Qixiu

In this Manchu name, the given name is Qixiu. In accordance with Manchu custom, it should be used alone or with titles but not with the clan name Kūyala.
Qixiu
Grand Councillor
In office
17 December 1898 – 13 February 1901
Minister of Zongli Yamen
In office
10 June 1900 – 13 February 1901
Minister of Rites
In office
29 September 1898 – 13 February 1901
Serving with Li Duanfen (until 1898), Liao Shouheng (1900), Lu Chuanlin (1900), Sun Jianai (since 1900)
Preceded byYulu
Succeeded byShixu
Minister of Lifan Yuan
In office
20 September 1894 – 29 September 1898
Preceded byChongli
Succeeded byYude
Deputy Minister of War of Mukden
In office
7 October 1892 – 20 September 1894
Preceded byFenglie
Succeeded byShouyin
Deputy Minister of Revenue of Mukden
In office
8 July 1882 – 22 April 1888
Preceded byEnfu
Succeeded byMianyi
Deputy Minister of Justice of Mukden
In office
19 July 1879 – 18 September 1881
Preceded byJige (acting)
Succeeded byBaosen
Personal details
Born1839
Died26 February 1901(1901-02-26) (aged 61–62)
Caishikou Execution Grounds, Beijing, Qing Empire
EducationJinshi degree in the Imperial Examination (1865)
Occupationpolitician
Clan nameKūyala (庫雅拉)
Courtesy nameYingzhi (穎芝)
Military service
AllegianceQing dynasty
Branch/serviceManchu Plain White Banner
Battles/warsBoxer Rebellion

Qixiu (Chinese: 啟秀, 1839–1901), from the Kūyala clan (庫雅拉氏[1]) with the courtesy name Yingzhi (穎芝[2]), was a Manchu politician of the late Qing dynasty. He was a member of the Manchu Plain White Banner.

Qixiu obtained the highest degree (jinshi) in the imperial examination and was selected a shujishi of the Hanlin Academy in 1865.[3] He had served as the literary official of the Ministry of Justice (刑部主事), Secretary of Cabinet (內閣學士), Junior Deputy Minister of Justice (刑部右侍郎), Senior Deputy Minister of Rites (禮部左侍郎), Minister of Lifan Yuan (理藩院尚書) and other positions.[4] He was appointed the Minister of Rites and Grand Councilor in 1898.

During the Boxer Rebellion, Prince Duan led attacks against the Christians in the Church of the Saviour, Beijing. It was said that Qixiu wrote a letter to an old monk in Wutai Mountain, inviting him to attack the church. The monk claimed that Guan Yu had descended into his spirit and possessed him; he rode on Prince Zhuang's horse, holding a broadsword, and led the Boxers to set fire near the church. The monk was shot and fell off his horse, and the Boxers dispersed.[5]

On 14 August 1900, Empress Dowager Cixi, Guangxu Emperor and some other court officials fled from the capital as the Eight-Nation Alliance marched on Beijing. Qixiu's mother was ill, he decided to stay in the capital. He was captured by Japanese soldiers. In the next year, the victorious Eight-Nation Alliance named him as one of the masterminds behind the rebellion.[6] He was dismissed from all official positions and later, executed[7] at the Caishikou Execution Grounds[3] together with Xu Chengyu on 26 February 1901.[8][9]

  1. ^ "Baqi Manzhou shizu tongpu 八旗滿洲氏族通譜".
  2. ^ Hummel, Arthur W. Sr., ed. (1943). "Jung-lu" . Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period. United States Government Printing Office.
  3. ^ a b Works related to 清史稿/卷465 at Wikisource (Draft History of Qing Volume 465)
  4. ^ "(庫雅拉)啟秀".
  5. ^ Works related to 諫書稀庵筆記 at Wikisource
  6. ^ Works related to Peace Agreement between the Great Powers and China. at Wikisource
  7. ^ "己亥建储与义和团运动". National Qing History Compilation Committee website.
  8. ^ "Spider Manchu: Duanfang as Networker and Spindoctor of the Late Qing New Policies, 1901-1911" (PDF).
  9. ^ "北淸事變に関する最終議定書（北清事変に関する最終議定書，北京議定書）" (in Japanese).