The Qing Dynasty governor system was a kind of administrative management system for the local government in the Qing Dynasty, with a wide range of functions and powers, and was the highest administrator in the local administrative system of the Qing Dynasty at that time. The position of governor had a strong military and administrative overtone, and his power was second only to the emperor in the Qing bureaucracy.
The setting of the governor originated from the military needs of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. At that time, in order to strengthen the control of the newly ruled areas, and in order to effectively deal with various rebellions and external troubles that may arise, the Qing army established governorships in some strategically important frontiers or interiors. Compared to the governors of the Ming Dynasty, the governors had greater powers and more extensive functions.
The powers of the Governor include:
1.Military Command and Defense: The Governor is the highest military governor in his jurisdiction, responsible for preparing military salaries, organizing and training soldiers and horses, supervising border defense, suppressing rebellions and other military affairs. In wartime, the governor was also responsible for directing operations.
2.Administration: The Governor shall coordinate and supervise the administrative affairs of the provinces within his jurisdiction, including the inspection, recommendation, appointment and punishment of the local authorities. The governor reported directly to the emperor and had a higher status than governors and governors in his jurisdiction.
3.Financial supervision: The Governor is responsible for managing the revenues and expenditures of his jurisdiction, and overseeing the local taxation and the reserve and use of gold and silver in the treasury. In addition to regular taxes, the Governor was required to raise military pay and meet the costs of contingencies.
4.Legal ruling: The Governor has the power to deal with major criminal and civil cases in his jurisdiction, especially those involving the death penalty, which need to be reviewed by the Governor and reported to the Imperial Court.
The governor's jurisdiction is usually two or three provinces, but in some special cases, such as to strengthen the control of the frontier areas, the governor's jurisdiction may be extensive. For example, the "trilateral governors" established by the Qing Dynasty included Shaanxi, Gansu, Mongolia and other regions.
The establishment of the Governor and the adjustment of his powers changed with the times and the political situation. For example, during the Opium Wars and the Taiping Rebellion, the military role of the governor was particularly emphasized. In the late Qing Dynasty, in the face of the challenge of foreign forces and the civil unrest at home, the position of the governor was even more important.
Under the Governor, there is a series of assistants, including Counsellors, Lieutenants, Inspectors, etc., to assist in day-to-day administrative and military matters. The Governor also has the power to recommend the appointment and removal of those within his jurisdiction.
The selection of a governor was usually chosen by the emperor from among important members of the imperial family, meritorious officials, or experienced people. A good governor must not only possess excellent administrative and military skills, but also be able to handle complex administrative matters, as well as strong interpersonal and local management skills.
The governorship system did play an important role in strengthening the direct control of the local government in the Qing Dynasty, however, with the high concentration of power, this system gradually revealed its inherent flaws and problems.
The governor's power is excessive, which to a certain extent weakens the enthusiasm and sense of responsibility of the local **.
The centralization of the governor's power also sometimes led to conflicts with the localities.
The excessive centralization of the governor's power also breeds corruption.
With the intensification of social changes in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, the governor system gradually exposed the problem of incompatibility with the needs of modernization. The emerging bourgeoisie and intellectuals began to demand greater participation in governance and local autonomy, and the old bureaucratic system of the governor-general was too conservative and rigid to adapt to the modernization and democratization of the political system.
In the New Deal at the end of the Qing Dynasty, with the establishment of the provincial system and the implementation of local autonomy, the power of the governor began to gradually weaken. After the establishment of **, the official position of governor was completely abolished and replaced by the governor and other localities**.
Generally speaking, the governor-general system is an important part of the Qing Dynasty's first-class centralized system, which not only plays a key role in strengthening local governance and maintaining national unity, but also shows some characteristics of feudal rule because of its excessive concentration of power. Over time, this system evolved and was eventually replaced by a new administrative system.