What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to explore the experiences of female banner slaves and their transitions between captivity and Han society during early Qing China.

March 8, 2026

Returning Home: Captured Women and Human Markets in Early Qing China, 1642–1656

Key Points

The research aims to explore the experiences of female banner slaves and their transitions between captivity and Han society during early Qing China.
Analyzed historical records of women captured during the Qing occupation.
Examined cases of female fugitives to understand their pathways and statuses.
Investigated the sale and movement of women between bannermen and Han civilians.
Identified patterns of female captives entering and exiting the banners.
Found that many women faced continued bondage even after returning to Han society.
Revealed the risks of reentering the banners or being sold into marriage or prostitution.

Abstract

Abstract: After the Qing occupation of Beijing in 1644, female banner slaves captured from Ming territory were relocated to North China. This article investigates the sale of women between bannermen and Han civilians during the immediate conquest period. By examining female fugitive cases, I find that women entered the banners from captivity and exited through the human trade or escape. However, exiting from the banners did not mean the end of their bondage: Women remained at risk of reentering the banners or being sold into marriage, concubinage, or prostitution after returning to Han society. Women’s experiences reveal the coexistence and intersection of Manchu and Han systems of bondage during the early Qing period.

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Returning Home: Captured Women and Human Markets in Early Qing China, 1642–1656

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Abstract

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