Treatise on the Banner Army

金德纯Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) · ChinaJun 2024

2.7

Word count: 2.4K words
Chapters: 3

Summary

Since the Yellow Emperor first created the Eight Formations, they have been the ancestor of military tactics for all ages. In the flourishing eras of the three dynasties, military affairs were embedded in agriculture: though the well-field system formed nine squares, only eight were cultivated by farmers, which in fact also preserved the lingering idea of the Eight Formations. Zhuge Wuhou likewise left an Eight Formations Diagram, from which we know that the number eight is something military methods cannot depart from. The Eight Banners system of our flourishing dynasty is the most detailed and complete: the exalted, when without public duties, serve as ministers and nobles, and when there are public duties, serve as generals and commanders; the lowly sometimes plough in the fields, sometimes drill in the suburbs. The superiors direct the inferiors no differently from the body commanding the arms and the arms the fingers. Externally, the garrisons south of the Yangtze likewise have the full Eight Banners. Even the most honored who personally don armor and helmet dare not remove their names from the register; only those who become doctoral disciples and students are exempted for life, while their status in the banners remains as before. How excellent the laws and institutions are! Master Jin Sugong of Sanhan composed the Record of the Banner Army, narrating the origins of the Eight Banners, together with the grades of their meritorious houses, the order of their ranks and titles, and the government of spring and autumn military exercises and the laws of reward and punishment, all fully recorded and carefully described, so that a reader may at a single reading understand the way of our dynasty's long peace and enduring order. Truly, in peace not forgetting danger accords exactly with our Master's saying that where there are civil affairs there must be military preparedness. And one knows that the elite of the soldiers are all gathered in the imperial guards, so as to dwell in weight and control lightness; thus the realm can be placed on the security of a boulder without the trouble of a tail too great to wag. What this depends on is by no means slight! I therefore gladly praise and proclaim it, declaring it plainly to the world. Inscribed by Zhang Chao of Xin'an.

Editor's review

The Record of the Banner Army is a specialized document systematically describing the origins and operation of the Eight Banners system, composed by Jin Dechun of the Qing and prefaced by Zhang Chao. Its value lies not in literary elegance but in the concentration and organization of institutional historical sources: from the origins of the Eight Banners, the grades of meritorious houses, and the order of ranks and titles to the government of spring and autumn military exercises and the laws of reward and punishment, all are recorded in order, enabling readers to grasp the basic framework of the Eight Banners system in one line. The preface repeatedly stresses “in peace not forgetting danger” and “where there are civil affairs there must be military preparedness,” and links the banner military system with the ancient embedding of military affairs in agriculture and the lingering idea of the Eight Formations, providing an entry point for understanding the Qing military arrangement of “dwelling in weight and controlling lightness.” For readers studying Qing institutional history, military history, Manchu-Han relations, and banner society, this is a primary source that is convenient to consult and reveals contemporary self-understanding. It should be read as a historical source text rather than narrative reading, with attention to distinguishing the institutions described in the main text from the evaluative stance expressed in the preface, and it may be read alongside works such as the Comprehensive History of the Eight Banners.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars and graduate students studying Qing institutional and military history
Readers concerned with the history of Eight Banner organization and banner society
Students of literature and history needing Qing primary sources for source-training
Readers interested in ancient military systems and the idea of embedding military affairs in agriculture

Not a good fit for

General leisure readers expecting popular stories or character narratives
Beginner readers lacking a classical Chinese foundation and unwilling to consult annotations
Readers seeking knowledge of modern and contemporary military systems

Reading tips

First read Zhang Chao's preface to grasp the problem consciousness and evaluative stance of the whole text, then enter the institutional entries of the main text.
Prepare paper and pen to sort out entries such as banner ranks and titles, rewards and punishments, and military exercises, making a brief table for comparison and memory.
Read alongside public and private records such as the Comprehensive History of the Eight Banners, noting differences between this text and later retrospective accounts.
When encountering terms for offices and banner institutions, first consult reference works, avoiding imposing modern meanings on original concepts.

About the publisher

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) China · Founded in 1901

Jinzhang Book Company (Jinzhang Shuju) was a private publishing and distribution house in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods, issuing traditional works by lithographic printing. Judging from the 1,194 titles in the collection, its publishing focused on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, historical reading, traditional Chinese medical texts, and canonical works, along with books on literary appreciation. Representative titles include the poetry and prose collections of Du Fu and Ouyang Xiu; historical works such as the Book of Han and Zizhi Tongjian; classical texts such as the Book of Documents and Mencius; and specialized and literary classics such as Treatise on Cold Damage and Li Sao. Its author resources cover major figures across the ages, including Du Fu, Ban Gu, Sima Guang, Zhang Zhongjing, Qu Yuan, Ouyang Xiu, and Tang Shenwei, reflecting the house's characteristic reliance on traditional scholarship and medical literature while serving general readers. Public information on its early history and operational details is limited, so no conjecture is offered here.

版权信息
旗軍志題辭
旗軍志

FAQ

What does the Record of the Banner Army mainly record?

According to the preface, the book narrates the origins of the Eight Banners, together with the grades of meritorious houses, the order of ranks and titles, the government of spring and autumn military exercises, and the laws of reward and punishment. It is a specialized account systematically itemizing the Eight Banners system, focusing on the institutional framework rather than on personal deeds.

Can someone without a classical Chinese foundation read this book?

Yes, but assistance is needed. The original is in classical Chinese and involves specialized terms such as Eight Banner offices and ranks and titles. It is advisable to read with reference works, annotated editions, or relevant research, otherwise one may remain at the literal level and misunderstand the institutional meanings.

What role does Zhang Chao's preface play in the book?

The preface explains the occasion of composition and the intent to commend, and evaluates the Eight Banners system along the lines of “in peace not forgetting danger” and “where there are civil affairs there must be military preparedness,” helping readers understand how contemporaries viewed the significance of the Record of the Banner Army. Its laudatory stance, however, should be distinguished from the institutional record in the main text.

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About the author

金德纯 Author

Jin Dechun is an author for whom only limited public information is currently available. Details of his life, such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background, have not been clearly recorded, and two of his works are held in the collection. Judging from the extant works, he is the author of Qijun Zhi (also written Qijun Zhi), a title classified among classic works and Eastern philosophy, which suggests that his writing touches on historical institutions or intellectual and cultural themes. Because relevant records are scarce, it is difficult to give a full account of his writing style or overall scholarly profile. The title Qijun Zhi does, however, hint that its content may concern institutional topics such as the banner system and military organization, giving it some value as historical source material. Readers wishing to learn more about Jin Dechun may examine the specific content of this book; until further materials come to light, any introduction to the man and his work must rely on the works themselves and remain cautious and restrained.