As the last feudal dynasty in China, the Qing Dynasty has experienced twists and turns in its imperial succession, and the eldest son of the emperor has repeatedly missed opportunities. This article will analyze in depth the reasons for the loss of the eldest son of the Qing Dynasty emperors, from the right of the flag to the secret establishment of the prince, revealing the twists and turns.
Early Qing Dynasty: The struggle for flag rights and the disappearance of the natural status of the eldest son.
After Nurhachi established the Eight Banners system, the banner power gradually suppressed the imperial power, which weakened the actual control of the emperor. In the early Qing Dynasty, the banner owners elected their successors through the Council of Ministers, so that the first-mover advantage of the eldest son disappeared. In this process, the strength of the banner owners becomes a key factor in determining the successor.
Against this backdrop, Nurhachi's eldest son, Chu Ying, was imprisoned and executed for offending his ministers and banner owners, and even tried to maintain his position by burning incense and cursing. The successor to the throne of Nurhachi was his eighth son, Emperor Taiji, which made the opportunity for the eldest son to succeed to the throne lost again.
Early stage of entry: immune succession during the Kangxi period.
With the readjustment of the power of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Shunzhi liquidated the Dolgon faction after his pro-government, reformed the flag power system, and made the emperor personally hold the three banners and completely suppressed the banner owners. Emperor Shunzhi's son Fuquan originally had a chance to inherit the throne, but when Emperor Shunzhi was dying, he chose his second son, Xuan Ye, who had immunity, to ensure that the heir would not suffer from smallpox again.
During the Kangxi Dynasty, the competition for the throne became particularly fierce, and the scene known as "Nine Sons Seizing the Inheritance" became the most tragic succession battle in feudal history. In this war, the eldest son withdrew from the stage of history early, and it was Emperor Yongzheng who finally had the last laugh.
Emperor Yongzheng's idea: the secret reserve system.
As the winner of the "Nine Sons Winning the Throne", Emperor Yongzheng deeply felt the pressure of the princes' lives, so he proposed the secret reserve system. This innovative approach abandons the primogeniture privilege and achieves a fair succession to the throne in the form of two small notes. The succession of Emperor Qianlong, Emperor Jiaqing, Emperor Daoguang, and Emperor Xianfeng was all produced through this system, and their eldest brother (i.e., the eldest son of the emperor) is rarely recorded in the history books, because his status is no different from that of ordinary princes.
After Emperor Xianfeng: The Emperor's Fertility Problem and the End of the Secret Prince.
During the reign of Emperor Xianfeng, the number of emperors' sons decreased sharply due to various reasons, such as the influence of Cixi and his physical condition. Emperor Tongzhi, Emperor Guangxu, and Pu Yi failed to give birth to sons, let alone the appearance of the emperor's eldest son. During this period, the secret reserve system gradually became a joke.
Epilogue. 
The tortuous course of the inheritance of the Qing Dynasty's imperial throne, from the period of flag power to the introduction of the secret reserve system, to the emergence of fertility problems, every step is an interweaving of power and chance. Behind the frequent loss of the emperor's eldest son is the internal power contest of the feudal system and the influence of external factors. This period of history is not only embarrassing, but also makes us think deeply about the changes and evolution of human social and political systems.
The revelation of the mystery of the inheritance of the imperial throne of the Qing Dynasty made me deeply feel the twists and turns of history. This article provides a detailed analysis of key moments such as the struggle for flag power in the early Qing Dynasty, the adjustment of power in the early stage of the entry into the customs, and the secret reserve system created by Emperor Yongzheng, so that readers can more clearly understand why the eldest son of the Qing emperor frequently lost his position.
First of all, through the Eight Banners system during the Nurhachi period, the article vividly demonstrates the game between flag power and imperial power. This model of collective planning of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Parliamentarians makes it not the natural right of the eldest son to produce a successor, but to stand out in the power contest of the banner owners. This is not only a product of the struggle for power, but also a reflection of the power system of feudal society.
Secondly, the adjustment of power during the Shunzhi Emperor period laid the foundation for the later development of the Qing Dynasty. By liquidating the Dolgon faction, Emperor Shunzhi consolidated the imperial power, reformed the flag power system, and directly held the three banners, so that the election of the successor was no longer subject to the Council of Ministers. This move was essentially a political restructuring that directly affected the emergence of successors.
The secret reserve system of Emperor Yongzheng is an innovation, providing a unique and efficient solution to the problem of nine sons seizing the heir. The fairness of this method makes the opportunities for each prince the same, and abandons the injustice of the natural advantage of the eldest son. Through this mechanism, Emperor Yongzheng successfully avoided the strife between his younger brothers and achieved a smooth succession.
Finally, the article points out the influence of fertility problems on the inheritance of the imperial throne during the Xianfeng Emperor's period, which brought the secret reserve system to an end. The peculiar circumstances of this period also show the changes that could occur in the internal system of feudal society in the face of external pressures.
Overall, this article provides a clearer understanding of the power structure, political mechanism, and influence of the external environment in feudal society through an in-depth analysis of the historical details of the Qing Dynasty's imperial succession. This period of history is not only a struggle between power and wisdom, but also a product of the changes of the times, which provides us with useful thinking for understanding China's feudal history.
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