Plain White Banner
Plain White Banner (Chinese: 正白旗) was one of the Eight Banners, the main military and social system of the Manchu people during the Later Jin and Qing dynasties (1601–1912). It was one of the three "upper" banners controlled directly by the emperor, along with the Plain Yellow Banner and the Bordered Yellow Banner. The other five banners were considered "lower" banners.
The Plain White Banner played a key role early on as Nurhaci built his state and later as Hong Taiji led the rise of the Qing. The Hoise Niru, a military unit, was associated with this banner. Nurhaci first gave the Plain White Banner to his eldest son Cuyen; after Cuyen fell from favor, it was given to Hong Taiji, while Cuyen’s son Dudu led the Bordered White Banner. Hong Taiji maintained influence over both White Banners until Nurhaci’s death.
To strengthen his grip on power, Hong Taiji decided that the two Yellow Banners should be the empire’s strongest banners and swapped the two White Banners for his father’s two Yellow Banners. This helped him consolidate power and prevented Abahai’s three teenage sons from challenging his rise. As the brothers grew, they became trusted commanders of the two White Banners.
After Hong Taiji’s death, his ninth son Fulin became emperor with Dorgon as regent, and the Plain Blue Banner was replaced by the Plain White Banner as part of the Emperor’s Upper Three Banners. From then on, the Emperor’s Upper Three Banners consisted of the two Yellow Banners and the Plain White Banner.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 06:46 (CET).