{{Short description|First cabinet in Chinese history}} {{Infobox government cabinet | cabinet_name = Cabinet of Prince Qing | cabinet_number = 1st | jurisdiction = China | flag = Flag of China (1889–1912).svg | flag_border = true | date_formed = 8 May 1911 | date_dissolved = 1 November 1911 | government_head = [[Yikuang|Prince Qing]] | government_head_history = | deputy_government_head = | state_head = [[Puyi|Xuantong Emperor]] | current_number = 13 | election = Appointed by the [[Emperor of China|Emperor]] | previous = None | successor = [[Yuan Shikai's Cabinet]] |image=File:Hubert_Vos's_painting_of_Yikuang.jpg}} The '''Cabinet of Prince Qing''' ({{zh|t=慶親王內閣|s=庆亲王内阁|p=Qìng Qīnwáng Nèigé|labels=no}}) was the first [[Cabinet (government)|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]] ([[Prince Qing]]). It initially consisted of thirteen members, of which nine were [[Manchu people|Manchu]]s (seven of whom were from the [[Aisin Gioro|imperial clan]]) 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'''"({{zh|t=皇族內閣|s=皇族内阁|p=Huángzú Nèigé|labels=no}}) by its critics.{{sfnb|Esherick|2013}}
== 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 (Qing dynasty)|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."{{sfnb|Esherick|2013}}
Members of the [[New Policies|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.{{sfnb|Esherick|2013}}
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 Shikai's Cabinet|Yuan Cabinet]].{{sfnb|Esherick|2013}}
== 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. {| class="wikitable" width="100%" |- ! style="white-space:nowrap" |Office!!Name!!Portrait!!Ethnicity!!Notes |- ![[Prime Minister of the Imperial Cabinet|Prime Minister]] |[[Yikuang|Yikuang, Prince Qing]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|慶親王 奕劻}}||[[File:Pmyikuang.jpg|90px]]||Manchu|| |- !rowspan="2"|Minister of the Cabinet |[[Natong]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|那桐}}||[[File:Sitting portrait of Natong (那桐) 02.jpg|90px]]||Manchu||rowspan="2"| |- |[[Xu Shichang]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|徐世昌}}||[[File:徐世昌.jpg|90px]]||Han Chinese |- !Minister of Foreign Affairs |[[Liang Dunyan]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|梁敦彥}}||[[File:梁敦彦.jpg|90px]]||Han Chinese|| |- !rowspan="3"|Minister of Internal Affairs |[[Shanqi|Shanqi, Prince Su]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|肅親王 善耆}}||[[File:肅親王善耆.jpg|90px]]||Manchu||Appointed on April 10 |- |[[Guichun]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|桂春}}|| ||Manchu||Acting |- |[[Zhao Bingjun]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|趙秉鈞}}||[[File:Zhao Bingjun.jpg|90px]]||Han Chinese||Appointed in early October |- !Minister of Finance |[[Zaize|Zaize, Grace Defender Duke]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|奉恩鎮國公 載澤}}|| [[File:载泽 Zaize (AI repair).jpg|132x132px]]||Manchu|| |- !Minister of Education |[[Tang Jingchong]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|唐景崇}}||[[File:Tang_Jingchong.jpg|90px]]||Han Chinese|| |- !Minister of the Army |[[Yinchang]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|蔭昌}}||[[File:Yin Chang2.jpg|90px]]||Manchu|| |- !Minister of the Navy |[[Zaixun, Prince Rui]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|瑞郡王 載洵}}||[[File:載洵.jpg|90px]]||Manchu|| |- !Minister of Justice |[[Gioro Shaochang]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|覺羅紹昌}}|| ||Manchu|| |- !Minister of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce | [[Pulun|Pulun, Beile-ranked beise]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|貝子加貝勒銜 溥倫}}||[[File:Pulun.jpg|90px]]||Manchu|| |- !rowspan="2"|Minister of Mail and Communications |[[Sheng Xuanhuai]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|盛宣懷}}||[[File:Sheng_Xuanhuai.jpg|90px]]||Han Chinese|| |- |[[Tang Shaoyi]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|唐紹儀}}||[[File:Tang Shaoyi.jpg|90px]]||Han Chinese|| Appointed on September 5 |- !rowspan="2"|Minister of the [[Lifan Yuan]] |[[Shouqi (politician)|Shouqi]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|壽耆}}||[[File:Shouqi.jpg|90px]]||Manchu|| |- |[[Shanqi|Shanqi, Prince Su]]<br>{{lang|zh-hant|肅親王 善耆}}||[[File:肅親王善耆.jpg|90px]]||Manchu||Appointed on June 21 |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{cite book|last=Esherick|first=Joseph|year=2013|title=China: How the Empire Fell|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=978-0415831017}}
{{Qing Cabinets}}
[[Category:Government of the Qing dynasty]] [[Category:Cabinets established in 1911]] [[Category:Cabinets disestablished in 1911]] [[Category:1911 disestablishments in China]]