Xiao-meng LIU
Qidi (Eight-banner land) served as the economic foundation of the Eight Banners system in the Qing Dynasty, and was a pivotal pillar of the establishment and ethnic oppression practiced by the Qing state. These lands were primarily distributed in Jifu (the capital region and adjacent areas), Fengtian (modern Liaoning), and other garrison areas of the Eight Banners. Upon the establishment of the Republic of China, the government initiated a survey and remeasurement of Qidi, categorizing them into grades, collecting land prices, issuing licenses, and converting Qidi into Mindi (civilian land). This process is termed as"the transformation of Qidi into Mindi." Taking Jifu, Fengtian, and Nanjing as case studies, this paper examines the origin, process, and impact of the measurement and distribution of Qidi in the early Republic of China. By measuring and distributing Qidi, the government collected payments, which corrupt officials exploited for personal gain. Meanwhile, the former Qing imperial family members, noblemen, and upper-class Banner people sold their land while collecting land prices, while landlords and tenants (sharecroppers) economically strengthened themselves by purchasing Qidi. The measurement and distribution of Qidi lasted for three decades, ultimately leading to the complete collapse of the Eight Banners land system. As Qidi was converted into Mindi, parasitic Banner landlords ceased to exist, and land-related lawsuits greatly decreased. This led to the unification of national land tax systems, and new landowners and smallholder farmers invested greater enthusiasm into production, thereby promoting the recovery and development of the agricultural economy. The transformation of Qidi into Mindi also encouraged Manchus to break free from the constraints of the Eight banner system and embark on self-sustaining livelihoods.