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| The Significance and Influence of the Xiunü Selection System on Banner Women: A Study Based on the Xiunü Selection Archives of Qing Royal Palace |
| Mao Liping |
| The Institute of Qing History, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China |
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Abstract The Xiunü selection system was an important institutional basis of the Qing royal palace. In principle, both imperial consorts and palace maids were chosen from the Xiunü selection process, and the Xiunü were all banner women. According to the Qing rules, no young girls of banner communities should get married on their own before they underwent the selection process. Hence, the Xiunü selection system had a crucial impact on the life of every banner woman. However, previous studies primarily focused on the purpose, scope, and procedures of Xiunü selection and neglected the influence of this system on the average banners women.Firstly, by reviewing three relevant archives during the 60th year of Qianlong reign, which hitherto left unnoticed by the academic circle, this paper provides a vivid depiction of the massive scale and the specific process of Xiunü selection during the High Qing Period. What did the selection mean for the majority of ordinary banner women? On the one hand, such selection enabled every banner woman to come to the capital, enter the palace, and meet the emperor, which was an unattainable opportunity even for most banner men. During the selection process, Xiunü was provided food, silver, and other rewards by the emperor so they could feel the connection and a sense of belongingness between individual and the royal court and the emperor. On the other hand, as every Xiunü had the potential to be the wife or concubine of the emperor, all unmarried girls enjoyed higher family and social status in the banner society, which was also an important impact of the selection system on banner women. Furthermore, the Xiunü selection event was a good opportunity for the emperors to reinforce their control over banner women. Held every three years, the selection event required thorough preparation of all royal institutions and the entire banner community. Under the command of the Ministry of Revenue, the royal court examined every unmarried banner girl every three years, which allowed the emperor to impose strict control over the population and marriage status of all banner women. The Qing emperors also inculcated ethnic consciousness into the banner women on each selection event, which included spotting signs of Hanization from their apparels and accessories and making timely ratification or emphasis their Manchu family names to strengthen their ethnic identity.
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Received: 27 July 2021
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2021, Vol. 51 
