Contents

Advisory Council (Qing dynasty)

Pre-parliamentary body in China

Advisory Council 資政院
Flag of the Qing Empire
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Founded	6 November 1906 (1906-11-06)
Disbanded	12 February 1912 (1912-02-12)
Succeeded by	Provisional Senate of the Republic of China
Leadership
President	Xu Dinglin since 26 January 1912
Vice President	Dashou since 30 October 1911
Secretary General	Jin Bangping since 3 October 1910
Structure
Seats	200
Political groups	Election result   Constitutionalists (116)   Revolutionaries (8)   Independents (72)   Vacant (4)
Length of term	3 years
Elections
Voting system	Indirect elections by provincial assemblies; Appointed by Emperor
Last election	October 1909
Meeting place
Advisory Council Building, Beijing
Constitution
Principles of the Constitution (1908–12) Nineteen Articles (1911–12)
Rules
Charter of Advisory Council

The Advisory Council (Chinese: 資政院), also known as the Government Advisory Council,^[1] Political Advisory Council,^[2]orPolitical Advisory Board,^[3] was a preparatory body for the parliament established in 1910. It was part of the New Policies in the late Qing dynasty, of which the Qing court was moving toward the implementation of a constitution. In September 1907, the Guangxu Emperor promulgated a decree on the setting up of the Advisory Council, following by the provincial Consultative Bureaus in October.

The Advisory Council was established on 6 November 1906, and formally opened on 10 October 1910, after the first parliamentary election in last October. The council was dissolved on 12 February 1912 along with the end of the Qing dynasty, and was replaced by the Provisional Senate of the Republic of China.^[4][5][6]

History[edit]

After the Boxer Protocol was signed in 1901, the Qing court returned to its capital of Beijing eager to reform the realm's governance. In around August 1906, the Guangxu Emperor declared the start of preparative constitutionalism after the study by the Constitutionalism Commission on foreign politics. Two months later, Yikuang, Prince Qing, recommended forming an Advisory Council to prepare for the institution of a parliament.^[7] On 6 November 1906, the Emperor issued an edict to revamp the governmental institutions, including the establishment of Advisory Council.^[8]

On 20 September 1907, the Emperor appointed Pulun and Sun Jialun as joint Presidents of the council,^[8] and delegated to them the writing of its charter. In August 1908, the electoral system of the Council and the Provincial Assemblies were approved and governors of provinces were asked to hold relevant elections within a year. Half of the Council members were elected by members of the Assemblies, while the other half were appointed by the imperial court.^[7]

The Council and the Commission further jointly agreed to a nine-year plan for installing constitutionalism. Provincial Assemblies were formed in 1908, with elections of the Assemblies and the Council to be held a year later. The council was to be convened and formally opened in 1910. The constitution of the state, Parliamentary Law, Parliamentary Election Law, and election of the bicameral members were expected in 1916. By then constitutional monarchy would have formally replaced absolute monarchy.^[7]

The elections of the Council and Provincial Assemblies held as laid down in the plan. The bicameral parliament, however, did not come into existence as Qing dynasty was overthrown and Emperor Puyi forced to abdicate in 1912.

Session[edit]

The Council convened for the first time on 3 October 1910, with the President declaring it as "the unprecedented grand ceremony" in the Chinese history. All 196 members of the council were divided evenly in 6 divisions, followed by election of division head (股長) and director (理事).^[9]

The second meeting marked the state opening of the council, attending by the regent and virtually all ministers of the court. Attendants first kowtowed to the throne. The regent then announced the edict and addressed the council. The Council agreed the President and the Vice President to present a humble address to thank His Majesty on behalf of the members. The meeting subsequently ended.^[10]

A total of 42 meetings were held, 9 of which was after the extension of the council's session.

On 18 December, the Council presented humble address (palace memorial) to the court over forming cabinet as responsibilities of Grand Council were unclear, which the court denounced as "interference by councillors" and insisted the court shall decide on matters of such. On 30 December, the Council presented another address to urge ending the policy of Manchu hairstyle and clothing.^[11]

According to the records of proceedings, the council was closed on 11 January 1911 without the attendance of the regent. The edict was announced and the President kowtowed to the throne, marking the end of the first session of the council.^[12]

However, the Council continued deliberation. On 25 January 1911, part of the new criminal code was promulgated after adoption by the council. Two days later, the standardised treasury regulation was adopted by the council, along with the 1911 (Xuantong Year 2) budget on the next day. During the Railway Protection protest, the Council passed resolution against government's nationalisation plan, which was in turn rejected.^[11]

The second session of the Council started on 22 October 1911, days after outbreak of 1911 revolution. The Council recommended sacking of Sheng Xuanhuai as Minister of Mail for "violating rights, breaking laws, deceiving the Emperor", and calling him as the one "damaging the empire the most", which was agreed by the Emperor. Eight days later, the Council called for replacing the cabinet of Princes and to be completely responsible with non-royals as ministers of state, which was agreed by the court. On 3 November, Nineteen Articles were announced by the court after the Council voiced support for constitutional monarchy. The Charter of the council was amended on 20 November. On 27 October, upon recommendation from the council, the court finally repealed ban on Han hairstyle and costume and replaced lunar calendar with solar calendar.^[11]

One of the last acts of the council was the election of Yuan Shikai as the Prime Minister.^[11] The council was dissolved upon the end of the Qing dynasty.

Power[edit]

According to the Charter of the Council amended on 3 July 1911 –^[13]

Article 14

Advisory Council shall decide on matters of –

1. Financial budgets on income and expenditure of the state;
2. Final accounts on income and expenditure of the state;
3. Taxation and public debt;
4. Legislations and amendments thereof, except constitution; and
5. Other issues upon directives by extraordinary edicts.

Article 15

Motions under subsection 1 to 4 of the aforesaid article shall be drafted and presented by cabinet ministers, and submit to the Council at meetings. Advisory Council, however, can draft and present motions at its initiative for matters under subsection 3 and subsection 4.

Article 16

Resolutions on matters particularised in Article 14 by the Advisory Council shall be presented by President or Vice President upon consultation with cabinet ministers for decisions by the Emperor.

Members[edit]

Some members resigned during the session and the vacancies were filled according to the precedence list.

List of senior officials of the Advisory Council^[14]

Position	Member	Portrait	Term start	Term end
President	Pulun [zh]		20 September 1907	22 March 1911
	Sun Jianai [zh]		20 September 1907	30 November 1909
	Suolehuojin Shixu [zh]		22 March 1911	30 October 1911
	Li Jiaju [zh]		30 October 1911	26 January 1912
	Xu Dinglin [zh]		26 January 1912	12 February 1912
Vice President	Shen Jiaben		15 September 1910	28 January 1911
	Li Jiaju [zh]		22 March 1911	30 October 1911
	Dashou [zh]		30 October 1911	2 February 1912
Assistant Vice President (協理)	Jing Xing [zh]		20 January 1907	December 1909
	Lu Yuanding [zh]		20 January 1907	6 July 1908
	Ding Zhenduo [zh]		20 January 1907	1911
	Yu Liansan [zh]		20 January 1907	1911
	Li Jiaju [zh]		23 September 1909	14 April 1910
	Cao Hongxun [zh]		?	?
Manager (幫辦)	Aixinjueluo Baoxi [zh]		1908	1911
	Shen Yunpei [zh]		1908	1911
	Gu Huang [zh]		1908	1911
Secretary General	Jin Bangping [zh]		?	2 February 1912

List of members of the Advisory Council^[15]

No.	Member Peerage	Portrait	Constituency	Party[a]	Notes
1	Kuibin [zh] Prince Rui		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
2	Zaigong [zh] Prince Zhuang		Princes of Imperial Family	Continuous
3	Nalehe Prince Shuncheng		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
4	Zaiying [zh] Venerable Prince		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
5	Zairun [zh] Venerable Prince		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
6	Puyu [zh] Defender Duke by Grace		Princes of Imperial Family	Continuous
7	Aixinjueluo Quanrong [zh] Defender Duke by Grace		Princes of Imperial Family	Continuous
8	Aixinjueluo Shouquan [zh] Bulwark Duke by Grace		Princes of Imperial Family	Continuous
9	Zaikai [zh] Duke		Princes of Imperial Family	Continuous
10	Zaizhen Banner Prince, Defender General		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
11	Yuying [zh] Defender General		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
12	Zaiyan [zh] Supporter General		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
13	Sheng Kun [zh] Defender General		Princes of Imperial Family	Nonpartisan
14	Shengkun [zh] General		Princes of Imperial Family	Continuous
15	Nayantu [zh] Prince of the Blood		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
16	Suotenamuzha Muchai [zh] Prince of the Blood		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
17	Dorzipalamu [zh] Prince of Commandery		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
18	Gungsangnorbu Prince of Commandery		Princes of Feudatories	Science
19	色凌敦魯布 Prince of Commandery		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
20	色隆托濟勒 Prince of Commandery		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
21	勒旺諾爾布 Prince of Commandery		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
22	特古斯阿勒坦呼雅克圖 Prince of Commandery		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
23	巴勒珠爾那布坦 Prince of Commandery		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
24	綳楚克車林 Banner Prince		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan	Resigned
	Mijiddorjiin Khanddorj Prince of the Blood			Nonpartisan	Succeeded in 27th meeting
25	博迪蘇 Bulwark Duke		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
26	達木黨蘇倫 Defender Duke		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
27	司迪克 Bulwark Duke		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
28	那木濟勒錯布丹 Bulwark Duke		Princes of Feudatories	Nonpartisan
29	希璋 Duke		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Continuous
30	黃懋澄 Duke		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
31	志鈞 Duke		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
32	榮泉 Duke		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
33	榮墪 Duke		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
34	延秀 Marquess		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
35	曾廣鑾 Marquess		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
36	存興 Marquess		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
37	李長祿 Viscount		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Continuous
38	敬昌 Viscount		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
39	劉能紀 Baron		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Nonpartisan
40	胡祖蔭 Baron		Nobilities of Manchu and Han	Continuous
41	定秀 Uksun		Descendants of Emperor	Continuous
42	世珣 Uksun		Descendants of Emperor	Nonpartisan
43	榮普 Uksun		Descendants of Emperor	Continuous
44	成善 Uksun		Descendants of Emperor	Nonpartisan
45	景安 Gioro		Descendants of Emperor	Continuous
46	宜純 Gioro		Descendants of Emperor	Nonpartisan
47	奎濂		Government Officials	Nonpartisan
48	陳懋鼎		Government Officials	Xinhai
49	趙椿年		Government Officials	Xinhai
50	錫嘏		Government Officials	Nonpartisan
51	榮凱		Government Officials	Nonpartisan
52	毓善		Government Officials	Continuous
53	劉道仁		Government Officials	Tongmenghui   Xinhai  (1911–)
54	文哲琿		Government Officials	Continuous
55	張緝光		Government Officials	Nonpartisan	Resigned in 7th meeting
	崇芳			Nonpartisan	Succeeded in 17th meeting
56	李經畬		Government Officials	Continuous
57	林炳章		Government Officials	Continuous
58	慶蕃		Government Officials	Nonpartisan
59	顧棟臣		Government Officials	Continuous
60	何藻翔		Government Officials	Xinhai
61	陳善同		Government Officials	Continuous
62	劉澤熙		Government Officials	Xinhai	"Leading member of appointed members"
63	魏聯奎		Government Officials	Continuous
64	趙炳麟		Government Officials	Continuous
65	儼忠		Government Officials	Nonpartisan
66	胡駿		Government Officials	Continuous   Xinhai  (1911–)
67	王璟芳		Government Officials	Xinhai
68	文溥		Government Officials	Continuous
69	吳敬修		Government Officials	Nonpartisan
70	Ke Shaomin		Government Officials	Continuous
71	榮厚		Government Officials	Continuous
72	胡礽泰		Government Officials	Science
73	汪榮寶		Government Officials	Science
74	劉華		Government officials	Nonpartisan	Resigned
	Lu Zongyu			Science	Succeeded in 17th meeting
75	Changfu [zh]		Government officials	Xinhai
76	Cao Yuanzhong [zh]		Government officials	Continuous
77	Wu Weibing [zh]		Government officials	Nonpartisan
78	Guo Jiaji [zh]		Government officials	Continuous
79	Wu Shijian (吳士鑒)		Scholars	Continuous
80	Lao Naixuan [zh]		Scholars	Continuous
81	Zhang Zongyuan [zh]		Scholars	Science
82	Chen Baochen		Scholars	Continuous
83	Shen Jiaben		Scholars	Preparative	Appointed as Vice President of the Council
84	Yen Fu		Scholars	Preparative
85	Jiang Han [zh]		Scholars	Nonpartisan	Resigned
	Wu Tingxie [zh]			Nonpartisan	Succeeded in 17th meeting
86	Yu Changlin [zh]		Scholars	Continuous
87	Shen Linyi [zh]		Scholars	Continuous  (Conservative)
88	Tao Baolian [zh]		Scholars	Continuous
89	Sun Yifu [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Nonpartisan
90	Li Shiyu [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Continuous
91	Zhou Shunqing [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Continuous
92	Lin Shaoji [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Nonpartisan
93	Xi Shou [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Tongmenghui   Xinhai  (1911–)
94	Wang Zuoliang [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Continuous
95	Song Zhensheng [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Continuous
96	Li Zhanyang [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Tongmenghui   Continuous  (1911–)
97	Luo Naixin [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Continuous
98	Wang Hongtu [zh]		Large Taxpayers	Continuous
99	Chen Yingzhou [zh]		Fengtian	Continuous
100	Wang Yuquan [zh]		Fengtian	Nonpartisan
101	Shuming (書銘)		Fengtian	Nonpartisan
102	Qing Shan (慶山)		Jilin	Continuous
103	Xu Muru [zh]		Jilin	Continuous
104	Gui Shan (桂山)		Heilongjiang	Nonpartisan
105	Dahanga [zh]		Heilongjiang	Nonpartisan
106	Qi Shukai [zh]		Zhili	Continuous
107	Li Ju [zh]		Zhili	CERA
108	Liu Chunlin [zh]		Zhili	Continuous
109	Ji Zhongyin [zh]		Zhili	CERA
110	Yu Banghua [zh]		Zhili	Continuous
111	Wu Dezhen [zh]		Zhili	Continuous
112	Chen Shukai [zh]		Zhili	Continuous
113	Li Yirong [zh]		Zhili	Continuous
114	Hu Jiaqi		Zhili	Preparative
115	Xu Dinglin [zh]		Jiangsu	Continuous  (Moderate)	Later appointed as President
116	Meng Zhaochang [zh]		Jiangsu	Science   Preparative	"Leading member amongst elected members"
117	Lei Fen [zh]		Jiangsu	CERA	"Leading member of the Council"
118	Xia Yinguan [zh]		Jiangsu	CERA
119	Ma Shijie [zh]		Jiangsu	Continuous
120	Pan Hongding [zh]		Jiangsu	Continuous
121	Fang Huan (方还)		Jiangsu	Continuous
122	Jiang Qian		Anhui	Continuous
123	Jiang Xin		Anhui	CERA
124	Liu Rushi		Anhui	Nonpartisan
125	Li Guoyun [zh]		Anhui	Nonpartisan
126	Tao Rong [zh]		Anhui	Petition   Tongmenghui  (1911–)
127	閔荷生		Kiangsi	Petition  (Conservative)
128	鄒國瑋		Kiangsi	Continuous
129	汪龍光		Kiangsi	Continuous
130	劉景烈		Kiangsi	Preparative
131	喻兆蕃		Kiangsi	Nonpartisan	Resigned
	黃象熙			Nonpartisan	Succeeded in 3rd meeting
132	文龢		Kiangsi	Nonpartisan
133	陳敬第		Chekiang	CERA
134	余鏡清		Chekiang	Preparative
135	鄭際平		Chekiang	Xinhai
136	王廷揚		Chekiang	Tongmenghui
137	邵羲		Chekiang	CERA   Preparative
138	王佐		Chekiang	Nonpartisan
139	陶葆霖		Chekiang	Continuous
140	康詠		Fukien	Continuous
141	楊廷綸		Fukien	Continuous
142	張選青		Fukien	Continuous
143	李慕韓		Fukien	Continuous
144	胡柏年		Hupeh	Continuous
145	陳國瓚		Hupeh	Continuous
146	鄭潢		Hupeh	Continuous
147	談鉞		Hupeh	Continuous
148	黃文潤		Hupeh	Nonpartisan	Charged and resigned
	陶峻			Nonpartisan	Succeeded in 3rd meeting
149	羅傑		Hunan	Xinhai
150	湯魯璠		Hunan	Nonpartisan
151	馮錫仁		Hunan	Nonpartisan	Died in office
	黎尚雯			Tongmenghui   Xinhai  (1911–)	Succeeded in 3rd meeting
152	唐右楨		Hunan	Nonpartisan
153	易宗夔		Hunan	Xinhai  (Radical)	Spoken the most in first session
154	陳命官		Shantung	Tongmenghui
155	王昱祥		Shantung	Nonpartisan
156	彭占元		Shantung	Tongmenghui   Friends  (1911–)
157	尹祚章		Shantung	Continuous
158	鄭熙嘏		Shantung	Continuous
159	蔣鴻斌		Shantung	Joint Assemblies
160	王紹勛		Honan	Continuous
161	張之銳		Honan	Nonpartisan
162	彭運斌		Honan	Petition
163	李時燦		Honan	Nonpartisan
164	陶毓瑞		Honan	Continuous
165	渠本翹		Shansi	Petition	Resigned in 12th meeting
	劉懋賞			Tongmenghui	Succeeded in 14th meeting
166	李華炳		Shansi	CERA
167	解榮輅		Shansi	Nonpartisan	Charged and resigned
	王用霖			CERA	Succeeded in 3rd meeting
168	劉緜訓		Shansi	Tongmenghui	Charged and resigned
	李素			Tongmenghui   Friends  (1911–)	Succeeded in 3rd meeting
169	劉志詹		Shansi	CERA
170	周鏞		Shensi	Nonpartisan
171	吳懷清		Shensi	Nonpartisan
172	盧潤瀛		Shensi	Continuous
173	梁守典		Shensi	Continuous
174	王曜南		Kansu	Continuous
175	楊錫田		Kansu	Continuous
176	羅其光		Kansu	Continuous
177	李文熙		Sichuan	Joint Assemblies   Friends  (1911–)
178	高凌霄		Sichuan	Continuous
179	張政		Sichuan	Continuous
180	劉緯		Sichuan	Nonpartisan
181	郭策勳		Sichuan	Joint Assemblies
182	萬慎		Sichuan	Continuous
183	劉曜垣		Kwangtung	Nonpartisan
184	周廷勵		Kwangtung	Nonpartisan
185	王廷獻		Kwangtung	Kwangtung Autonomy
186	黃毓棠		Kwangtung	Nonpartisan
187	劉述堯		Kwangtung	Nonpartisan
188	黃廼昌		Kwangsi	Nonpartisan	Died in office
	黃晉蒲			Nonpartisan	Succeeded in 3rd meeting
189	馮汝梅		Kwangsi	Nonpartisan
190	吳賜齡		Kwangsi	CERA  (Radical)
191	陳榮昌		Yunnan	Tongmenghui	Resigned before 3rd meeting
192	張之霖		Yunnan	Continuous
193	顧視高		Yunnan	Xinhai
194	范彭齡		Yunnan	Nonpartisan
195	鍾振玉		Kweichow	Kweichow Autonomy	Died
	劉榮勛			Kweichow Autonomy	Succeeded
196	牟琳		Kweichow	Kweichow Preparative   Xinhai  (1911–)

Supplementary members include:

• 不入八分鎮國公載岐 (27 May 1911 appointed)^[17]
• 三等承恩公瑞興 (27 May 1911 appointed)^[17]
• 札薩克郡王鞥克濟爾噶勒 (27 May 1911 appointed)^[17]
• 札薩克輔國公巴彥濟爾噶勒 (27 May 1911 appointed)^[17]
• 黎湛枝 (22 July 1911 appointed)^[18]
• 恩華 (22 July 1911 appointed)^[18]
• 錢承鋕 (22 July 1911 appointed)^[18]
• 范源濂 (22 July 1911 appointed)^[18]
• 陳錦濤 (22 July 1911 appointed)^[18]
• 奉國將軍溥善 (3 October 1911 appointed)^[19]
• 一等侯德啟 (3 October 1911 appointed)^[19]
• 彥惠 (3 October 1911 appointed)^[19]
• 王季烈 (3 October 1911 appointed)^[19]
• 程明超 (3 October 1911 appointed)^[19]

Gallery[edit]

• 
  The inaugural meeting of the Advisory Council on 3 October 1910.
• 
  The Advisory Council building

See also[edit]

• National Assembly (Republic of China)
• National People's Congress

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

• 李, 啟成 (2011). 資政院議場會議速記錄 [Records of Proceedings on Floor of Advisory Council] (in Chinese) (1st ed.). Shanghai: 上海三聯書店. ISBN 978-7-5426-3462-7.