Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty Aisin Gioro Hongli (September 25, 1711 - February 7, 1799), the sixth emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the fourth emperor after the capital was Beijing. The year name "Qianlong" means "the way of heaven is prosperous". After reigning for sixty years, he continued to govern after the Zen throne, and actually exercised supreme power for sixty-three years and four months. He was the emperor who actually held the supreme power of the country for the longest time in Chinese history, and was also the longest-lived emperor.
Emperor Qianlong was a famous emperor in Chinese feudal society. During the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the Qing Dynasty reached its highest peak since the heyday of Kangxi and Qianlong. Based on the civil and martial arts of Kangxi and Yongzheng, he further completed the unification of a multi-ethnic country, and further developed socio-economic culture. Qianlong attached great importance to social stability and cared about the people. He exempted the world's money and grain five times and exempted grain from eight provinces three times, which reduced the burden on farmers, protected agricultural production, and enriched the Qing Dynasty's treasury. During the Qianlong period, martial arts flourished and he made great achievements in quelling rebellions in border areas. He also improved his rule over Tibet and once again incorporated Xinjiang into China's territory. This maximized the territory of the Qing Dynasty and formally established the territory of modern China. Sinology has been greatly developed, with the establishment of the Bo Xue Hong Ci Department and the compilation of "Sikuquanshu"; at the same time, folk arts have also developed greatly, such as Peking Opera began to be formed during the Qianlong period of . However, in the later period, the official administration deteriorated and uprisings broke out in many places. Strictly resist the aggressive behavior of Britain and Russia, and reject the unreasonable demands for trade and sovereignty made by the British Macartney Mission. But at this time, the gap between China and the West also widened, and China was on the eve of modern times.
In the 60th year of Qianlong's reign (1795), Emperor Qianlong lived in Zen, his fifteenth son Yong Yan. Died in the Yangxin Hall on the third day of the first lunar month of the fourth year of Jiaqing (February 7, 1799) at the age of 89. His temple name was Gaozong, his posthumous name was Fatian Longyun Zhicheng Xianjue Tiyuan Liji Fuwen Fenwuqin Ming Xiaoci Mingsheng Shengchun Emperor. He was buried in Yuling in the Eastern Tomb of the Qing Dynasty.
Historical evaluations:
Positive evaluation
Emperor Qianlong was the longest reigning king in the world. Emperor Qianlong held autocratic imperial power for 64 years and did not share it with others even for a single day. Emperor Qianlong was one of the luckiest kings in the world. First, he has been in good health throughout his life and has not encountered major disasters or illnesses. Secondly, he succeeded to the throne at the age of 25, and the process of gaining supreme power was very smooth and without any twists and turns. Third, he ascended to the throne at just the right historical moment. Prior to this, the rule of Shunzhi, Kangxi and Yongzheng 91 years (1644 to 1735) had laid a good foundation for rule of Hongli.
Emperor Qianlong was still an affectionate and dedicated husband. He and Queen Xiaoxian have a deep love for each other. After the queen's death, Hongli was devastated and mourned her for the rest of his life. He wrote hundreds of poems mourning the queen's death. His words were sincere and touching.
After Emperor Qianlong came to the throne, he politically corrected the shortcomings of his ancestors' leniency and father's strictness, implemented the policy of "combining leniency with strictness", rectified the administration of officials, determined various rules and regulations, gave preferential treatment to scholars, and appeased the clan that was hit by the Yongzheng Dynasty. Economic rewards were given to land reclamation and water conservancy projects, and the country showed a trend of prosperity. From the early to mid-term of Qianlong's reign, it was the most dynamic period in Emperor Qianlong's political life and was highly praised by later generations.
Negative review
Emperor Qianlong was the largest autocrat in Chinese history. It severely suppressed the initiative and creativity of the people and even the bureaucratic class, strengthened and ossified the authoritarian system, and created huge obstacles to future development. Emperor Qianlong was one of the creators of text prisons in Chinese history. The dense literary network and numerous literary disasters during the Qianlong period were the pinnacle of literary inquisition in Chinese history.
Hongli was extravagant and extravagant. Liuxia Jiangnan costs a lot. The six expeditions to Jiangnan also caused very serious disasters to the people. In his later years, Hongli intensified his efforts, sowing the seeds that caused the Qing Dynasty to rapidly shift from the "prosperity of Kangxi and Qianlong" to the "decline of Daoxian" and then stagnate and then perish.
Zhao Yi: I, Emperor Gaozongchun, am destined to achieve great unification. I have been in the throne for sixty years, personally passed down the throne, and have continued to train the government diligently. I am eighty-nine years old. Now that I have received Zen, I respect him very much, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't look at him and smile at him. Looking at Xiaozong's four dynasties in one month, they are not enough to compare. However, the granting and receiving of the two palaces, the combination of kindness and filial piety, and the great blessings and blessings have never been seen since the founding of the country.
Liang Qichao : The work of Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty was to bring peace to Yinfu. He named himself the master of Youwen, opened Siku Hall, compiled "Yi Tong Zhi", compiled "Continuation of Three Communications" and "Three Communications of the Dynasty", compiled "Huidian", and revised "Tongli". There is no time to spare, and all the things need to be done by scholars.
Cai Dongfan : But it is said that Emperor Qianlong reigned for sixty years, and he was blessed with many blessings, longevity and many men. He did not do anything and enjoyed all the opportunities in life.
Xiao Yishan: During the sixty years of his reign, his martial arts and martial arts were at their peak. At that time, Haiyu had a banquet, and the people were Yongxi. During the more than 260 years of the Qing Dynasty, it was a unique era. Even in the history of our country, it was comparable to the Han and Tang Dynasties and extended into the annals of history.
Lv Simian: The decline of the Qing Dynasty can be said to have started in the reign of Qianlong. Gaozong was extravagant by nature. During his reign, he made six southern tours, which were all wasteful and useless. After the middle age, he was appointed and , and his corruption was unprecedented in ancient and modern times. Officials have no choice but to exploit the people in order to serve them. The superiors punish their subordinates, and the subordinates abuse them and take them from the people. As a result, the administration of officials is very bad.
Anecdotes and allusions:
Qianlong was erudite
Hongli had excellent language ability and was proficient in Manchu (including old Manchu and new Manchu), Chinese and Mongolian , Tibetan and Uyghur to the extent of "being able to do it", which was unique among ancient emperors. During the reign of Hongli, the "History of the Ming Dynasty" was completed, which took a hundred years to compile the history of the dynasty.
Hongli was not only talented in literature, but also good at shooting. Every summer, after meeting with military attachés, Hongli would compete in archery outside the palace gate. Race three times, shooting three arrows each time. Hongli's nine arrows usually hit six or seven. In October of the 28th year of Qianlong's reign (1763), he shot nine arrows at Daximen, and the arrow hit the target.
Diligent administration and peace of mind
Emperor Qianlong always got up at nine o'clock. In summer it is already dawn; in winter it is only the fifth watch. Of the more than ten people on duty on a military aircraft, one person is left on duty every night. I was afraid that something would happen early the next morning that couldn't be dealt with by one person, so one person would go to work in the morning every day to help, so he also went to work at five o'clock. Usually no one knows when Hongli gets up. But after December 24th, when Hongli came out of his dormitory, every time he passed a door, there would be a sound of firecrackers. From this, he knew that Emperor Qianlong had arrived at Qianqing Palace . At this time, it takes a candle one inch long to light up. There were more than ten people working in the Military Aircraft Department of . It took five or six days for them to take the morning shift, which was already hard work. However, Hongli went to court so early every day.
The same goes for Hongli when nothing happens. When the northwest troops were sent to conquer the Junggar tribe and return to Xinjiang, military intelligence arrived. Even in the middle of the night, Hongli had to get up to see it in person. If there was anything important, he immediately summoned the military minister to give instructions and talk a lot. Zhao Yi was making notes, and sometimes it would take an hour or two from drafting to correcting the notes in regular script. At this time, Hongli was still waiting for him with his clothes on.
Six trips to the south of the Yangtze River
Hongli reigned for sixty years and visited the south six times. He said in "Records of the Southern Inspection": "In the fifty years since I came to the throne, I have carried out two major events, one is the Western Division, and the other is the Southern Inspection."
Qianlong's visit to the south of the Yangtze River was imitated by his imperial grandfather Kangxi. One of the purposes was to visit the people; the other was to visit the people. The purpose was to strengthen the relationship between the Qing government and the landlords and gentry in the south of the Yangtze River; the third was for river engineering. During the Kangxi period, the main task was to manage the Yellow River . When Qianlong went to the south of the Yangtze River, in addition to inspecting the Yellow River dam, he also inspected Zhejiang seawalls and other hydraulic projects. Hongli himself said: "There is nothing more important than river construction during the southern patrol." However, compared with Kangxi, Qianlong's purpose of traveling to the south of the Yangtze River was greatly increased. Hongli, on the other hand, was accompanied by a large number of concubines, princes, nobles, civil and military officials. Along the way, colorful tents were erected at the Cultivation Palace, with boats and boats connected to each other, and flags covering the sky.To carry tents, clothing, and equipment, 6,000 horses, 400 mules and carriages, 800 camels, and nearly 10,000 men and women were mobilized. Not only did local officials have to present delicacies along the way, but a lot of food was also transported from all over the country. Even the drinking water was famous spring water transported from Beijing, Jinan, Zhenjiang and other places.
The secret crown prince
In the early years of his accession to the throne, Hongli followed the Han practice of establishing the "eldest son". In the first year of Qianlong (1736), Yong Lian, the legitimate son of Mi, was crown prince. However, Yonglian died in the third year of Qianlong's reign (1738), less than ten years old. Later, he made Yong Cong, the second son of the queen, the crown prince. Soon Yong Cong also died at the age of two. A year later, Empress Fucha died during her eastern tour. Hongli was very sad and turned his anger on the emperor's eldest son, who was born as a concubine. The emperor's eldest son soon died of fear, which made Hongli heartbroken. He ordered ministers not to mention the matter of establishing a heir again.
In 11773, the sixty-three-year-old Hongli had no reason to avoid the issue of establishing a prince. At this time, there were seven princes still alive. Hongli felt that no one was an ideal candidate. In the winter of 1773, Hongli made up his mind to make Yongyan, the fifteenth son of the emperor, the crown prince.
Favored Heshen
Heshen's original name was shanbao, Niu Hulu's family, and a native of Zhenghong Banner in Manchuria. Born in the fifteenth year of Qianlong (1750), he was nearly forty years younger than Hongli. Heshen was single-handedly promoted by Hongli from a third-class light chariot captain. He indeed had many strengths, such as outstanding appearance, outstanding language talent, and attainments in calligraphy art: he was proficient in Manchu, Tibetan, Mongolian, and Chinese languages. In the early days of being re-employed, Heshen did several good things, such as investigating the bribery case of Li Shiyao, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, which left an impression of integrity in Hongli's mind. He could handle everything the emperor asked him to do in an orderly manner. So Heshen rose to prominence and was extremely favored.
Hongli was very lonely in his later years. Thanks to Heshen's communication, he kept the state machine running and the emperor would not be lonely. He Shen could also help the emperor do many things that others could not do, help the emperor take the blame, and provide financial resources for the elderly Hongli's extravagant spending, so Hongli could not do without He Shen. As a result, He Shen gradually became a powerful official under one person and above ten thousand people, influencing the emperor, and was privately called the "Second Emperor". He Shen was very greedy. He not only accepted bribes wantonly, but also openly asked for bribes. In order to calm things down, the local governor would bring a copy to the emperor whenever he paid tribute. Over time, He Shen accumulated a huge fortune.
The British Envoy Visited China
In the fifty-seventh year of Qianlong (1792), the King of England sent a delegation of more than 800 people, headed by Macartney and deputy envoy Staunton, to visit the Qing Empire in the name of celebrating Hongli's 80th birthday. They arrived the following year. According to the regulations of the Qing Dynasty, foreign envoys must kneel three times and kowtow nine times when meeting the Qing emperor. Macartney believed that this was detrimental to the dignity of the British Empire and advocated the British etiquette of kneeling on one knee. Hongli was very angry when he learned about it. After negotiation, the two parties reached a compromise: British etiquette was performed at the welcome banquet in Wanshuyuan on the 6th day of August in the 58th year of Qianlong's reign (1793); on August 13, three kneels and nine kowtows were performed during the official Qianlong Longevity Ceremony.
When Macartney left England, King George III asked him to deliver a letter to Qianlong. The following requests were made: open ports such as Zhushan, Ningbo , and Tianjin to trade; allow British merchants to set up a warehouse in Beijing to buy and sell goods following the Russian example; cancel the re-export tax between Macao and Guangzhou, or cancel the re-export tax between Macao and Guangzhou, or follow the example of 1782 tax reductions and exemptions; prohibiting extortion from British merchants in addition to customs duties; setting aside a small island with a walled city near Mount Zhushan for British merchants to live and store goods; setting aside a place near Guangzhou to allow British merchants to live and travel freely to and from Macau; allowing the British to preach freely, etc.
