Imperial Bodyguard(御前侍卫):
In Chinese, it is pronounced as: yù qián shì wèi，Written as:

The Imperial Bodyguard was an ancient official position, primarily responsible for serving as guards and attendants near the Emperor. This position can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. Although its origin is unclear, it initially referred to the duties of attending and guarding. During the Qing Dynasty, the system of Imperial Bodyguards was further perfected. Selection criteria included descendants of meritorious families and martial scholars, with ranks ranging from the third to the sixth grade, divided into various levels up to Blue Plume.
The Imperial Bodyguard was under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Guard Office, not managed by the internal senior guards’ minister but by a Grand Councillor in charge of the Imperial Guards. This position had no fixed quota or rank limitations and was personally appointed by the Emperor. Positions such as the Imperial Bodyguard and the Gate of Heavenly Purity Guard were significant to princes and Grand Councillors due to their proximity to the Emperor. Additionally, the Imperial Bodyguard system included roles such as “Imperial Attendant” and “Gate of Heavenly Purity Attendant,” which, despite sounding like trainee or preparatory positions, allowed the holders to become close ministers within the inner court, often assigned special duties.
During the reign of Emperor Kangxi, specific positions such as a Grand Councillor for the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Bodyguard, Gate of Heavenly Purity Guard, were established without fixed quotas or rank limitations, directly appointed by the Emperor. These guards were managed by the Grand Councillor for the Imperial Guards rather than the internal senior guards’ minister. The Grand Councillor for the Imperial Guards was typically filled by meritorious officials and Grand Councillors. Furthermore, roles like “Imperial Attendant” and “Gate of Heavenly Purity Attendant” were also part of the guard system. Although considered honorary titles, these attendants were meant for training and preparation, enabling recipients to serve close to the Emperor, similar to the Imperial Bodyguard and Gate of Heavenly Purity Guard, and often tasked with special duties. As a flexible system of guards due to their proximity to the Emperor, these positions were of immense significance to princes and Grand Councillors.