Administrative divisions of Mongolia during Qing

The Qing dynasty of China ruled over the Mongolian Plateau, including Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia. Both regions, however, were separately administered within the empire.

The estate of Jebtsundamba Khutugtu, the Great Shabi (from Mongolian shabi, disciple) in 1723, became independent from the four aimags in the sense that its subjects were exempt from most taxes and corvees. The shabi did not—except the three Darkhad otog in Khövsgöl—control territory. Rather, its subjects mostly lived among the general population. Similar shabis existed for other high lamas.^[1]