Palace of Double Brilliance

Special Exhibition from the Palace Museum

Section texts

 

Section 1
Born to Be an Emperor

Hongli was born into a wealthy imperial family and lived a privileged life in a prince’s mansion. Intelligent and studious, he received an excellent education from renowned Manchu and Han scholars. His humanist qualities, talents, and martial arts skills were all exceptional.

 

When Hongli was only 12 years old, his many talents caught the eye of his grandfather, Emperor Kangxi, who later raised and nurtured his grandson in the Forbidden City. Hongli soon became Emperor Kangxi’s most beloved grandson. After Hongli’s father, Yinzhen, ascended the throne in the eighth month of the first year of the Yongzheng period (1723), he secretly bestowed the title of Crown Prince upon his son. The edict of succession, sealed in an envelope, was hidden behind a plaque inscribed with ‘Zheng Da Guang Ming’ – meaning upright and pure in mind – inside the Palace of Heavenly Purity (Qianqing Gong).

In the fifth year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign (1727), his son, Hongli – then 17 years old – married Lady Fuca, later known as Empress Xiaoxianchun. She was his primary consort and moved to the Second Western Residence of the Palace of Heavenly Purity.

In the 12th month of the 10th year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign (1732), a Buddhist ceremony was held inside a private residence at the scenic complex, ‘Nine Continents in Peace’, in the Old Summer Palace (Yuanming Yuan). During this ceremony, the emperor conferred upon Hongli the title of Changchun Jushi, meaning ‘The Dweller in Everlasting Spring’. In the 11th year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign (1733), Hongli was granted the title of ‘Prince Bao of the First Rank’ and subsequently began participating in sacrificial rites and military consultations. Later, the emperor bestowed upon Hongli’s residence the title of ‘Hall of Pleasure and Good Will’ (Leshan Tang).

Hongli became Emperor Qianlong in 1735, succeeding to the throne after his father’s death in the 13th year of his reign. During the first year of the new emperor’s reign (1736), he repeatedly renovated the Second Western Residence of the Palace of Heavenly Purity, his former residence as a prince. Widely deemed as the ‘Dwelling of the Hidden Dragon’, it was soon upgraded to the Palace of Double Brilliance (Chonghua Gong). In short, from birth to ascension, Hongli led a fortunate life that was smooth, prosperous, and mostly free of hardship.

 


Section 2
Marriage and Family


Lady Fuca, the first and legal wife of Hongli, later became the Empress Xiaoxianchun when her husband was enthroned as Emperor Qianlong. They married in the fifth year of Emperor Yongzheng’s reign (1727), and the couple resided in what later became known as the Palace of Double Brilliance.

The Empress Xiaoxianchun was known for her sensibility, prudence, and calm temperament. She frequently reminded Hongli of his ancestors’ struggles to establish the dynasty and often reiterated the importance of preserving the traditional Manchu lifestyle.

Emperor Qianlong bestowed upon Empress Xiaoxianchun’s residence the unique title of ‘The Orchid Chamber’ (Zhilan Shi). This title is derived from the saying, ‘When one lives with virtuous people, it is as if one has entered a room filled with the fragrance of orchids. After a while, one does not even notice the fragrance, for one has been transformed by it’, symbolising the widespread influence of these virtuous people. Indeed, the emperor and empress were more than simply husband and wife. Sharing mutual respect and refined elegance, their relationship as close friends was built upon the honourable pursuit of high moral standards. Their story is one of warmth and love.

Hongli was also an intelligent and composed leader who had been personally taught by his grandfather, Emperor Kangxi. The two developed a strong bond. Hongli’s father, Emperor Yongzheng, also held high expectations for his son and was keenly invested in his education. Under Emperor Yongzheng’s careful nurturing, Hongli became proficient in the Manchu and Han languages and excelled in literature and martial arts. As heir apparent, much was expected of him prior to his ascending the throne. He was bestowed with many gifts, including exceptional offerings from his father and grandfather, which he later preserved in the Palace of Double Brilliance as Emperor Qianlong. This act showed a deep respect and reverence for his ancestors.

After ascending the throne, Emperor Qianlong honoured his mother, Lady Niuhulu, as the Empress Dowager Chongqing. The emperor advocated for ‘governing the country through filial piety’, revering his mother as the royal mother and bestowing her with the highest titles and honours. On the Empress Dowager’s birthdays, the emperor composed proses and poems and also created paintings and calligraphic works as tributes to her. He also led his princes and grandsons in ceremonial dances to celebrate her longevity. During major festivities, he would join Empress Dowager Chongqing at dinner, and they would watch performances together at the Palace of Double Brilliance. The imperial family enjoyed the familial bliss by frequently celebrating seasonal festivals together.


Section 3
The Flourishing Era of Civilian Rule

 

Hongli received a strict, high-level traditional Confucian education from a young age. He began his schooling at six years old and reportedly ‘memorised the Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents and every word of The Four Books’ by the age of 12. After Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he appointed Zhu Shi, the Grand Secretary of the Hall of Literary, as Hongli’s new tutor to teach him Confucian governance principles. The renowned Confucian scholar Cai Shiyuan also taught the young scholar, systematically instructing him in the orthodox Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism. These studies had a profound and lifelong impact on Emperor Qianlong.

The Collected Writings from the Hall of Pleasure and Good Will was a collection of Emperor Qianlong’s poetry and prose, demonstrating his exceptional literary talents. The Studio of Eternal Spring, his study before ascending the throne, derived its name from a passage in I Ching (Book of Changes) – one of the oldest Chinese classics – which referred to the vitality of springtime and the importance of adhering to the great virtue of benevolence in Heaven and Earth.

Emperor Qianlong’s effective governance and successes in national stabilisation were complemented by his notable civilian rule. Throughout his life, he conceived and commissioned numerous grand cultural projects. Among these were Siku Quanshu (Complete Library in the Four Branches of Literature), Lulu Zhengyi Houbian (The Continued Revision of the Imperial Music Treatise) and Huangchao Liqi Tushi (The Illustrated Regulations for Ceremonial Paraphernalia of the Qing Dynasty). These texts manifested the majestic ambitions of a ruler dedicated to documenting and celebrating the artistic and cultural achievements of his era.

Emperor Qianlong also strongly advocated the appreciation, study, and emulation of exceptional antique works of art. He identified, graded, and documented ancient artefacts from the palace’s collection, ranging from calligraphic works, paintings, books, and manuscripts to bronze ritual vessels. After ascending the throne, the emperor converted the First Western Residence of the Palace of Heavenly Purity into the Studio of Cleansing Fragrance (Shufang Zhai) and built a theatre, making the complex an important venue for cultural and literary activities. Additionally, he held tea banquets and poetry contests at the Palace of Double Brilliance, where he also received foreign envoys.


Section 4
Efficient Governance and Harmonious Nation 

In the Imperial Record of the Palace of Double Brilliance (Chonghua Gong Ji), the 73-year-old Emperor Qianlong wrote, ‘The governance of more than 40 years all came from this place’. During the Qianlong era, the society was stable, the borders were secure, the resources were abundant, and the rivers and seas were tranquil.

Emperor Qianlong took pride in his ancestors’ arduous struggles to build the country. For instance, he likened the Qing dynasty’s conquest of the Central Plains to the Zhou dynasty’s rise to power – establishing its base in Qishan, taking Fenghao as its capital, and eventually replacing the Shang dynasty to unify the country. Later in his rule, the diligent and benevolent emperor referred to himself as the ‘Old Man of Ten Great Campaigns’ in reference to a series of ten important military campaigns successfully launched between 1755 and 1792. Throughout his reign, the emperor advocated archery and horsemanship, frequently organised autumn hunting expeditions at the Mulan hunting ground, trained the Eight Banners forces, and successfully allied with many Mongol tribes.

Throughout his life, the emperor presided over six grand military ceremonies, each of which showcased the most advanced weaponry of the time, such as firearms and artillery. He also invited lords of vassal states, princes and envoys to observe these grand ceremonies with him. In addition, he made pilgrimages to ancestral mausoleums, embarked on southern tours to the regions of Jiangzhe province, oversaw the compilation of major canonical texts while steadfastly believing in Tibetan Buddhism. His cultural achievements, government skills, and military prowess were outstanding throughout his reign.

The Qianlong era was a time of significant economic prosperity, with frequent foreign trading vessels and Western goods coming to China. During his reign, Emperor Qianlong primarily followed the foreign policy established by his predecessors in the early Qing dynasty: an approach that involved proactive expansion with consolidation and defence. He also consistently maintained power within the central government, embodying the Confucian strategy of ‘the defences of the emperor were the tribes on every side of the Kingdom’, safeguarding the nation from potential threats on its frontiers. However, in his later years, his foreign policy became more cautious and circumspect with a clearly more defensive orientation, highlighting his unique approach to governance on a wide scale.
 



Opening Date:
2024/11/28 17:30
Duration:
2024/11/29 - 2025/03/02