Abstract: The article examines the Qing Imperial Household Department Prior to the Shunzhi reign. It addresses four important questions:1)When and how was the Qing Imperial Household Department established? 2)What were the organizational functions of the early Qing Imperial Household Department? 3)What problems did the Qing Imperial Household Department face after the Manchus entered Shanhaiguan? 4)What were the special organizational features of the Thirteen yamens and what was its relationship to the Qing Imperial Household Department?