Mujangga
Encyclopedia
Mujangga was a Manchu
statesman during the late Qing dynasty. Mujangga belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner in the Eight Banners
. He was awarded the highest degree in the Imperial examinations in 1805 and quickly rose in the ranks of the Qing government. He became a member of the Grand Council
in 1828 and gradually grew to exercise a decisive influence on Daoguang emperor's policies. Following the demise of Cao Zhenyong
, Mujangga became the chief Grand Councillor in 1837. As tensions in Sino-British relations rose in 1839, he became one of the chief advocates of a conciliatory policy towards the British and following the outbreak of the first Opium War he moved to dismiss Lin Zexu
from his position as imperial commissioner in September 1840. Mujangga's conciliatory policies created tensions with the allegedly more xenophobic heir apparent, and following his accession to the throne as the Xianfeng emperor, Mujangga was dismissed from all his positions in 1851.
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
statesman during the late Qing dynasty. Mujangga belonged to the Bordered Blue Banner in the Eight Banners
Eight Banners
The Eight Banners were administrative divisions into which all Manchu families were placed. They provided the basic framework for the Manchu military organization...
. He was awarded the highest degree in the Imperial examinations in 1805 and quickly rose in the ranks of the Qing government. He became a member of the Grand Council
Grand Council
The Grand Council or Junjichu was an important policy-making body in the Qing Empire. It was established in 1733 by the Yongzheng Emperor...
in 1828 and gradually grew to exercise a decisive influence on Daoguang emperor's policies. Following the demise of Cao Zhenyong
Cao Zhenyong
Cao Zhenyong , Chinese statesman during the Qing dynasty, who served in a leading position in the Grand Council under the Daoguang emperor. He is widely believed to be responsible for the formalized style of government, which was promoted under the Daoguang Emperor's reign and contributed to the...
, Mujangga became the chief Grand Councillor in 1837. As tensions in Sino-British relations rose in 1839, he became one of the chief advocates of a conciliatory policy towards the British and following the outbreak of the first Opium War he moved to dismiss Lin Zexu
Lin Zexu
Lín Zéxú ; 30 August 1785 – 22 November 1850) was a Chinese scholar and official during the Qing Dynasty.He is most recognized for his conduct and his constant position on the "high moral ground" in his fight, as a "shepherd" of his people, against the opium trade in Guangzhou...
from his position as imperial commissioner in September 1840. Mujangga's conciliatory policies created tensions with the allegedly more xenophobic heir apparent, and following his accession to the throne as the Xianfeng emperor, Mujangga was dismissed from all his positions in 1851.
Further reading
- Crossley, Pamela Kyle. Orphan Warriors: Three Manchu Generations and the End of the Qing World, page 256. Princeton University Press, 1990.
- Hummel, Arthur William, ed. Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period (1644-1912). 2 vols. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1943.