Central role in the early Qing Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers

oboi used deliberative council main policymaking tool 1661 1669 during co-regency kangxi emperor.

when hong taiji died in 1643, replaced young shunzhi emperor , 2 co-regents: dorgon , jirgalang. in 1644, under leadership, qing dynasty defeated weakened ming dynasty , moved capital beijing. deliberative council of ministers dorgon s main policymaking body during regency. after moving beijing, gave council control on both military , civil affairs, , expanded membership lieutenant-generals , deputy lieutenant-generals in manchu , mongol banners, mongols , manchus held posts of grand secretary or board president. far limiting dorgon s power, council served tool denounce , arraign other princes challenged authority. in may 1644, instance, had hong taiji s son hooge accused of seditious behavior , made hooge s enemies testify against him in front of council. used same method purge hooge in 1648.

after dorgon s death on last day of 1650, shunzhi emperor started personal rule: ordered members of council memorialize him directly on important matters of state. after dorgon s supporters had been purged court (by march 1651), former co-regent jirgalang made number of special appointments council foster loyalty among manchu elite. between 1651 , 1653, added thirty new members lacked official positions in banners or metropolitan bureaucracy. 2 of new appointees chinese bannermen fan wencheng 范文程 (1597–1666) , ning wanwo 寗完我 (d. 1665), 2 of 3 chinese ever appointed council. 4 of future regents kangxi emperor (oboi, suksaha, ebilun, , soni) appointed council @ time. in 1656, emperor issued edict abolishing automatic appointment council of manchu , mongol grand secretaries, yet end of reign in 1661, council still counted more fifty members. during shunzhi reign, council convened investigate important officials had been accused of corruption or malfeasance.

the shunzhi emperor (r. 1643–1661) succeeded 4 regents led oboi, took care of state affairs during minority of kangxi emperor (r. 1661–1722). under oboi regency (1661–1669), deliberative council became prominent manchu institution. while keeping own seats on council, regents limited membership lieutenant-generals of manchu , mongol banners , manchu , mongol presidents of 6 ministries. decided grant membership president of court of colonial affairs, independence shunzhi emperor had compromised subjugating board of rites. 1662, deliberative council had been reduced 31 members, chiefly senior manchu leaders had significant experience in both military affairs , civil government.

the kangxi emperor reverted many of bureaucratic reforms of oboi faction after 1669, continued rely on deliberative council body of manchu counselors whom consulted on wide variety of military , civil matters, sensitive or complex handle through regular bureaucracy. emperor allowed president of censorate sit on council, in 1683, after rebellion of 3 feudatories had been suppressed , peace reestablished, decided lieutenant-generals of banners no longer automatic members. after that, deliberative council became more oriented toward civil administration. nonetheless during first oirat–manchu war, fought 1687 1697 between qing empire , dzungar khanate, kangxi emperor consulted council on how deal galdan, khan of dzungars, , dzungars enemies khalkha mongols. during reign, council met on imperial request , transmitted result of deliberations emperor, followed council s advice.