Thirteen Articles for the Settlement of Qinghai Affairs

The Thirteen Articles on the Post-war Affairs in Qinghai (Chinse: 青海善后事宜十三条) ^[1]refers to a series of measures on how to govern the Qinghai region that Fuyuan General Nian Gengyao (Chinese:年羹尧) (1679-1725)^[2] submitted to Emperor Yongzheng in 1724 after suppressing the rebellion of Lobsang Tendzin. These measures were approved and implemented by the Qing court, and had a profound impact on the political, military, economic and religious management of the Qinghai region. It also marked the formal incorporation of Qinghai into the territory of the Qing Dynasty and the implementation of effective administrative management. Its implementation played an important role in consolidating the Qing Dynasty’s rule in the northwestern border, maintaining local stability, and promoting social development in the Mongolian and Tibetan regions. At the same time, it also reflected the Qing Dynasty’s border governance strategy of “governing according to local customs”. ^{[3] [4] [5]} The demarcation of the administrative boundaries of Sichuan-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet were determined legally and practically. ^[6]

One of the articles is that The four major tribes of Balkham (巴尔喀木), Zang (藏) and Wei (卫) in Qinghai are to be managed by officials from Sichuan and Yunnan. The Dalai Lama may no longer collect saddle rent from Chamdo (察木多), Zala (乍了), Batang (巴塘), and Litang (里塘). Instead, the Dalai Lama will be annually awarded five thousand catties of tea, and the Panchen Lama will receive half of that amount.^{[7][3] [8]}

In 1725, Yue Zhongqi (岳钟琪), the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi, became the commander of the demarcation. In October, officials from Sichuan and Yunnan arrived in Batan for investigation. Based on the principle of the Thriteen Articles that "those close to Sichuan belong to Sichuan, and those close to Yunnan belong to Yunnan", Hao Yulin and Zhou Ying proposed to transfer Luolongzong and the eastern areas of Chamuduo, Chawagang, Leiwuqi, Shuobanduo, Zhaya, Nancheng, and most of the Kham region such as Batang and Litang to Sichuan, and Zhongdian and the nearby Qizong, Lapu, Benzilan, Adunzi and other places to Yunnan. Emperor Yongzheng did not agree to this plan. In response to this, Yue Zhongqi proposed that "Zhongdian, Litang, Batang, and the nearby Derget and Washuhor areas, which were originally under the jurisdiction of the inland chieftains, should all be returned to the inland, and their leaders should be given the title of chieftain and be governed by him; as for the tribes such as Luolongzong, were awarded to the Dalai Lama for management." In other words, the important strategic passage area in the east of Kham region should be given to Sichuan, and the west should still be given to Tibet. This plan was equivalent to an adjustment to Nian Gengyao's plan. Emperor Yongzheng agreed with Yue Zhongqi's plan, and sent Deputy Governor-General Eqi, Scholar Bandi, Zasak Grand Lama Gelek Choerji and others to handle the matter of demarcating the boundaries and informing the Dalai Lama about the demarcation of Tibet, Qinghai and Sichuan. ^[9]

In 1726, Yue Zhongqi made another suggestion to Emperor Yongzheng to adjust the jurisdiction of Sichuan and Yunnan. Yue Zhongqi believed that Batang was the gateway to Dajianlu and had long been included in the scope of Sichuan Province. However, Benzilan, Qizong, Lapu, Weixi and other places under Batang’s jurisdiction were very close to the flood control zone of Yunnan, and had the same road as Adunzi, the gateway to Zhongdian (Shangri-La). It was not very convenient for these places to be under the jurisdiction of Sichuan, but it was much more convenient to be under the jurisdiction of Yunnan. In this way, it would form a horn with Litang and Dajianlu, and take care of each other, which would be more conducive to ensuring the safety of the road into Tibet.This suggestion was approved by Emperor Yongzheng.^[10]

Eqi and others believed that if some land was assigned to the inland, it would be too far away and the jurisdiction would be chaotic. If it was assigned to Qinghai, the Mongols might control the passage to Tibet. It would be better to assign it to Tibet. Emperor Yongzheng considered various opinions and agreed to assign Bangmu, Dala, Lishu, Jiangka and other areas close to Batang to Tibet, but was hesitant about the demarcation of Yushu and other places. Yongzheng believed that this was a must-go place for Qinghai to enter Tibet and should not be underestimated. So he asked to send Eqi and Zhou Ying to "visit in person". After investigation, and finally, the land of the 79 tribes was divided into two parts. The 40 tribes in Yushu in the north were assigned to Qinghai, but were directly governed by the Xining Minister, and did not belong to any banner of the Khoshut Mongols; the 39 tribes in the south were assigned to Tibet, but were not used as a place for the Dalai Lama to worship, but were directly governed by the Minister in Tibet. In this way, the goal of taking measures according to local conditions is not only achieved, but also achieved direct governance of the region, ensuring the smooth flow of the Qinghai-Tibet Road.^[11]

Since 1724, for the demarcations made during the Yongzheng reign, the borders between Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan were basically determined ^[12]