| “Returning to the Capital Banner” was a political system adopted in the Qing Dynasty to restrict the free movement of the Eight Banners in garrison, officials working outside the capital and their family members. Emperor Yongzheng adhered to the rationality of the system and conducted a comprehensive and systematic reform. The reform was related to the following aspects: perfecting and strictly keeping to the regulations of returning to the capital banner concerning the Eight Banners in garrison, officials working outside the capital and their family members, promulgating punishing measures for those who violated the disciplines, getting rid of the disadvantages of the system, creating a good returning environment, endowing the concept of the returning culture, and increasing the soft binding force of the system. Emperor Yongzheng reformed the returning system for the two reasons: the Manchuria aristocrats persisted in the system of “Returning to the Capital Banner” with the support of the Council of Ministers; Emperor Yongzheng’s inferiority mentality towards the Han culture in his ruling ideology made him worry about the loss of control of the military force of the Eight Banners owing to the strong influence of Han customs. Via the reform, the system of “Returning to the Capital Banner” entered its golden period. |
