Viceroy of Zhili
Encyclopedia
The Viceroy of Zhili fully referred to as the Governor General of Zhili and surrounding areas; Overseeing Military Affairs, Food Production; Manager of Waterways; Director of Civil Affairs (總督直隸等處地方，提督軍務、糧餉、管理河道兼巡撫事), was one of eight regional viceroys in China proper
during the Qing Dynasty
of China
. Chinese historians often rank the Viceroy of Zhili as the most honorable and powerful, and the Viceroy of Liangjiang
as the richest of the eight.
It was an important post, because the territory of the province of Zhili
, which literally means directly ruled, was the area surrounding Beijing
. The seat of Viceroyalty was in Tianjin
, although the capital of the province was situated at Baoding
. The responsibility of the position has never been defined entirely. Generally speaking, the viceroy oversaw the military and civil affairs of Zhili, Shandong
and Henan
Provinces. In 1870, the responsibility of the Viceroy also merged with the position of Minister of Beiyang (北洋通商大臣), and the Viceroy was usually a very important player in the Court politics of Beijing.
The position was created and abolished several times. It was initially created by the Shunzhi Emperor
on September 30, 1649. However, the Emperor abolished the post on June 1, 1658. The second creation of the post was on November 23, 1661, and cancelled later on July 28, 1669 by Kangxi Emperor
. The third creation was taken place on December 14, 1724, during the second year of Yongzheng Emperor
's reign, and lasted out till the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
Since the creation of the position in 1649 to 1912, 81 people had held the position. Some eminent individuals included Li Wei
, Tang Zhiyu, Fang Guancheng, Zeng Guofan
, Li Hongzhang
, Ronglu
, and Yuan Shikai
. Late Qing diplomat, general, and politician Li Hongzhang
occupied the position for a period of 25 years in total, during the height of his political career.
China proper
China proper or Eighteen Provinces was a term used by Western writers on the Qing Dynasty to express a distinction between the core and frontier regions of China. There is no fixed extent for China proper, as many administrative, cultural, and linguistic shifts have occurred in Chinese history...
during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Chinese historians often rank the Viceroy of Zhili as the most honorable and powerful, and the Viceroy of Liangjiang
Viceroy of Liangjiang
The Viceroy of Liangjiang , fully referred to as the Governor General of the two Yangtze Provinces and surrounding areas; Overseeing Military Affairs, Food Production; Manager of Waterways; Director of Civil Affairs , was one of eight regional viceroys in China proper during the Qing Dynasty of China...
as the richest of the eight.
It was an important post, because the territory of the province of Zhili
Zhili
Zhílì was a northern province in China from the Ming Dynasty until the province was dissolved in 1928 during the Republic of China era.-History:...
, which literally means directly ruled, was the area surrounding Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. The seat of Viceroyalty was in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, although the capital of the province was situated at Baoding
Baoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
. The responsibility of the position has never been defined entirely. Generally speaking, the viceroy oversaw the military and civil affairs of Zhili, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
and Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
Provinces. In 1870, the responsibility of the Viceroy also merged with the position of Minister of Beiyang (北洋通商大臣), and the Viceroy was usually a very important player in the Court politics of Beijing.
The position was created and abolished several times. It was initially created by the Shunzhi Emperor
Shunzhi Emperor
The Shunzhi Emperor was the third emperor of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty, and the first Qing emperor to rule over China, which he did from 1644 to 1661. "Shunzhi" was the name of his reign period...
on September 30, 1649. However, the Emperor abolished the post on June 1, 1658. The second creation of the post was on November 23, 1661, and cancelled later on July 28, 1669 by Kangxi Emperor
Kangxi Emperor
The Kangxi Emperor ; Manchu: elhe taifin hūwangdi ; Mongolian: Энх-Амгалан хаан, 4 May 1654 –20 December 1722) was the fourth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, the first to be born on Chinese soil south of the Pass and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722.Kangxi's...
. The third creation was taken place on December 14, 1724, during the second year of Yongzheng Emperor
Yongzheng Emperor
The Yongzheng Emperor , born Yinzhen , was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and the third Qing emperor from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military...
's reign, and lasted out till the fall of the Qing Dynasty.
Since the creation of the position in 1649 to 1912, 81 people had held the position. Some eminent individuals included Li Wei
Li Wei (mandarin)
Li Wei was a famous mandarin during the reign of the Yongzheng Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, who was instrumental in carrying out Yongzheng's nationwide reforms in his role in various regional governing positions....
, Tang Zhiyu, Fang Guancheng, Zeng Guofan
Zeng Guofan
Zeng Guofan was an eminent Han Chinese official, military general, and devout Confucian scholar of the late Qing Dynasty in China....
, Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
, Ronglu
Ronglu
Ronglu was a Manchu statesman and general during the late Qing dynasty. Born into the powerful Guwalgiya clan of the Plain White Banner in the Eight Banners, he was cousin to Yehenara Lan, who later became Empress Dowager Cixi...
, and Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
. Late Qing diplomat, general, and politician Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
occupied the position for a period of 25 years in total, during the height of his political career.