Manchus Identity In Conquest Essay

Manchus Identity in Conquest: Cultural Superiority

In the final year of the Ming dynasty, their power dwindled, and the Manchus, an ethnic group from the northeastern provinces and descendants of the Tungus came to power (Making China Modern pg.49). In the conquest evidence of their superiority complex over the Chinese can be observed in their promotion of military power, and segregation of the people of China.

The Manchus, under the name of the Jurchen, had once been ruled by the Chinese, so when they saw the Ming start to lose power to political and economic corruption as well as their inability to squash uprisings in their state, the Manchus took the opportunity and overtook China with their military (Making China Modern pg.49). The feeling

The Eight Banners was a military system of a diverse group of people: Ming defectors, Mongols, Central Asians, Koreans, and Chinese people against the Ming. This skilled military is the main reason why they were able to overthrow the previous dynasty, therefore the higher-ups of the army who were responsible for bringing power to the Manchu were given more privileges (Making China Modern pg.49). On page 39 of The Search for Modern China, it states that “Manchus confiscated hundreds of thousands of acres of good farmland in northern China to provide food and rewards for the garrison armies.” (The Search for Modern China pg.39) This land that is being taken from the properties of past Ming royalty showed that the Qing wanted to reward their people and erase all traces of the Ming. With forty thousand bannerman each receiving 6 acres of land it is clear how hard the Manchu tried

Hair was a big part of Manchu culture and strict edicts were enforced to quickly assimilate the Chinese and was used as a sign of loyalty. Anyone who was not abiding by this new rule was punished (The Search for Modern China pg.37). People who showed loyalty to the Manchus were given higher positions in various ministries and power was even given based on how quickly the Chinese person surrendered to the Manchus (The Search for Modern China pg.41). And later on in Emperor Kangxi’s reign, his main goal was to “preserve a Manchu way of life” which was essential to “maintaining Manchu supremacy.” Because of this idea, all Manchuria to Chinese immigration was closed (A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations). Even in the informal culture of family structure, not dictated by the government, it was very rare to see Manchu banner women marry Chinese men, but very common to see bannermen having multiple Chinese wives. Furthermore the children of these marriages were never Chinese, all were considered to be Manchu (The Search for Modern China