Viceroy of Min-Zhe



The Viceroy of Min-Zhe, fully in Chinese as the Governor-General of Min-Zhe Provinces and Other Local Areas, in Charge of Military Affairs, Food and Wages and Governor Affairs, was one of eight Viceroys during the Qing dynasty. The Viceroy of Sichuan had jurisdiction of military, civil, and political affairs over then Fujian Province, Zhejiang Province, and Taiwan Province (approx. nowadays Fujian, Zhejiang, and Taiwan).

Taiwan was under the Viceroy's jurisdiction since the establishment of the office in 1645 until the Qing-Japan Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895.

History
The office of Viceroy of Min-Zhe was created under the name "Viceroy of Zhe-Min" in 1645 during the reign of the Shunzhi Emperor. At the time of its creation, its headquarters were in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. In 1648, the headquarters shifted to Quzhou, Zhejiang Province. About 10 years later, the office split into the Viceroy of Fujian and Viceroy of Zhejiang, which were respectively based in Zhangzhou and Wenzhou.

In 1672, during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor, the office of the Viceroy of Fujian shifted from Zhangzhou back to Fuzhou. In 1687, the Viceroy of Fujian was renamed "Viceroy of Min-Zhe".

In 1727, the Yongzheng Emperor specially appointed Li Wei as Viceroy of Zhejiang. The Viceroy of Min-Zhe, on the other hand, was in charge of only Fujian. The two offices were merged under "Viceroy of Min-Zhe" in 1734.

In 1736, the Qianlong Emperor restored the earlier system by appointing Ji Zengyun (嵇曾筠) as the Viceroy of Zhejiang, managing only Zhejiang. Hao Yulin (郝玉麟), the Viceroy of Min-Zhe, was in charge of only Fujian. These changes were reversed in 1738 after the Qianlong Emperor recalled Ji Zengyun back to the imperial capital, leaving Hao Yulin in charge of both Zhejiang and Fujian.

In 1885, during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor, the office of Provincial Governor of Fujian was merged into the office of the Viceroy of Min-Zhe.

In 1911, the last Viceroy of Minzhe Songshou was overthrown and killed by soldiers in mutiny during the Xinhai revolution.

Related topics

 * History of Taiwan
 * History of Fujian
 * History of Zhejiang