Imperial Commissioner (China)
| Imperial Commissioner of the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty | |
|---|---|
| ᡥᡝᠰᡝ ᡳ ᠲᠠᡣᡡᠷᠠᡥᠠ ᠠᠮᠪᠠᠨ | |
Government Flag | |
| Style | Governor |
| Status | |
| Residence | Guangzhou, Guangdong |
| Term length | undefinitive |
| Formation | 1555-1640 (Ming Dynasty) 1838-1912 (Qing Dynasty) |
| First holder | Tan Lun (Ming Dynasty) Lin Zexu (Qing Dynasty) |
| Final holder | Hong Chengchou (Ming Dynasty) Yuan Shikai (Qing Dynasty) |
The Imperial Commissioner (Mandarin Chinese: 钦差大臣; pinyin: Qīnchāi Dàchén; Manchu: ᡥᡝᠰᡝ ᡳ<ᠲᠠᡣᡡᠷᠠᡥᠠᠠᠮᠪᠠᠨ) was a high-ranking position in the Qing government and Ming government of the late Qing and Ming dynasties of China. The position itself is the highest rank in both governments, only below the position of Emperor. The position's officeholder is also appointed directly by the emperor. The position initially originated from the Han Dynasty, but modernised into the modern Imperial Commissioner in the later Ming Dynasty.