Nobility
The following are the nine grades of the peerage awarded for valour, achievement and distinction. All but the lowest two grades are further divided into sub-classes.
- Min gong (Chinese: 民公; pinyin: mín gōng; literally "commoner duke"), commonly simplified to gong, translated as "Duke". This title is different from guo gong, because the latter was reserved for only members of the imperial clan.
- Hou (Chinese: 侯; pinyin: hóu; Manchu: ho), translated as "Marquis" or "Marquess".
- Bo (Chinese: 伯; pinyin: bó; Manchu: be), translated as "Count".
- Zi (Chinese: 子; pinyin: zǐ; Manchu: jinkini hafan), translated as "Viscount".
- Nan (Chinese: 男; pinyin: nán; Manchu: ashan-i hafan), translated as "Baron".
- Qingche duwei (simplified Chinese: 轻车都尉; traditional Chinese: 輕車都尉; pinyin: qīngchē dūwèi; literally "Chief Commander of Light Chariot"; Manchu: adaha hafan), rough equivalent of Knight Grand Cross of a chivalric order.
- Qiduwei (simplified Chinese: 骑都尉; traditional Chinese: 騎都尉; pinyin: qídūwèi; literally "Chief Commander of Cavalry"; Manchu: baitalabura hafan), rough equivalent of Knight Commander or Grand Officer of a chivalric order.
- Yunqiwei (simplified Chinese: 云骑尉; traditional Chinese: 雲騎尉; pinyin: yúnqíwèi; literally "Commander of Cavalry of the Cloud"; Manchu: tuwašara hafan), rough equivalent of Companion or Commander of a chivalric order.
- Enqiwei (simplified Chinese: 恩骑尉; traditional Chinese: 恩騎尉; pinyin: ēnqíwèi; literally "Commander of Cavalry by Grace"; Manchu: kesingge hafan), rough equivalent of Officer of a chivalric order.
Read more about this topic: Qing Dynasty Nobility
Famous quotes containing the word nobility:
“If there be no nobility of descent in a nation, all the more indispensable is it that there should be nobility of ascent—a character in them that bear rule, so fine and high and pure, that as men come within the circle of its influence, they involuntarily pay homage to that which is the one pre-eminent distinction, the Royalty of Virtue.”
—Henry Codman Potter (1835–1908)
“These hands do lack nobility that they strike
A meaner than myself.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“It is of the nobility of man’s soul that he is insatiable: for he hath a benefactor so prone to give, that he delighteth in us for asking. Do not your inclinations tell you that the WORLD is yours?”
—Thomas Traherne (1636–1674)