Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/230

Rh avenge themselves on Dorgon and his heir. Moreover, they could not tolerate a group claiming unlimited authority on the dubious sanction of Dorgon's last words.

The princes, nevertheless, recognized that they must act cautiously. They co-operated with the leaders of the two Yellow Banners in taking over the government in the name of the youthful emperor, Fu-lin. The latter, then fourteen sui, formally abolished the regency on February 1, 1651. Within the next few days, Ubai and his colleagues were elevated in rank and Dorgon's name was entered in the Imperial Ancestral Temple (February 8). Influential princes went over to the side of the emperor and their ranks were also raised (February 18, 20). Among the princes thus elevated were Nikan and Bolo who had a grudge against Dorgon for having previously lowered their ranks. With their ranks thus restored, these two became witnesses for the government against Ubai and other leaders of the Plain White Banner. In their trial, on February 24, the latter were charged with interference in affairs of state by falsely claiming to possess Dorgon's last commands. Two of them were executed and the rest were temporarily reduced to commoners. Some of Dorgon's former protégés, among them Suksaha (see under ), now became his enemies. On March 6 they testified that Dorgon had once possessed robes and pearls such as only an emperor ought to own, but that these were deposited in his coffin by his followers; and that Dorgon had plotted with Holhoi 何洛會 and others to construct a new capital for himself. Holhoi was one who had gained Dorgon's favor by testifying against Haoge, the emperor's eldest brother. So Holhoi was condemned to a lingering death.

The supporters of Dorgon having thus been dealt with, Dorgon himself was posthumously denounced in a decree issued on March 12, 1651, which charged that he had usurped power, had humiliated other princes, had acted as though he were emperor, had altered official records, etc. All his posthumous honors were withdrawn, his princedom was abolished, and his right to a male heir was abrogated. Consequently Dorbo was ordered to return to his own branch of the family. The posthumous honors of an empress, which Dorgon had conferred on his mother, were also withdrawn. Many princes and officials who for various reasons had been punished by Dorgon, such as Jirgalang and, were restored in rank. In April 1651 other followers of Dorgon were condemned—two of them, Grand Secretaries Ganglin 剛林 and Kicungge 祁充格 being executed. In October 1651 Tantai (see under ) was executed because, among other misdemeanors, he had vowed to be loyal to Dorgon. In April 1652 five more officials, several of them members of the Imperial Clan, were likewise punished for having supported Dorgon in various ways.

After the condemnation of Dorgon and the disinheritance of Dorbo, the former's adopted son, the Plain White Banner, the most opulent of the time, was placed into the service of Fu-lin himself. This and the two Yellow Banners became known as the Three Superior Banners (上三旗) because they were the property of the Throne. They were also known as the Three Banners of the Imperial Household Department, or Nei-wu fu 內務府, because they came under the control of that Department. The Bordered White Banner was not assigned to any one prince, but became one of the Five Inferior Banners (下五旗). Whenever a new princedom was created, a number of companies from these Five Banners were allotted to it, the number of companies depending on the rank of the princedom. But as the power of the throne increased no one prince was allowed to own a banner as his exclusive right. Even his power over the members of the companies allotted to him was gradually reduced.

In 1655 two officials memorialized that in view of Dorgon's great contributions to the dynasty the punishments that had been meted out to him were greater than he deserved. But a council of princes headed by Jirgalang refuted every point in the memorial with the result that the two officials were exiled. Since Dorgon was denied an heir no one was left to look after his tomb, and it fell into disrepair. When, in 1773, Emperor Kao-tsung eulogized on the merits of Dorgon he ordered that his tomb be repaired and that his nearest relatives be allowed to offer sacrifices there. Five years later when the same emperor made a re-estimate of the merits and demerits of the founders of the dynasty, he restored several branches of the Imperial Family to princely ranks. Most highly eulogized was Dorgon who was posthumously cleared of the charges against him and was restored to his rank as Prince Jui. He was also given the posthumous name, Chung 忠, and was celebrated in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. His relatives were re-united to the Imperial Family and Ch'un-ying 淳頴 (great-great-grandson of 218