Plain White Banner

The Plain White Banner (Chinese: 正白旗; pinyin: Zhèng Bái Qí) was one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military and society during the Later Jin and Qing dynasty of China. It was one of the three "upper" banners (Plain Yellow Banner, Bordered Yellow Banner, and Plain White Banner) directly controlled by the emperor, as opposed to the other five "lower" banners. During the early years prior to Nurhaci founding the Later Jin Dynasty and Hong Taiji founding and change their empire to the Qing Dynasty, the strongest and upper three banners were the Plain Yellow, the Bordered Yellow, and the Plain Blue Banner, with Nurhaci and Hong Taiji mainly commanding the two Yellow Banners and Khan and Emperors respectively. The Hoise Niru was a military unit associated with the Plain White Banner. Nurhaci first assigned the Plain White Banner to his eldest son Cuyen. After Cuyen lost favor, it was assigned to Hong Taiji while Cuyen's son Dudu was assigned the Bordered White Banner. Hong Taiji eventually held influence on both White Banners until Nurhaci died. Nurhaci's original plans and intentions were to allow his highest consort, Abahai's three sons Ajige, Dorgon, and Dodo inherit his two Yellow Banners. Hong Taiji, recognized that the two Yellow Banners were the strongest two banners and are also considered the imperial banners of the Kahn since his father Nurhaci held it during his reign, so he switched his two White Banners for his father's two Yellow Banners to consolidate power and his ascension to the throne. He also came up with a plan along with the other princes and beiles to force Lady Abahai to an imperial burial along with the former Kahn to follow his to the grave. This was also to prevent Abahai's three teenage sons from challenging Hong Taiji's rise...