Grand Council (Qing dynasty)

The Grand Council or Junjichu (simplified Chinese: 军机处; traditional Chinese: 軍機處; pinyin: Jūnjīchù; Manchu: coohai nashūn i ba; literally, "Office of Military Secrets") was an important policy-making body during the Qing dynasty. It was established in 1733 by the Yongzheng Emperor. The Council was originally in charge of military affairs, but gradually attained a more important role and eventually attained the role of a privy council, eclipsing the Grand Secretariat in function and importance, which is why it has become known as the "Grand Council" in English.

Despite its important role in the government, the Grand Council remained an informal policy making body in the inner court and its members held other concurrent posts in the Qing civil service. Originally, most of the officials serving in the Grand Council were Manchus, but gradually Han Chinese officials were admitted into the ranks of the council. One of the earliest Han Chinese officials to serve in the Council was Zhang Tingyu. The chancellery was housed in an insignificant building just west of the gate to Palace of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City.

In the early Qing dynasty, political power was held by the Council of Princes and High Officials (議政王大臣會議), which consisted of eight imperial princes who served as imperial advisers at the same time. It also included a few Manchu officials. Established in 1637, the Council was responsible for deciding major policies of the Qing government. Decisions of the Council had precedence over decisions of the Grant Secretariat, the imperial cabinet. Under rules set by Nurhaci, the Council even had the power to depose the Emperor. In 1643, the Shunzhi Emperor expanded the Council's composition to Han Chinese officials, with its mandate expanded to all important decisions relating to the Qing Empire. The Council's powers gradually waned after the establishment of the Southern Study and the Grand Council, and it was abolished in 1717.

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