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| 锦衣卫 | |
 A Jinyiwei guard's tablet which says: Jinyiwei commander Ma Shun. | |
| Secret Police overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1368–1644 |
| Type | Intelligence agency Secret police Security agency |
| Jurisdiction | Ming Dynasty China |
| Headquarters | Forbidden City "Eastern Bureau" |
| Employees | 14,000 (peak strength) |
The Embroidered Uniform Guard (traditional Chinese: 錦衣衞; simplified Chinese: 锦衣卫; pinyin: Jǐnyīwèi; lit. 'brocade-clothing guard') was the imperial secret police that served the emperors of the Ming dynasty in China.[1][2] The guard was founded by the Hongwu Emperor in 1368 to serve as his personal bodyguards. In 1369 it became an imperial military body. They were given the authority to overrule judicial proceedings in prosecutions with full autonomy in arresting, interrogating, and punishing anyone, including nobles and the emperor's relatives.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard was tasked with collecting military intelligence on the enemy and participation in battles during planning, counterintelligence to prevent sabotage of the imperial palace and assassination, perform dangerous missions for the Emperors of the Ming dynasty, and providing security for the Emperor and the imperial family. The guards donned a distinctive golden-yellow uniform, with a tablet worn on his torso, and carried a sword (Dao) known as the embroidered spring knife (Chinese: 绣春刀; pinyin: Xiù chūn dāo).
- ^ Tsai, Shih-shan Henry (1996). The Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty. SUNY Press. pp. 98–100. ISBN 0791426874.
- ^ Xie Baocheng (2013). Brief History of the Official System in China. Paths International Ltd. p. 24. ISBN 978-1844641536.