抄録
This article aims to reconsider the political role of bannermen in the Qing Court’s Imperial Household Department (neiwufu), who have typically been known for their service as bondservants. To achieve this aim, this paper analyzes the activities of bannerman Cangming and his family, who are originally of Joseon ancestry.
This study stresses the following points, each of which is a common feature of all bannermen who worked within the Imperial Household Department. Firstly, Cangming’s personal connection to the Manchu Emperor was the single most important aspect of his career. Summoned to serve under the Yongzheng Emperor before his enthronement, Cangming became a servant boy in his court. After Yongzheng’s succession, Cangming was appointed to the position of Minister of the Imperial Household Department (zongguan neiwufu dachen) and to Chamberlain of the Imperial Guard (ling shiwei nei dachen). Such a career path enabled Cangming to maintain and strengthen his personal ties to the Emperor and other members of the imperial family. Secondly, the scope of his official duties was not limited to the household affairs of the Emperor, but also included bureaucratic work. He also oversaw such affairs as the upkeep of major state infrastructure, military administration and investigations of malfeasance. The careers of Cangming and his descendants illustrate these points.
In short, this paper portrays the role of the Imperial Household Department’s bannermen in a new light as a politico-administrative elite.
