Qing Banner System and Manchu Military Organization (1616–1912)

1. Nurhaci organizes four initial banner companies

   Jan 1, 1601Labels: Nurhaci, Four Banners

   • Britannica
   • Eight Banners

2. Eight Banners formally established by doubling to eight

   Jan 1, 1615Labels: Eight Banners, Nurhaci

   • Britannica
   • Military Qing

3. Nurhaci proclaims the Later Jin state

   Jan 1, 1616Labels: Later Jin, Nurhaci

   • Later Jin
   • Chinaknowledge

4. Seven Grievances declares war on the Ming

   Jan 1, 1618Labels: Seven Grievances, Nurhaci

   • Later Jin
   • Eight Banners

5. Later Jin victory at the Battle of Sarhu

   Jan 1, 1619Labels: Battle of, Later Jin

   • Later Jin

6. Separate Han artillery corps organized under Hong Taiji

   Jan 1, 1631Labels: Hong Taiji, Han Artillery

   • Eight Banners
   • Han Banners

7. Jurchen ethnonym officially changed to “Manchu”

   Jan 1, 1635Labels: Hong Taiji, Manchu ethnonym

   • Hong Taiji
   • History Qing

8. Mongol Eight Banners formally established

   Jan 1, 1635Labels: Mongol Banners, Hong Taiji

   • Britannica
   • Mongol Banners

9. Qing dynasty proclaimed, banners underpin imperial conquest

   Apr 1, 1636Labels: Qing dynasty, Hong Taiji

   • Eight Banners
   • History Qing

10. Han Eight Banners completed as an eight-banner hierarchy

    Jan 1, 1642Labels: Han Eight, Han bannermen

    • Britannica
    • Han Banners

11. Battle of Shanhai Pass opens route into China proper

    May 27, 1644Labels: Battle of, Dorgon

    • Shanhai Pass

12. Green Standard Army created alongside banner forces

    Jan 1, 1645Labels: Green Standard, Surrendered Ming

    • Military Qing
    • Britannica China

13. Firearm Battalion established as an elite banner unit

    Jan 1, 1688Labels: Firearm Battalion, Huoqiying

    • Firearm Battalion

14. White Lotus Rebellion exposes banner military decline

    Jan 1, 1796Labels: White Lotus, Banner decline

    • Britannica

15. Taiping Rebellion further sidelines banners in major warfare

    Jan 1, 1850Labels: Taiping Rebellion, Banner marginalization

    • Britannica

16. Late Qing “New Administration” reforms target banner institutions

    Jan 1, 1907Labels: New Administration, Late Qing

    • SNU Asia
    • Britannica

17. Imperial Abdication Edict ends Qing rule

    Feb 12, 1912Labels: Abdication Edict, Xuantong Emperor

    • Abdication Edict
    • Britannica