Shunzhi's Personal Rule and the Establishment of the Upper Three Banners

Timeline

1. 1650–1651Forbidden City, Beijing · BeijingDorgon died suddenly while hunting on December 31, 1650. Initially he was still mourned with imperial rites and posthumously honored as 'Emperor Yi'. In mid-January 1651, Plain White Banner generals led by Ubai arrested Dorgon's brother Dodo to prevent him from declaring himself new regent.
2. 1651Beijing · BeijingThe two Yellow Banners had belonged to the sovereign since Hong Taiji. To win over the Plain White Banner, Jirgalang named the two Yellow Banners plus the Plain White Banner the 'Upper Three Banners', henceforth held by the emperor; the remaining Plain Red, Bordered Red, Bordered White, Plain Blue, and Bordered Blue formed the Lower Five Banners. English Wikipedia's Eight Banners likewise lists the Upper Three Banners as the two Yellows plus Plain White.
3. 1651Forbidden City, Beijing · BeijingOn February 1, 1651, Jirgalang announced Shunzhi's personal rule and the abolition of the regency. In the second and third months of that year Dorgon was posthumously condemned for overreach, all his posthumous honors stripped, and his followers purged. The Deliberative Council of Princes and Ministers had been the main decision-making body since Hong Taiji's death; English Wikipedia records it continuing into the 18th century with the rise of the Grand Council, and it was not abolished in Shunzhi's reign.