Yuan Shikai (袁世凱)

Overview

Yuan Shikai was a Late Qing official and military commander.

Life and dates

Death

Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 19

Attested activity

AD 1911 三年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 471, passages 102, 110
AD 1916 世凱卒
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 19
AD 1901 to AD 1907 世凱為政（北洋時期）
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 449, passage 233
AD 1902 二十八年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 151, passage 159
AD 1898 二十四年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 437, passages 22-23, 25; Draft History of Qing 464, passages 32, 183
AD 1907 光緒三十三年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 449, passage 232

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AD 1906 光緒三十二年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 472, passage 159
AD 1902 光緒二十八年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120
AD 1894 光緒二十年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 462, passages 67, 69
AD 1915 及建號
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 18
AD 1911 宣統三年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 443, passage 106; Draft History of Qing 472, passage 60
AD 1911 宣統三年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 150
AD 1911 宣統末年國體之議
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 470, passage 48
AD 1907 德宗季葉
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 445, passage 194
AD 1899 武衛軍
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 467, passage 86
AD 1895 to AD 1911 歷任總督
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 452, passage 316
AD 1900 義和拳
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passages 207, 210
AD 1895 袁世凱練兵小站
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 5
AD 1912 遜位詔下
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 15
AD 1902 閱二載
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 467, passage 100

Key source chapters

Career and standing

commercial commissioner in Korea 駐朝商務委員
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 462, passage 69
Huguang governor-general 湖廣總督
AD 1911 三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 471, passages 102, 110
prime minister of the cabinet 總理內閣大臣
AD 1911 三年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 471, passages 102, 112
supervisor of telegraph bureau 督辦電局
AD 1902 二十八年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 151, passage 162
Vice minister 侍郎
AD 1898 二十四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 464, passage 184
Governor of Shandong successor 代之
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 210

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Premier of the cabinet 總理內閣
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 443, passage 106
Governor-General of Zhili 直督
AD 1902 二十八年 · Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 151, passage 159
Zhili Governor-General 直隸總督
AD 1906 光緒三十二年 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 472, passage 159
Prime Minister 總理大臣
AD 1911 宣統三年 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 472, passage 60
governor-general of Zhili 直隸總督
Held · At Zhili 直隸 · Until Source Date: Text: 三十三年 · Western Year: AD 1907
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 449, passage 232
Governor-General 總督
Held · Jurisdiction Zhili 直隸
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 452, passage 316
Beiyang minister 北洋大臣
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 449, passage 233
commander of Wuwei Army 將武衛軍
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 207
governor of the capital region 督畿輔
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 445, passage 194
grand councilor 入贊樞廷
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 445, passage 194
Prime Minister 內閣總理大臣
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 150
Surveillance commissioner training troops at Tianjin 監司練兵天津
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 464, passage 183
Viceroy of Zhili 直隸總督
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120

Places and affiliations

Qing 清
Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 464, passage 32
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120; Draft History of Qing 151, passage 159; Draft History of Qing 449, passages 232-233; Draft History of Qing 452, passage 316; Draft History of Qing 465, passage 207
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 462, passage 69
At Zhili 直隸 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Yulu (裕祿)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 207

Events and relationships

Appointed telegraph bureau supervisor
Political · Appointee
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 151, passage 162
Came to Beijing while the form of government was debated
Late Qing constitutional crisis · Central political figure
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 470, passage 48
Directed suppression
AD 1911 三年 · Military · Supreme commander
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 471, passages 110-111
Issued abdication edict
Political · Authority
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 150
Jointly recommended legal revisers
Political · Recommender
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120
Memorialized to establish law revision commission
Administrative · Proposer · With Shen Jiaben (沈家本), Wu Tingfang (伍廷芳)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 443, passage 212

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Ordered stop attack
AD 1911 三年 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 471, passage 112
Prioritized army training fundraising and reforms
Administrative · Governor general
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 449, passage 233
Proclaimed himself emperor
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 473, passage 18
Sought peace and change of polity leading to abdication
AD 1911 宣統三年 · Political · Negotiator · With Empress Dowager Longyu (隆裕太后)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 472, passage 60
Struck Boxers in Shandong
AD 1900 毓賢去 · Military · Suppressor
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 210
Urged Ye request reinforcements
Diplomatic · Advisor · With Ye Zhichao (葉志超)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 462, passage 69
Relation Recommender of · Person Shen Jiaben (沈家本)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120
Relation Colleague of · Person Zhang Zhidong (張之洞)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120
Relation Ally of · Person Prince Qing (奕劻)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 472, passage 159
Relation Colleague of · Person Liu Kunyi (劉坤一)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120
Relation Recommender of · Person Wu Tingfang (伍廷芳)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 142, passage 120
Relation Treated with respect · Person Lou Chunfan (婁春蕃)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 452, passage 316

Assessments and attributes

Assessment made Beiyang minister focus of Chinese and foreign attention · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 449, passage 233

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 452, passage 316; Draft History of Qing 473, passage 56
even if one wishes Shikai descendants to long keep wealth and honor
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 445, passage 200

References in the histories

Search passages

History

44 passages

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 142Volume 142 Treatises 117: Penal Law 1 · 1 passage

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二十八年，直隸總督袁世凱、兩江總督劉坤一、湖廣總督張之洞，會保刑部左侍郎沈家本、出使美國大臣伍廷芳修訂法律，兼取中西。 In the twenty-eighth year, Viceroy Yuan Shikai of Zhili, Viceroy Liu Kunyi of Liangjiang, and Viceroy Zhang Zhidong of Huguang jointly recommended Left Vice Minister of Punishments Shen Jiaben and Minister to the United States Wu Tingfang to revise the laws, combining Chinese and Western approaches.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 151Volume 151 Treatises 126: Transportation 3, Dian Bao · 3 passages

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二十八年，言於直督袁世凱：「電報宜歸官有。 In 1902, he told Yuan Shikai, Governor-General of Zhili: "Telegraphy should be placed under government ownership.

世凱謀諸執政者，以為然，聞於上。 Yuan Shikai consulted the ruling officials, who agreed, and reported to the throne.

尋命世凱督辦電局，候補侍郎吳和喜副之。 Yuan Shikai was soon appointed to supervise the telegraph bureau, with Expectant Vice Minister Wu Hexi as his deputy.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 437Volume 437 Biographies 224: Rong Lu, Wang Wenshao, Zhang Zhidong, Qu Hongji · 5 passages

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和議成，疏薦溫處道袁世凱練新軍，是曰「新建陸軍」。 Once peace was made, he recommended in a memorial that Yuan Shikai, intendant of the Wenzhou circuit, train a new army—the force known as the "Newly Created Army."

是時上擢用主事康有為及知府譚嗣同等參預新政，議變法，斥舊臣，召直隸按察使袁世凱入覲，超授侍郎，統練兵。 The emperor was then promoting Kang Youwei, a secretary, and Tan Sitong, a prefect, among others to take part in the new policies; reform was debated, veteran ministers were pushed aside, and Yuan Shikai, Zhili surveillance commissioner, was summoned to court, given a leap promotion to vice minister, and placed in command of military training.

榮祿不自安，御史楊崇伊奏請太后再垂簾，於是太后复臨朝訓政，召榮祿為軍機大臣，以世凱代之，命查拿康有為，斬譚嗣同等六人於市，以上有疾，詔徵醫； Uneasy at these developments, Rong Lu watched as Censor Yang Chongyi asked the empress dowager to resume regency behind the curtain; the empress dowager then took up government again, recalled Rong Lu as a Grand Councilor, put Yuan Shikai in his former post, ordered Kang Youwei arrested, and had Tan Sitong and five others executed in public; because the emperor was said to be ill, physicians were summoned by edict;

榮祿乃奏設武衛軍，以聶士成駐蘆臺為前軍，董福祥駐薊州為後軍，宋慶駐山海關為左軍，世凱駐小站為右軍，而自募萬人為中軍，駐南苑。 Rong Lu then proposed the Wuwei Army: Nie Shicheng at Lutai as the Front Army, Dong Fuxiang at Jizhou as the Rear Army, Song Qing at Shanhaiguan as the Left Army, Yuan Shikai at Xiaozhan as the Right Army, while he personally raised ten thousand men for the Central Army at the Southern Park.

二十六年，京師拳亂，時坤一督兩江，鴻章督兩廣，袁世凱撫山東，要請之洞，同與外國領事定保護東南之約。 In the twenty-sixth year, when the Boxer uprising convulsed Beijing, Kunyi governed the two Jiangs, Li Hongzhang the two Guang, and Yuan Shikai Shandong; they urgently asked Zhidong to join foreign consuls in the agreement to protect the southeast.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 443Volume 443 Biographies 230: Sun Jianai, Zhang Baixi, Tang Jingchong, Yu Shimei, Shen Jiaben · 2 passages

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武昌變起，袁世凱總理內閣，仍命掌學務。 When the Wuchang uprising broke out, Yuan Shikai became premier of the cabinet, yet Jingchong was still ordered to oversee educational affairs.

會變法議起，袁世凱奏設修訂法律館，命家本偕伍廷芳總其事； When reform was debated, Yuan Shikai memorialized to establish the Commission for the Revision of Laws and ordered Jiaben and Wu Tingfang to direct it jointly.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 445Volume 445 Biographies 232: Wu Kedu, Zhu Yixin, Tu Keshou, An Weijun, Wen Ti, Jiang Chunlin · 4 passages

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德宗季葉，袁世凱出督畿輔，入贊樞廷，權勢傾一時。 In the late years of Emperor Dezong, Yuan Shikai went out to govern the capital region and entered the grand council; his power tilted the age.

'今世凱所為，其心即使無他，其跡要難共諒。 What Shikai does today, even if his heart has no other intent, his tracks are hard to share in trust.

今不獨為國家計，宜加裁抑，即欲使世凱子孫長守富貴，亦不可無善處之法。」 Now, not only for the sake of the state should restraint be added; even if one wishes Shikai's descendants to long keep wealth and honor, there must be a good way to handle it."

嗣是糾彈世凱及慶親王奕劻父子，連上八疏，皆不報，然朝貴頗嚴憚之。 Thereafter he impeached Shikai and Prince Qing Yikuang father and son, submitting eight memorials in succession, all unanswered; yet the court nobles greatly feared him.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 449Volume 449 Biographies 236: Xi Liang, Zhou Fu, Lu Yuanding, Zhang Cengyang, Yang Shixiang, Feng Xu · 2 passages

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三十三年，代袁世凱為直隸總督。 In 1907 he succeeded Yuan Shikai as governor-general of Zhili.

世凱為政，首練軍籌款，尤多興革，務樹威信，北洋大臣遂為中外所屬目。 Yuan had prioritized army training and fundraising, launched many reforms, and built authority, making the Beiyang governor-general the focus of domestic and foreign attention.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 452Volume 452 Biographies 239: Hong Rukui, Yang Zonglian, Shi Pu, Shi Kekuan, Shen Baojing, Zhu Qiang Younger Brother: Qi Zhao, Zong Yuanhan, Xu Qingzhang, Xu Zhen, Kuai Guangdian, Chen Yusheng, Pan Minbiao, Yan Zuolin, Tang Xijin, Lou Chunfan · 1 passage

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歷任總督如王文韶、榮祿、袁世凱、楊士驤、端方、陳夔龍等，皆敬禮之。 Governors-general from Wang Wenshao and Ronglu to Yuan Shikai, Yang Shixiang, Duan Fang, and Chen Kuilong all treated him with respect.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 462Volume 462 Biographies 249: Ding Ruchang, Wei Rugui Younger Brother: Ru Cheng, Ye Zhichao · 1 passage

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而日軍已據王京要隘，牙山兵甚單，駐朝商務委員袁世凱數約志超電請北洋發戰艦赴仁川，增陸軍駐馬坡。 Japanese troops had already seized the key passes around the capital, and the detachment at Asan was dangerously small; Yuan Shikai, China's commercial commissioner in Korea, repeatedly urged Zhichao by wire to request Beiyang warships for Inchon and more infantry at Mapo.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 464Volume 464 Biographies 251: Li Duanfen, Xu Zhijingzi, Ren Zhu, Chen Baozhen, Huang Zunxian, Ceng He, Yang Shenxiu, Yang Rui, Liu Guangdi, Tan Sitong With: Tang Caichang, Lin Xu, Kang Guangren · 5 passages

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復以邊患棘，宜練重兵，力荐袁世凱主軍事。 He further urged that with border crises pressing, large forces should be drilled, and strongly recommended Yuan Shikai to direct military affairs.

時榮祿督畿輔，袁世凱以監司練兵天津。 At the time Ronglu governed the metropolitan region, and Yuan Shikai, as a surveillance commissioner, trained troops at Tianjin.

詔擢世凱侍郎，召入覲。 An edict promoted Shikai to vice minister and summoned him for audience.

嗣同嘗夜詣世凱有所議。 Sitong once went at night to Shikai to discuss something.

明日，世凱返天津。 The next day Shikai returned to Tianjin.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 465Volume 465 Biographies 252: Xu Tong With: Yu Shi, Yu Shi Son: Cheng Yu, Gang Yi, Zhao Shuqiao, Qi Xiu, Ying Nian, Yu Lu With: Ting Yong, Yu Xian With: Li Tingxiao · 2 passages

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袁世凱方將武衛軍，語裕祿：「盍不請嚴旨捕治？」 Yuan Shikai, commanding the Wuwei Army, asked Yu Lu: "Why not request a stern edict to capture and punish them?"

已而毓賢去，世凱代之，自興兵疾擊，以故匪不敢近山東，而紛紛入畿疆矣。 Yu Xian departed and Yuan Shikai replaced him, striking hard so the Boxers avoided Shandong but flooded the capital region.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 467Volume 467 Biographies 254: Li Bingheng, Wang Tingxiang, Nie Shicheng, Luo Rongguang, Shou Shan Zu Sun : Rui Chang, Feng Xiang, Chong Yu · 3 passages

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北洋創立武衛軍，改所部三十營為前軍，與宋慶、董福祥、袁世凱並為統帥。 The Beiyang command created the Wuwei Army; his thirty battalions became the Front Army, and he served as one of its four commanders alongside Song Qing, Dong Fuxiang, and Yuan Shikai.

慶、福祥用舊法訓練，世凱軍仿日式，士成軍則半仿德式，是為武衛四軍。 Song and Dong trained by the old methods, Yuan's force followed the Japanese model, and Shicheng's troops were half trained on the German pattern—these were the four Wuwei armies.

閱二載，以世凱言，贈太子少保，諡忠節，建專祠。 Two years later, on Yuan Shikai's recommendation, he was posthumously made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, given the posthumous name Zhongjie, and granted a special shrine.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 470Volume 470 Biographies 257: Zhi Rui, With: Liu Congde, Chun Xun, Liang Bi, Zong Shizaimu, Wan Xuan With: De Pei, Tong Yuan, Wen Rui With: Cheng Yan, Ke Meng E, Heng Ling With: De Pei, Pu Shou, Xie Baosheng, Yao Aiyun, Huang Zhonghao, Yang Rang Li Cong Zi Xu : Chen Qi · 1 passage

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時袁世凱來京，方議國體，人心不安甚矣。 Yuan Shikai had come to Beijing while the form of government was still in dispute, and public anxiety ran very high.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 471Volume 471 Biographies 258: Sheng Xuanhuai, Rui Cheng · 3 passages

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既占武昌，復取漢陽，據漢口，乃起袁世凱為湖廣總督，督辦剿撫，節制長江水陸各軍，副都統王士珍副之。 After seizing Wuchang they took Hanyang and held Hankou; Yuan Shikai was then appointed Huguang governor-general to direct suppression and pacification, with command over all Yangzi forces by land and water, and Vice Commander Wang Shizhen as his deputy.

召廕昌還，命軍諮使馮國璋總統第一軍，江北提督段祺瑞總統第二軍，俱受世凱節制。 Yinchang was recalled; military adviser Feng Guozhang was made commander of the First Army and Jiangbei commander-in-chief Duan Qirui commander of the Second Army, both under Yuan Shikai's orders.

國璋與黨軍戰於灄口，水陸夾擊，复漢口，連克漢陽，指日下武昌，而世凱授總理內閣大臣，遽令停攻。 Guozhang fought the revolutionaries at Xinkou in a combined land-and-water assault, retook Hankou, and captured Hanyang in succession, with Wuchang expected to fall within days; but Yuan Shikai was appointed prime minister and abruptly ordered the offensive stopped.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 472Volume 472 Biographies 259: Lu Runxiang, Shi Xu, Yi Ketan, Liang Dingfen, Xu Fang, Lao Naixuan, Shen Cengzhi · 3 passages

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而新內閣又成立，總理大臣袁世凱議修和息戰禍，取隆裕太后懿旨，頒示天下，改建國體，於是遜位詔下矣。 A new cabinet was formed; Prime Minister Yuan Shikai sought peace to end the war, secured an edict from Empress Dowager Longyu, and proclaimed a change of polity to the empire—and so the abdication decree came down.

又劾直隸總督袁世凱「權謀邁眾，城府阻深，能諂人又能用人，自得奕劻之助，其權威遂為我朝二百年來滿、漢疆臣所未有，引用私黨，佈滿要津。 He also impeached Zhili Governor-General Yuan Shikai: "His schemes surpass all others, his mind is deep and obstructive; he knows how to flatter and how to use men; with Yikuang's backing his authority exceeds anything a Manchu or Han frontier minister has held in our dynasty's two hundred years, and he fills key posts with his private faction.

奕劻、世凱若仍不悛，臣當隨時奏劾，以報天恩」。 If Yikuang and Shikai still do not repent, I shall memorialize impeachment whenever the occasion arises, to repay heaven's grace."

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 473Volume 473 Biographies 260: Zhang Xun, Kang Youwei · 8 passages

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袁世凱練兵小站，充管帶。 When Yuan Shikai raised his new army at Xiaozhan, Zhang served as a battalion commander.

遜位詔下，世凱遣使勞問，勳答曰：「袁公之知不可負，君臣之義不能忘。 After the abdication edict was promulgated, Yuan Shikai sent emissaries with congratulations. Zhang replied, "I cannot betray Lord Yuan's kindness, nor forget the obligations between sovereign and subject.

袁公不負朝廷，勳安敢負袁公？」 If Lord Yuan has not failed the dynasty, how dare I fail Lord Yuan?"

世凱歷假勳定武上將軍、江北鎮撫使、長江巡閱使、江蘇都督、安徽督軍。 Yuan successively conferred on him acting titles as Generalissimo of Dingwu, pacification commissioner for Jiangbei, Yangtze patrol commissioner, military governor of Jiangsu, and commander of Anhui.

及建號，勳首起抗阻，並請優待皇室，保衛宮廷。 When Yuan took an imperial title, Zhang was the first to resist, while calling for the royal house to be treated leniently and the palace to be safeguarded.

世凱卒，各省有所謀，群集徐州，推勳主盟。 After Yuan's death, as provincial leaders began scheming in various directions, they assembled at Xuzhou and made Zhang Xun their chief.

辛亥變起，我孝定景皇后至德深仁，不忍生民塗炭，毅然以祖宗創垂之重，億兆生靈之命，付託前閣臣袁世凱，設臨時政府，推讓政權，公諸天下，冀以息爭弭亂，民得安居。 When the Xinhai revolution broke out, Empress Dowager Xiaoding, in her deep virtue and compassion, could not bear to see the people brought to ruin. She resolutely entrusted the ancestral enterprise and the fate of the multitudes to the former grand councillor Yuan Shikai, set up a provisional government, and yielded power to the nation, hoping to still contention and restore peace so the people could live securely.

內閣總理大臣袁世凱徇民軍請，決改共和，遂下遜位之詔。 Grand Councillor and Prime Minister Yuan Shikai yielded to the revolutionary armies' demand, decided to adopt a republic, and issued the abdication edict.