Qianlong

Qianlong – Emperor of China

Source: works cited #4

There I am. This is a painting from when I became Emperor. It is an excellent likeness, do you not agree?

I was born in the 50th year of the reign of Kangxi, my illustrious grandfather. This was the year 1711, as I understand you barbarians called it.

Why such looks? I mean no offense. Is it because I call you “barbarians”?

In calling you barbarians, I am merely stating a fact. As all the world knows, my great nation of China is the center of all civilization. The further one is from the center of civilization, of necessity, the closer one is to barbarism. I am told you live almost as far away from my nation as it is possible to live. It follows therefore that you are, of all peoples, the greatest of barbarians. It speaks well for your humility and intelligence that you have come seeking greater contact with my great civilization. It is for this reason that I have condescended to come and speak with you directly about my life and reign, although I understand I have been dead for many years.

In fact, I died in 1799 at the age of 89 years, 4 years into the reign of my son, Jiaqing. I ruled as Emperor for 60 years, retiring before my 61st year so that my reign might not exceed that of my esteemed grandfather, the great Emperor Kangxi. Actually, even though my son bore the title of “Emperor”, I continued to run the country as “Retired Emperor” until my death.

I chose as my reign name the auspicious “Qianlong”. (Though I was known as Hongli from childhood, an Emperor cannot rule under his own childhood name!) Since the meaning of this name does not translate into your barbarian tongue very clearly, I shall explain the meaning as I did soon after assuming the throne in an imperial edict to my subjects. In the edict I explained that I had received the ”munificent (long) aid of Heaven (qian)” and that I would labor with “solemn dedication (qian-ti)” to further the purposes of my imperial father’s “splendid legacy”. (Kuhn, 51)

Source: works cited #6

There they are, my esteemed ancestors. The great Emperor Kangxi and his son, my father, the Emperor Yongzheng.

As you can see from this chart of Qing Dynasty Emperors, only my Grandfather reigned longer than I did.

In 1793, Lord Macartney arrived in China as ambassador for the King of England, George the III. I honored him with a personal audience and dinner.

Lord Macartney is said to have described my entry in this way: “After waiting there about an hour his approach was announced by drums and music… He was seated in an open palanquin, carried by sixteen bearers, attended by numbers of officers bearing flags, standards, and umbrellas, and as he passed we paid him our compliments by kneeling on one knee, whilst all the Chinese made their usual prostrations… Thus, then, have I seen ‘King Solomon in all his glory’…” (Cheng et al, 98-100)

(I assume this “King Solomon” was a personage of some importance and that the final comparison was intended as a compliment, although…to compare me to a mere king…)

When missions came from beyond the boundaries of the Empire, they were expected to fit in with the ceremonial system which formalized relations.

Why could this Lord Macartney not conform to these vital ceremonies by which peace and harmony are maintained and dependent rulers brought into a fulfilling relationship with me, the Son of Heaven? Even when properly instructed he refused to comply! At best, he said he would only show the same respect he showed his own king, and so, when presented to me, he only dropped to one knee… although, it is true that he did bow a time or two…

Source: works cited #3

I understand that you people also had your difficulties with Lord Macartney’s English King. You have my sympathies.

In 1759, my troops captured the last Western barbarian cities of the territory we named “Xinjiang” almost doubling the size of my empire. And in 1792, my forces defended our rule in the land you know as Tibet. My father may have started these conquests but it was left to me to complete them.

As you can see in this painting, even newly conquered barbarians understood the concept of proper respect. The Kazakhs brought these horses to me as tribute.

Here, I will show you a close up view. Notice the respectful position...

You Western Barbarians did have some good things. One of your artists stayed in our court for some years. Is this not a fine painting of me in my ceremonial armor? His name was…it is difficult for me to say. So we gave him a Chinese name, Lang Shining (European name, Giuseppe Castiglione)

Here we are hunting in Mulan. Hunting and horseback riding skill was very important to my people, the Manchu, and also to our neighbors, the Mongols. (Lang Shining made this painting of me also)

© Michel Urtado Source: works cited #9

I will show you a close up view of myself. Is not my skill admirable?

Source: works cited #9

The Qianlong Emperor as the Bodhisattva Manjusri © The Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution Source: works cited #7

I was "all things" to all of my people. To the newly conquered Tibetans, I was the reincarnation of Manjusri, one of their most important bodhisattvas.

To my Manchu and Mongol subjects, I was a warrior and hunter; a steppe prince who understood their ways.

Viewing a Painting Source: Works Cited #8

To the Han Chinese, I was a scholar and a great patron of Chinese learning and Art. I produced 3 collections of essays and 5 albums of poetry- over 40,000 poem’s and 1,300 prose texts. (I was a passionate poet and essayist!) I also sponsored the compilation of Si Ku Quan Shu (Complete Collection in Four Treasuries), the largest series in Chinese History and a valuable Cultural Treasure.

As I said earlier, in 1796, I resigned as Emperor so that my reign would not exceed that of my illustrious Grandfather, Kangxi. Actually, although my son, Jiaqing, was Emperor, I still ran the country.

Although the later years of my reign were troubled by rebellions and the excesses of certain officials I greatly trusted and appointed to office (Heshen comes to mind), my reign was still,

Works Cited

1- Kuhn, Philip A. Soulstealers: The Chinese Sorcery Scare of 1768. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1990

2- Lord Macartney, “Macartney’s Audience with Qianlong,” in The Search for Modern China: A Documentary Collection, ed. Pei-kai Cheng & Michael Lestz with Jonathan D. Spence (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1999), 98-100.

3- Watt, John R. “Qianlong Meets Macartney: Collision of Two World Views,” Education About Asia, Volume 5, number 3, Winter 2000 (http://www.aasianst.org/eaa/watt.htm) accessed September 10, 2011.

4- “Qianlong,” Ministry of Culture, P.R.China, 2003 (http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22924.htm) accessed September 10, 2011.

5- “The Qianlong Emperor,” (http://www.learn.columbia.edu/nanxuntu/html/emperors/) accessed September 10, 2011.

6- Holzworth, Gerald, “The Qianlong Emperor,” Royal Academy of Arts, (http://www.threeemperors.org.uk/index.php?pid=19) accessed September 10, 2011.

Paintings:

7- The Qianlong Emperor as the Bodhisattva Manjusri © The Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, (http://www.learn.columbia.edu/nanxuntu/html/emperors/) accessed September 10, 2011.

8- Viewing a Painting (http://www.guimet.fr/the-very-rich-hours-of-the-court) accessed September 10, 2011

9- Hunting in Mulan: The encircling Qianlong’s Hunt, hunting deer, detail 9 Giuseppe Castiglione (Chinese name Lang Shining, 1688-1766) Horizontal scroll. N° 4 of a series of 4. Qing dynasty, Qianlong period, mid 18th century H. 50,4 ; L. 1600 Ink and colours on silk Musée national des arts asiatiques Guimet EO 3568 -4 Photo RMN - © Michel Urtado