Prince Qing's Cabinet


The Prince Qing Cabinet was the first cabinet of the Qing dynasty and of China, formed as part of the Qing state's reforms to create a constitutional monarchy in the early 20th century. It was active from 8 May to 1 November 1911, led by the Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet, Yikuang. It initially consisted of thirteen members, of which nine were Manchus while only four were Han Chinese. As a result, it remained unpopular among the people and was nicknamed the "Princes' Cabinet" or "Imperial Family Cabinet"by its critics.

History

The Imperial Cabinet was formed as a result of the constitutional reforms, the New Policies, being enacted in China in the early 20th century. It replaced the Grand Council, although it was unpopular and was described as "the old Grand Council under the name of a cabinet, autocracy under the name of constitutionalism."
Members of the provisional assemblies, which were formed in 1908–09, protested against the formation of this cabinet. On 12 May, the Federation of Provincial Assemblies declared that imperial princes should not serve as premiers and that the Princes' Cabinet is not compatible with a constitutional monarchy. On 5 July, over 40 legislators submitted a petition to form a new cabinet. The imperial court responded with an edict which stated that assemblymen should not interfere with the appointment and dismissal of officials.
The Princes' Cabinet was dissolved in November 1911 when Prince Qing resigned and his ally, general Yuan Shikai, was appointed prime minister in his place, establishing the Yuan Cabinet.

Composition

The following is the list of cabinet ministers. Unless otherwise noted, their term began on 8 May and ended on 1 November when the cabinet was dismissed.
OfficePortraitNameEthnicityNotes
Prime MinisterYikuang Manchu
Minister of the CabinetNatongManchu
Minister of the CabinetXu ShichangHan Chinese
Minister of Foreign AffairsLiang DunyanHan Chinese
Minister of Internal AffairsShanqi 善耆, Prince SuManchuAppointed on April 10
Minister of Internal AffairsGuichunManchuActing
Minister of Internal AffairsZhao BingjunHan ChineseAppointed in early October
Minister of FinanceZaizeManchu
Minister of EducationTang JingchongHan Chinese
Minister of the ArmyYinchangManchu
Minister of the NavyZaixun, Prince RuiManchu
Minister of JusticeShaochangManchu
Minister of Agriculture, Industry, and CommercePulunManchu
Minister of Mail and CommunicationsSheng XuanhuaiHan Chinese
Minister of Mail and CommunicationsTang ShaoyiHan ChineseAppointed on September 5
Minister of the Lifan YuanUksun XuefuManchu
Minister of the Lifan YuanShanqi 善耆, Prince SuManchuAppointed on June 21