Kangxi

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Kangxi

• Presentation By Hayden Van Dyke

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Background

• Born May 4, 1654.
• Raised by four guardians and his grandmother
  Dowager Empress Xiao Zhuang.
• Father was the Shunzhi Emperor of China.
• Became Emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty at the
  age of 8.
• Died December 20, 1722.

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Interesting Facts

• Although he was officially Emperor at age 8, his
  grandmother exercised control in his place.
• Ruled from 1661-1722, the longest reign over an
  empire in Chinese history.
• Had well over 20 sons, not uncommon for his time
  period.

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Beginning of his Reign

• Emphasized practical skills such as riding,
  archery, hunting, etc.
• Made six inspection tours throughout China to
  familiarize and increase internal stability.
• 1662- began the Great Clearance to fight the
  anti-Qing movement and the Ming loyalists.
• Controlled the flooding of the Yellow River and
  repaired the Grand Canal.
• United his court to crush rebellious Mongols in
  1675 in The Revolt of the Three Feudatories

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Organization/Policies of the Empire

• Unlike previous emperors, Kangxi allowed the Qing
  Empire to adopt successful neighboring practices
  and ideas.
• Mongol political organization
• Tibetan religious legitimization
• Korean and Chinese agricultural policies

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Russian and Mongol Invasion

• Kangxi was under constant threat from neighboring
  territories controlled mostly by the Mongols.
• Invaded in the 1650s and 1680s, Kangxi
  eventually signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk which
  gave China the Amur Valley.
• In 1696, Kangxi led three armies of 80,000 men
  against the Dzungars and slowed their invasion.

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Revolt of the Three Feudatories

• Ming turncoat-generals, Wu Sangui, Shang Kexi and
  Geng Jinmao led a revolt against the Qing.
• One of the largest civil wars of all time
  claiming more deaths than all wars of
  17th-century Europe combined.
• Personally led by Kangxi, the Qing government
  controlled all three and brought an end to the
  seven-year crisis.

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Intellectual Exchange

• Throughout his reign, Kangxi befriended Jesuit
  missionaries and learned of many European
  advancements.
• Calendrical, astronomical, mathematical, and
  other forms of information expanded Qing
  knowledge and advanced China as a whole.
• The flow was two way, however Kangxi taught the
  Jesuits a form of inoculation called variolation
  that would later be used to bring an end to the
  smallpox pandemic.

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Kangxi Dictionary

• Standard Chinese dictionary in the 18th and 19th
  centuries.
• Still commonly used today.
• Basis for the modern official dictionary.
• Created to aid Kangxi in his essays, and poems.

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Kangxi Dictionary
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Quotes

• Concerning the word silence while creating his
  dictionary, I'm not sure how to translate this,
  but it seems to have to do with having no words
  or names.
• Empress Xiao Zhuang asked Emperor Kangxi for his
  opinion on the nation's situation and he replied,
  "Those who are benevolent don't have enemies.
• To his ministers, To rule a nation one needs to
  be tolerant."

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How Imperial Authority Was Conveyed

• Kangxi usually led himself rather than delegating
  the power to someone else.
• He did not allow the blackmail of the three men
  that began the Revolt of the Three Feudatories.
• Known as a powerful leader who focused on
  advancing the Qing Empire to compete with Western
  Empires.

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Art and Architecture

• Kangxi was himself a pianist and was interested
  in the arts of the Western World introduced to
  him by the Jesuits.
• Stayed true to his Manchu heritage by continuing
  to wear tradtional Manchu clothing.
• Enhanced many of the intellectual designs of the
  Forbidden City.

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Modern Day Forbidden City
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Map of Qing Empire
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Effectiveness

• Considered to be one of the greatest emperors of
  China.
• Advanced China technologically and politically.
• Held back numerous neighboring pressures such as
  Russia and Japan.

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THE END