Chen Jun lead-authored a paper on mid- and low-level Qing military officials in 历史档案 (Historical Archives). The title is 清后期中下层武官的满汉⽐例与出身构成 (Trends and Patterns in the Banner Affiliation and Qualifications of Low- and Mid-Level Military Officials in the Late Qing). This is our first publication using the quarterly rosters of military officers Zhongshubeilan 中枢备览. Chen Jun is currently working on additional studies of the late Qing military using this source.
If you’re in the mainland, the published article is available at CNKI. The link will not work outside the mainland.
Here is a PDF of the final version of the accepted manuscript.
Chinese Abstract:
《中枢备览》是清代记载武官信息的名册，其记载量丰富、连续性强、可信度高，是研究清代军队人事递嬗的理想材料。本文依托73个版本的《中枢备览》，对清后期中下层武官的满汉比例和出身构成进行了分析。从满汉比例来看，绿营中层旗人武官比例降低近30%，而下层旗人武官比例则一直保持在8%以下，总体呈现出官职越高，下降幅度越大的特点，“旗人退出绿营”间接表明清后期的军事集权政策最终走向失败。从出身构成来看，清代武选以行伍、武举、武职外放、军功等“多途并用”，客观上保留了普通士兵进入武官阶层的可能性；而行伍出身者比例一直保持在60%以上，武举出身者比例在武科废除后不降反升，反映出清后期武选制度逐渐走向僵化。太平天国战争以及清廷军事政策的调整是清后期中下层武官群体结构转变的主要原因。
English Abstract:
The Zhongshubeilan is a roster of Qing dynasty military officers. It is rich in detail, longitudinal, and reliable. It is ideal for studying the careers and the characteristics of Qing military officers. Based on 73 editions of the Zhongshubeilan, this paper analyzes the composition of the middle and lower ranked officers in the late Qing. We begin by examining the share of officers affiliated with the Eight Banners. The proportion of military officers in the Green Standard Army who were bannermen decreased by nearly 30%, while the proportion of low-ranked officers who were bannermen remained below 8%. The higher the rank, in other words, the greater the decline over time in the share who were bannermen. From the perspective of credentials and qualifications, appointment and promotion of military officers in the Qing considered examinations, service and accomplishments. In principle, through this system, ordinary soldiers could become military officers. According to our calculations, the proportion of officers who started their careers as soldiers remained above 60%, and the proportion of officers who held a military exam degree increased instead of decreasing after the abolition of the exams. This reflected the increasing rigidity of military recruitment in the late Qing. The Taiping War and the adjustment of the Qing court’s military policies were the main reasons for the change in the composition of the middle and lower ranked military officers in the late Qing Dynasty.
关键词：《中枢备览》 中下层武官 满汉比例 出身构成
Full reference:
陈俊 (Chen Jun) and 康文林 (Cameron Campbell). 2024. 清后期中下层武官的满汉比例与出身构成 (1786-1908) (Trends and Patterns in the Banner Affiliation and Qualifications of Low- and Mid-Level Military Officials in the Late Qing). 歷史檔案 (Historical Archives). 3:104-112