amban

plural ambans · plural ambasa

1. historicalA Chinese official under the Qing Dynasty, especially the ranking official or provincial governor in a semi-independent territory under Chinese rule.

   Although he was received there by a guard of honour of sorts, Elias found the amban, or senior Chinese official, openly hostile.

   1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 388

   2 more examples

   Regarding the scene before him with the calmness of a stoic, sits the grey-bearded old Ambân in his chair of state, quietly smoking a long pipe, while beside him kneel his weeping daughters, all conscious of their coming fate.

   1869, George W. Hayward, “Journey from Leh to Yarkand and Kashgar”, in Journal of the Royal Geographical Society, volume XL

   In 1846 Messrs. Huc and Gabet, two French Lazarist Fathers, visited Lhasa from the north, and stayed two and a half months, when they were expelled through the influence of the Chinese Amban.

   1924, Charles Bell, Tibet Past and Present, Delhi, published 2000, page 46