Dear colleagues,
According to the "Huangchao liqi tushu" (1759) tengpaiying (籐牌營) was established in Green Standard troops. But in "Pingding luocha fanglue" (1691) 300 soldiers with tengpai and piandao were mentioned. All of them were from Taiwanese "Zheng's State" and surrendered in 1683. In 1685 they were sent against Russians in Albazin.
Before that date soldiers with tengpai were used by Zheng Chenggong in war on mainland.
Before that the tengpai is mentioned in General Qi's manuals.
So when did they appear in the first time? What is the history of this ying?
Full Version: Tengpaiying 籐牌營
The Tengpaiying 藤牌营 (rattan shield camp) was one of the camps within the 8 Banner troops of the Qing army. It belonged to the han cavalry commandery and was used for defending the artillery.
According to the source at http://www.chinataiwan.org/twzlk/lsh/20080...0227_594417.htm, the Tengpai (rattan shield) troops was a special unit in ancient chinese army. Tengpai army first began during Ming period, but during the Ming dynasty, it was not an independent unit. Rather it was simply used as part of the warfare when it's necessary. According to the Qing scholar Li Fu 李绂, the tactic of Tengpai originated from Yuefei's army during Song period used in the battle of Yan city in order to chop the legs of the horses in Jin cavalry.
Most of the Tengpai troops came from Longxi county in Fujian's Zhangzhou court. According to history records, during the reign of Jiajing (around AD 1540), the coaster region of China was raided by Japanese pirates. General Yu Dayou was dispatched to defend against the raid. Because the army of Zhejiang was in a tiring state, he raised about 3,000 Tengpai army from the Fujiang region. Every 10 person became one Jia 甲 (combat unit ). Each officer led 200 soldiers. During war, they were under the command of the Marshal. Later, the anti-wako war was continued by Qi Jiguang.
Zheng Chenggong (the attacker of Taiwan) once raised a Tengpai army. This Tengpai army was used to resist the attack of Qing army in May 1651 in attacking Zhangzhou. In March 1652, September 1656, Tengpai army all played an important role. Later in 1661's attack of Taiwan against Dutch, Zheng Chenggong also successfully deployed Tengpai army, esp. at the battle of fort Chikan. The Tengpai was just like a death squad.
After Qing conquered Taiwan, the army of Zheng was dispatched in to central China. But in 1685's battle against Russia, the Tengpai army (about 400) was deployed again and used successfully against the shelling and fire by the Russian. It managed to recover Yakutska and not a single soldier died.
According to the source at http://www.chinataiwan.org/twzlk/lsh/20080...0227_594417.htm, the Tengpai (rattan shield) troops was a special unit in ancient chinese army. Tengpai army first began during Ming period, but during the Ming dynasty, it was not an independent unit. Rather it was simply used as part of the warfare when it's necessary. According to the Qing scholar Li Fu 李绂, the tactic of Tengpai originated from Yuefei's army during Song period used in the battle of Yan city in order to chop the legs of the horses in Jin cavalry.
Most of the Tengpai troops came from Longxi county in Fujian's Zhangzhou court. According to history records, during the reign of Jiajing (around AD 1540), the coaster region of China was raided by Japanese pirates. General Yu Dayou was dispatched to defend against the raid. Because the army of Zhejiang was in a tiring state, he raised about 3,000 Tengpai army from the Fujiang region. Every 10 person became one Jia 甲 (combat unit ). Each officer led 200 soldiers. During war, they were under the command of the Marshal. Later, the anti-wako war was continued by Qi Jiguang.
Zheng Chenggong (the attacker of Taiwan) once raised a Tengpai army. This Tengpai army was used to resist the attack of Qing army in May 1651 in attacking Zhangzhou. In March 1652, September 1656, Tengpai army all played an important role. Later in 1661's attack of Taiwan against Dutch, Zheng Chenggong also successfully deployed Tengpai army, esp. at the battle of fort Chikan. The Tengpai was just like a death squad.
After Qing conquered Taiwan, the army of Zheng was dispatched in to central China. But in 1685's battle against Russia, the Tengpai army (about 400) was deployed again and used successfully against the shelling and fire by the Russian. It managed to recover Yakutska and not a single soldier died.
QUOTE (General_Zhaoyun @ Mar 11 2008, 08:23 AM) 
The Tengpaiying 藤牌营 (rattan plate camp) was one of the camps within the 8 Banner troops of the Qing army. It belonged to the han cavalry commandery and was used for defending the artillery.
But according the "HCLQTS" the ying belongs to Green Standard Troops with specific "tiger uniform". Did they really belong to the Han mounted bannermen? They were obviously foot soldiers, not mounted ones. WHy did they change their commandery and uniform? And no tengpaibing were mentioned in Ulan-Butun Battle in 1690 (Olot Galdan Boshogtu-khan vs. Manchu General Feiyanggu with heavy hongyipao). Olot's mounted warriors even captured 3 big hongyipao but were not able to move them to their encampment and then they destroyed them.
QUOTE (General_Zhaoyun @ Mar 11 2008, 08:23 AM)
After Qing conquered Taiwan, the army of Zheng was dispatched in to central China. But in 1685's battle against Russia, the Tengpai army (about 400) was deployed again and used successfull against the shelling and fire by the Russian. It managed to recover Yakutska and not a single soldier died.
He-he! They fought only in Albazin siege (or Yakesa, not Yakutsk) and according to the Chinese documents Qing troops had almost no casualties but Russian sources counted about 150 Chinese and Manchu soldiers kiiled in the first day of the siege (the second day was victorious for General Langtan - the fortress surrendered). Have you the primary sources of the assaults in 1685 and 1686 (the second siege of Albazin)?
QUOTE
"[the Russian reinforcements were coming down to the fort on the river] Thereupon he [Marquis Lin] ordered all our marines to take off their cloths and jump into the water. Each wore a rattan shield on his head and held a huge sword in his hand. Thus they swam forward. The Russians were so frightened that they all shouted: 'Behold, the big-capped Tartars!' Since our marines were in the water, they could not use their firearms. Our sailors wore rattan shields to protect their heads so that enemy bullets and arrows could not pierce them. Our marines used long swords to cut the enemy's ankles. The Russians fell into the river, most of them either killed or wounded. The rest fled and escaped. [Lin[ Hsing-chu had not lost a single marine when he returned to take part in besieging the city."
excerpted from the writings of Yang Hai-Chai, a relative of Marquis Lin, who himself participated in the campaigns; from Lo-Shu Fu, A Documentary Chronicle of Sino-western Relations (1644-1840), Association for Asian Studies (Tucson: Arizon University Press, 1966), 80.
UNQUOTE
I am to say thet according to the Russian documents it was a slaughter of Russian non-combatants from several villages upper than the Albazin itself in Amur valley who tried to get safety within walls of Albazin and sailed on rafts to the fortress.
"[the Russian reinforcements were coming down to the fort on the river] Thereupon he [Marquis Lin] ordered all our marines to take off their cloths and jump into the water. Each wore a rattan shield on his head and held a huge sword in his hand. Thus they swam forward. The Russians were so frightened that they all shouted: 'Behold, the big-capped Tartars!' Since our marines were in the water, they could not use their firearms. Our sailors wore rattan shields to protect their heads so that enemy bullets and arrows could not pierce them. Our marines used long swords to cut the enemy's ankles. The Russians fell into the river, most of them either killed or wounded. The rest fled and escaped. [Lin[ Hsing-chu had not lost a single marine when he returned to take part in besieging the city."
excerpted from the writings of Yang Hai-Chai, a relative of Marquis Lin, who himself participated in the campaigns; from Lo-Shu Fu, A Documentary Chronicle of Sino-western Relations (1644-1840), Association for Asian Studies (Tucson: Arizon University Press, 1966), 80.
UNQUOTE
I am to say thet according to the Russian documents it was a slaughter of Russian non-combatants from several villages upper than the Albazin itself in Amur valley who tried to get safety within walls of Albazin and sailed on rafts to the fortress.
QUOTE
"[the Russian reinforcements were coming down to the fort on the river] Thereupon he [Marquis Lin] ordered all our marines to take off their cloths and jump into the water. Each wore a rattan shield on his head and held a huge sword in his hand. Thus they swam forward. The Russians were so frightened that they all shouted: 'Behold, the big-capped Tartars!' Since our marines were in the water, they could not use their firearms. Our sailors wore rattan shields to protect their heads so that enemy bullets and arrows could not pierce them. Our marines used long swords to cut the enemy's ankles. The Russians fell into the river, most of them either killed or wounded. The rest fled and escaped. [Lin[ Hsing-chu had not lost a single marine when he returned to take part in besieging the city."
According to the "Pingding luocha fanglue" all tengpaibings had piandaos, not Fujian shuangshoudaos.
And another one remark - the "big-headed Tartars" mentioned in the diary of Korean General Shin Ryu in 1658! He said that Russians called Korean gunmen "big-headed Tartars" due to their hats. It is very interesting! Could you send me scans of texts, related to the Russian-Qing battles within 1652-1686?
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.