Qixiu Explained

Qixiu
Office:Grand Councillor
Term Start:17 December 1898
Term End:13 February 1901
Office1:Minister of Zongli Yamen
Term Start1:10 June 1900
Term End1:13 February 1901
Office2:Minister of Rites
Term Start2:29 September 1898
Term End2:13 February 1901
Alongside2:Li Duanfen (until 1898), Liao Shouheng (1900), Lu Chuanlin (1900), Sun Jianai (since 1900)
Predecessor2:Yulu
Successor2:Shixu
Office3:Minister of Lifan Yuan
Term Start3:20 September 1894
Term End3:29 September 1898
Predecessor3:Chongli
Successor3:Yude
Office4:Deputy Minister of War of Mukden
Term Start4:7 October 1892
Term End4:20 September 1894
Predecessor4:Fenglie
Successor4:Shouyin
Office5:Deputy Minister of Revenue of Mukden
Term Start5:8 July 1882
Term End5:22 April 1888
Predecessor5:Enfu
Successor5:Mianyi
Office6:Deputy Minister of Justice of Mukden
Term Start6:19 July 1879
Term End6:18 September 1881
Predecessor6:Jige (acting)
Successor6:Baosen
Occupation:politician
Education:Jinshi degree in the Imperial Examination (1865)
Birth Date:1839
Death Place:Caishikou Execution Grounds, Beijing, Qing Empire
Blank1:Clan name
Data1:Kūyala (庫雅拉)
Blank2:Courtesy name
Data2:Yingzhi (穎芝)
Allegiance:Qing dynasty
Branch:Manchu Plain White Banner
Battles:Boxer Rebellion

Qixiu (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.

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. He was dismissed from all official positions and later, executed[5] at the Caishikou Execution Grounds[3] together with Xu Chengyu on 26 February 1901[6] [7] .

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baqi Manzhou shizu tongpu 八旗滿洲氏族通譜.
  2. Jung-lu.
  3. (Draft History of Qing Volume 465)
  4. Web site: (庫雅拉)啟秀.
  5. Web site: 己亥建储与义和团运动 . .
  6. Web site: Spider Manchu: Duanfang as Networker and Spindoctor of the Late Qing New Policies, 1901-1911.
  7. Web site: 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) . ja.