The green standard army and bureaucratization of the tribal headman institution in Yunnan during the reign of Yongzheng = Lü ying bing yu Yongzheng zhao Yunnan zhi gai tu gui liu

Abstract

The Manchus established the Qing dynasty that ruled China for 267 years. There are many reasons for their long-term governance, one of which is believed to be the establishment of a well-structured bureaucratic system with high administrative efficiency. Emperor Yongzheng introduced a major reform of the southwest border administrative structure, which laid a solid foundation for the centralization of politics and enhanced regional stability for subsequent monarchs. This dissertation investigates the role that the Green Standard Army played in the bureaucratization of the tribal headman institution in Yunnan during the reign of Yongzheng and its continuing importance in enhancing regional stability and prosperity thereafter.

The dissertation comprises six chapters. Chapter One is an introduction in which the objectives of the study are explained and the research literature on the topic is reviewed. Chapter Two consists of detailed elaboration on the origins and development of the tribal headman system, Yongzheng’s changing attitude towards the bureaucratization policy and the reasons for its final implementation. Chapter Three examines the historical importance of the Green Standard Army in terms of the early-Qing military and politics. Special attention is paid to the Army’s role in suppressing the Revolt of the Three Feudatories. Chapter Four cites several examples to show that the Army functioned effectively as a government agency during the process of bureaucratization, although its importance gradually declined. Chapter Five outlines the natural geographical conditions of the Yunnan region and explains the extent to which the bureaucratization policy influenced regional development. Chapter Six concludes the dissertation.