central Plains into turmoil, and the people's lives were hard. By the time of the Song and Jin dynasties, the Jin people went south again and waged a protracted war with the Song dynasty. The invasion of these nomads undoubtedly brought a huge impact to the civilization of the Central Plains.
It was not until the Yuan Dynasty that the Mongol Iron Cavalry finally unified the Central Plains and established the Yuan Dynasty. However, their "fourth-class system" severely oppressed the Han Chinese, leading to their eventual overthrow by the Ming Dynasty. This historical lesson left a deep impression on the later Manchu rulers.
The Manchus learned from the experience of the past and took advantage of the situation when the peasants revolted at the end of the Ming Dynasty. With an elite army and advanced firearms, they quickly captured Beijing and established the Qing dynasty. Nurhachi unified the Jin Dynasty and laid the foundation for Manchu rule.
It can be said that from the Xiongnu to the Mongols and then to the Manchus, these northern nomads have never stopped coveting the Central Plains. With their strong military strength, they went south again and again, trying to claim this rich land for themselves. Although they were eventually resisted and overthrown by the Han Chinese, their footprints have remained in the long river of Chinese history.
Second, the policy of appeasement
The Manchu rulers knew that force alone could not achieve long-term stability. In order to consolidate their rule, they adopted a series of pacification policies to win the hearts and minds of the people.
First of all, they reduced the tax burden of the Han people, so that the lives of ordinary people were not greatly affected by the change of dynasties. This undoubtedly alleviated the discontent of the Han Chinese and strengthened their sense of identity with the new dynasty. In contrast, it was the harsh exploitation of the Yuan Dynasty that led to its eventual overthrow.
Second, the Manchu rulers did not strictly distinguish ethnic hierarchies as they did in the Yuan Dynasty, avoiding the intensification of contradictions. Although they established the "Eight Banners" system, this was mainly aimed at the hierarchical division within the Manchu aristocracy, and did not have much impact on the vast number of Han people. This relatively loose policy also created favorable conditions for the integration of the Manchus and Hans.
More crucially, the Manchu rulers recognized the unique charm of Han Chinese culture. They encouraged the Manchu children to learn Han culture, and gradually realized the integration of "Manchu and Han integration". This not only strengthened the legitimacy of the rule, but also won the recognition of the Han Chinese. In contrast, the rejection of Han culture by the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty undoubtedly exacerbated national contradictions.
It can be said that the Manchu rulers learned the lessons of the previous dynasties and adopted a more flexible and tolerant policy in handling ethnic relations. They were neither as harsh and oppressive as the Yuan Dynasty, nor did they completely exclude foreign rulers as the Ming Dynasty did. This practice of taking into account the interests of the nation has undoubtedly strengthened the foundation of their rule and laid the foundation for long-term stability.
3. Reuse Hanchen
The Manchu rulers clearly understood that long-term peace and stability could not be achieved without the support of Han Chinese intellectuals. Therefore, they made great use of Hanchen and involved them in the decision-making and management of the country.
Famous Hanchen include Zhang Tingyu, Dai Zhen and others. They advised the Manchu court and maintained social stability. As an important adviser of Emperor Kangxi, Zhang Tingyu made outstanding contributions in politics and culture.
He presided over the compilation of the Siku Quanshu, which played a key role in the inheritance of Chinese culture. Dai Zhen, on the other hand, was an outstanding thinker, and his scholarly writings were undoubtedly a valuable asset to the Manchu rulers.
At the same time, the Manchu rulers also learned advanced governance concepts and methods from the Hanchen to make up for their own shortcomings. As foreign rulers, the Manchus were unfamiliar with the culture of the Central Plains, and the Hanchen could provide them with valuable experience and wisdom. This mutual borrowing and learning undoubtedly enhanced the rationality and effectiveness of the Manchu rule.
The Hanchen received a very high status and favor, and naturally they were concerned about the rise and fall of the country, and made important contributions to the long-term peace and stability of the Qing Dynasty. They not only provided political advice to the Manchus, but also culturally established a good image for the Manchu rulers and strengthened the sense of identity of the people. It can be said that the reuse of Hanchen was a great magic weapon of Manchu rule, which won them widespread support.
Fourth, the sinicization of the Manchus
In order to better integrate into the culture of the Central Plains, the Manchu rulers ordered that Manchu children learn Han culture. This process is known as "Manchu sinicization".
Originally, Manchu classics were translated into Chinese for Manchu children to study. However, after all, Manchu is relatively backward, and many esoteric contents cannot be accurately expressed. As a result, the Manchu children gradually turned to studying the original Chinese texts directly. This attitude of taking the initiative to learn Han culture undoubtedly shows the open-mindedness of the Manchu rulers.
With the deepening of the process of sinicization, the way of life and thinking mode of the Manchu people have undergone great changes, and the difference with the Han people is getting smaller and smaller. They not only learned the Confucian classics, but also gradually adopted the customs of the Central Plains, such as food and clothing. This enhancement of cultural identity undoubtedly laid a solid foundation for the integration of Manchu and Han.
It is worth mentioning that the Manchu emperors also actively promoted this process. Emperor Kangxi once ordered the Manchu children to study Han culture, and personally presided over the compilation of the "Siku Quanshu". This top-down push has undoubtedly accelerated the pace of Sinicization of the Manchus.
It can be said that the sinicization of the Manchus is a gradual process. At first, the Manchu rulers maintained a certain level of cultural self-confidence and tried to learn Han culture through translation. But as time passed, they gradually realized the charm of Han culture and took the initiative to integrate into it. This initiative undoubtedly enhanced the depth and breadth of Manchu-Han integration, and laid a solid cultural foundation for the long-term rule of the Qing Dynasty.
epilogue
In general, the key to the Manchu Qing ruling China for a long time was that they adopted a variety of tactics to maintain their rule, including repression by force, preferential policies, and co-opting intellectuals.
These tactics not only maintained the legitimacy of the rule, but also created the conditions for Manchu-Han integration. This kind of experience in handling ethnic relations has undoubtedly left a valuable reference for future generations.