Everyone in the world knows that Emperor Qianlong is a generation of Ming monarchs, but they don't know that he also has the troubles of ordinary people. Every New Year, the emperor who rules thousands of miles of rivers and mountains will also write down what he thinks in his heart. However, his New Year's resolutions are no different from those of ordinary people. Emperor Qianlong had the habit of writing New Year's messages on New Year's Day every year, and these messages were included in the "Track End Collection". From this, we can get a glimpse of an emperor's ardent expectations for the country, family and even the individual. He prayed for the peace of the country and the people, longed for a full house of children and grandchildren, and hoped that he could live forever. Aren't these wishes exactly what you and I make every year? However, as the Emperor Qianlong of the Ninety-Five, is his New Year's resolution really so ordinary? Perhaps, behind these seemingly ordinary wishes, there is a deeper meaning? Let's unveil the mystery of Emperor Qianlong's New Year's wishes and see what secrets are hidden in the emperor's inner world.
In the Qing court, the New Year's Day opening ceremony was an extremely important tradition. Every year on the first day of the first lunar month, Emperor Qianlong will hold this solemn and ceremonial activity in the open window of the East Warm Pavilion of the Yangxin Palace. This is not only a simple writing process, but also an important moment for the emperor to pray for blessings and auspiciousness and national fortune.
The ceremony usually takes place early in the morning, when the sun is shining and symbolizes the beginning of a new year. Emperor Qianlong, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe and wearing a crown, accompanied by his ministers, went to the Dongnuan Pavilion. It has long been properly arranged, and under the open window is a delicate desk with pen, ink, paper and inkstone neatly placed on it.
Before the ceremony began, Emperor Qianlong would pay homage to heaven and earth to express his respect for the heavens. Afterwards, he will pick up a special golden Ou permanent cup, which is a mascot that symbolizes the longevity of the country. The emperor poured into the cup a pre-prepared Tusu wine, which was believed to have the effect of warding off evil spirits and avoiding disasters.
Next, the Qianlong Emperor would light the candles on the jade candlestick. The candlelight not only illuminates the table, but also means that the wisdom of the emperor will shine on the world. In this soft light, the emperor began to prepare his writing instruments.
Emperor Qianlong would pick up a special brush, the barrel of which was made of 10,000-year-old green wood, meaning "10,000 years of the Qing Dynasty". He gently brushed the tip of the pen on the incense burner, which not only removes impurities from the bristles, but also symbolizes the elegance and purity of the literary thoughts.
When he was ready, Emperor Qianlong began to write. He usually writes two poems, which are called "New Year's Day Test Writing". Poems often contain good wishes for the new year, such as national peace and security, good weather and so on. Emperor Qianlong's calligraphy attainments were extremely high, his brushstrokes were smooth and powerful, and every word contained the momentum of the emperor and the style of the literati.
When the writing is complete, the ink is carefully dried. Subsequently, the poems would be framed and become part of the Celebration of the Tracks. "Shoes" means New Year's Day, this collection records the New Year's Day test pen of Emperor Qianlong over the years, and is an important historical material for studying the court culture of the Qing Dynasty and Qianlong's personal thoughts.
It is worth mentioning that Emperor Qianlong attached great importance to this ceremony. Even when he was out on tour, he would insist on writing on New Year's Day. One year, during his southern tour, Emperor Qianlong specially ordered someone to arrange a temporary study in the palace to ensure that the ceremony could be completed as scheduled.
The New Year's Day opening ceremony is not just a personal act, it is also a political statement. Through this ceremony, Emperor Qianlong showed his subjects his image of being diligent and loving to the people, and at the same time demonstrated the cultural heritage of the Qing Empire. Every year, the New Year's Day test pen will be made public, and it has become a hot topic of discussion between the government and the opposition.
This ceremony also reflects the importance that Emperor Qianlong attached to traditional culture. As a Manchu ruler, he was well aware of the importance of Han culture, and in this way, he both demonstrated his cultural accomplishment and won the recognition of Han scholars.
"Track End Collection" is one of the most cherished anthologies of Emperor Qianlong's life, which records the mental journey of this eloquent emperor every New Year's Day. This anthology is not only the personal literary creation of Emperor Qianlong, but also a mirror of the political, cultural and social conditions of the Qing Dynasty.
The content of "Track End Collection" is mainly composed of the New Year's Day test poems of Emperor Qianlong. These poems are usually presented in the form of seven-character poems, at least two per year. Emperor Qianlong's poetry is of a high level, and his poems often have far-reaching artistic conceptions and concise words, fully demonstrating his literary talent.
In these New Year's messages, Emperor Qianlong often expressed his hope for the prosperity of the country. For example, in the New Year's Day test of the ninth year of Qianlong (1744), he wrote: "Taihe Xinyu dawn cloth, a hundred crown style etiquette." These two poems depict the scene of the early morning of the new year, alluding to the prosperity of the country in the new year, and all the officials will gather to congratulate them, showing a prosperous scene.
In addition to state affairs, Emperor Qianlong would also express his concern for the people's livelihood in his message. In some years, he made special mention of agricultural production and people's livelihood. For example, in one poem, he wrote: "The harvest of the five grains is celebrated, and the four directions have nothing to do and are happy." This reflects the importance he attaches to a good agricultural harvest and social stability.
The message in the "Celebration of the Record" also reflects the political wisdom of the Qianlong Emperor. He often used poems to express the concept of governing the country, such as "Chongxi is tired of Qicheng Siri, and Baotai is also at this time", expressing his hope to continue the ancestral foundation and maintain the long-term stability of the country. These verses were not only literary works, but also a way for him to convey political ideas to his subjects.
It is worth noting that not all of the poems in "Track End Jiqing" were created independently by Emperor Qianlong. Some of the verses may have been inspired by his reading of the ministers' cantata or ancient texts, while others may have been written with the help of a scholar of letters. This reflects Emperor Qianlong's ability to absorb the wisdom of others and integrate collective wisdom into his own rule.
The compilation process of "Track End Collection" is also quite exquisite. Every year on New Year's Day, after the writing test is completed, the courtiers will transcribe the poems on high-quality rice paper and then frame them into a book. These booklets are usually wrapped in fine silk and covered with intricately carved sandalwood boxes. Each year, new volumes are carefully stored in the palace's specific stacks.
This anthology is not just the emperor's private collection, it will also circulate within a certain range. Every year on New Year's Day, after the completion of the new New Year's Day test, the Qianlong Emperor will order people to copy many copies of it and distribute them to the important ministers of the court and the governors of various provinces. After receiving the emperor's poems, these officials often wrote down their feelings, and sometimes even sang harmony with the emperor, forming a special kind of literary exchange.
The New Year's message in the "Celebration of the Record" also has important documentary value. Through these poems, future generations can learn about the major events and social conditions around New Year's Day every year. For example, in some years of poetry, the Qianlong Emperor will mention frontier wars or natural disasters, which are important clues to the study of Qing history.
In addition, "Celebration of the Record" is also an important material for the study of Emperor Qianlong's personal character and governing philosophy. Through the analysis of these poems, we can see that the entire trajectory of Emperor Qianlong's life is clearly visible from the enterprising spirit of his youth, to the steady progress of his middle age, and then to the review and reflection of his later years.
In general, the New Year's message in the "Celebration of the Record" is not only a personal literary creation of the Qianlong Emperor, but also a microcosm of the political, cultural and social life of the Qing Dynasty. It not only shows the literary talent of an emperor, but also reflects the spiritual outlook of an era. The existence of this anthology gives us a glimpse of what this eloquent emperor thought at the beginning of each year, and provides us with a unique perspective on the history of the mid-Qing Dynasty.
Emperor Qianlong's New Year's wishes, although seemingly ordinary, contain profound imperial wisdom and humanistic care. Through a detailed analysis of the New Year's Day test pen recorded in the "Track Collection", we can interpret the emperor's New Year's expectations from multiple levels.
First of all, the vision of Guotai and Min'an has always been at the heart of Emperor Qianlong's New Year's wishes. In the New Year's Day test of the twentieth year of Qianlong (1755), he wrote: "The four seas rise to peace and the song is peaceful, and the five grains are abundant and happy. This is not just a simple blessing, but also reflects the fundamental goal of his governance. Emperor Qianlong knew that only when the country was stable and the people were prosperous could the Qing Empire have long-term peace and stability. In order to realize this vision, he reduced taxes many times during his reign and implemented policies such as "apportionment into the acre" to reduce the burden on the people. At the same time, he also focused on water conservancy construction, such as the excavation of the Tonghui River and the dredging of the Grand Canal, to ensure agricultural production and commercial development.
Secondly, the anticipation of children and grandchildren often appeared in Emperor Qianlong's New Year's wishes. In the New Year's Day test pen of the 35th year of Qianlong (1770), he wrote: "The five blessings are more than celebrated, and the descendants are thousands of years." This poem not only expresses his expectation for the reproduction of his family, but also embodies the concept of "more children and more blessings" in traditional Chinese culture. In fact, the Qianlong Emperor did have many children, the most famous of which was the Jiaqing Emperor. In order to train these princes, the Qianlong Emperor paid special attention to their education, not only personally supervising them to study Confucian classics, but also encouraging them to participate in court politics in preparation for the future governance of the country.
The pursuit of personal cultivation was also an important part of Emperor Qianlong's New Year's wishes. In the New Year's Day test of the 50th year of Qianlong (1785), he wrote: "The world of learning is new, and the joy of self-cultivation is boundless. This reflects the importance that Emperor Qianlong attached to his own self-cultivation. As a learned emperor, he was not only proficient in the Confucian classics, but also had in-depth studies of Buddhism and Taoism. In his daily life, he often regulates his words and deeds with Confucian etiquette, and also regulates his body and mind through Buddhist meditation. This pursuit of personal cultivation is not only reflected in his poetry creation, but also influences his concept of governance.
It is worth noting that the enthusiasm for artistic creation is also a special element in the New Year's wish of the Qianlong Emperor. In the New Year's Day test pen of the 40th year of Qianlong (1775), he wrote: "Danqing is handwritten in the Spring and Autumn Period, and the poems, wine, piano, chess, and music are endless. This not only expresses his love for art, but also reflects his desire to pass on culture through artistic creation. Emperor Qianlong himself was a versatile artist, proficient in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and other fields. Many of his works are housed in the Palace Museum and have become important representatives of Qing Dynasty art. In addition, he also vigorously supported artistic creation, such as organizing the compilation of the Siku Quanshu, collecting and sorting out ancient Chinese documents, and made great contributions to the inheritance of Chinese culture.
Another element of Emperor Qianlong's New Year's resolution that is often overlooked is the focus on ethnic minority areas. In the New Year's Day test of the fifteenth year of Qianlong (1750), he wrote: "People from afar come to congratulate him, and there is no beacon to report peace. This reflects the importance he attaches to the stability of the frontier region. As a Manchu ruler, Emperor Qianlong was well aware of the importance of national unity for the stability of the country. To this end, he personally inspected the frontier many times, such as six southern tours, four eastern tours, and the famous Mulan Qiuqiu. These actions not only strengthened the central government's control over the border areas, but also promoted cultural exchanges between Han Chinese and ethnic minorities.
Emperor Qianlong's New Year's resolution is also reflected in his emphasis on the development of science and technology. Although this point is not directly reflected in the "Celebration of the End of the Track", it can be seen from some of his policies. For example, he supported Xu Yuren and others in compiling The Illustrated Narrative of Strange Weapons, an important work on Western science and technology. In addition, he also sent missionary Nan Huairen and others to survey and map the whole country and compile the "Imperial Opinion Panorama Map", which was of great significance for the national management and military defense at that time.
In general, Emperor Qianlong's New Year's wishes covered many aspects such as the country, family, personal cultivation, artistic creation, and national unity. These aspirations not only reflect his responsibilities and responsibilities as an emperor, but also reflect his feelings and aspirations as a literati. Through these wishes, we can get a more complete picture of the longest-reigning Qing emperor, as well as the Qing Empire under his rule.
As a collection of the Qianlong Emperor's annual New Year's Day trial writing, "Track End Collection" not only records the emperor's personal feelings, but also reflects the major historical events in the middle of the Qing Dynasty. Through a detailed combing of this anthology, we can outline the outline of a series of important historical events of the Qianlong Dynasty.
In the New Year's Day test of the thirteenth year of Qianlong (1748), Emperor Qianlong wrote: "The joy of Jinchuan Pingding came, and the good news frequently reached nine yuan. These two lines record the victory in the First Battle of Jincheon. Jinchuan, located in present-day Jinchuan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, was a semi-independent Tusi regime at the time. In order to consolidate the southwestern frontier, Emperor Qianlong decided to send troops to conquer Jinchuan. The war lasted three years and ended in the victory of the Qing army. This not only expanded the scope of Qing rule in the southwest, but also laid the foundation for the Second Battle of Jinchuan in the future.
In the New Year's Day test pen of the twentieth year of Qianlong (1755), there is such a sentence: "The Western Regions purged the good news, and returned to Xinjiang to print the Xinjiang map." "This is an account of the battle to pacify Dzungaria. The Dzungars were the most powerful Mongol tribe in the northwest region at that time, and they had long threatened the security of the Qing Dynasty's northwestern frontier. Emperor Qianlong personally commanded the war, which eventually wiped out the Dzungar tribe and incorporated Xinjiang into the Qing Dynasty. The victory in this war greatly expanded the territory of the Qing Dynasty and laid an important foundation for the later "Ten Complete Martial Arts".
In the New Year's Day test of the 25th year of Qianlong (1760), Emperor Qianlong mentioned: "The snow in the Tianshan Mountains disappears early, and the grass outside the Yumen Pass is green. These two lines allude to the victory of quelling the Hui rebellion. The Hui rebellion took place in the Xinjiang region and was the aftermath of the Battle of Dzungaria. Emperor Qianlong sent his general Zhaohui to lead an army to quell the rebellion, and eventually succeeded in bringing Xinjiang under the direct rule of the Qing Dynasty. This incident marked a further strengthening of the Qing Dynasty's control over the Xinjiang region.
In the New Year's Day test pen of the 35th year of Qianlong (1770), there is such a sentence: "Miao Jiang Ningjing Quartet, thousands of miles of rivers and mountains into the drawing." This is a record of the rebellion in Miaojiang. The Miaojiang Rebellion, which took place at the junction of Hunan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces, was the largest ethnic uprising under Qing rule. Emperor Qianlong sent the general A Gui and others to quell the rebellion, which lasted three years before it was finally quelled. This counterinsurgency operation not only consolidated Qing rule in the southwest, but also promoted cultural exchanges between the Han and Miao peoples.
In the New Year's Day test of the 39th year of Qianlong (1774), Emperor Qianlong wrote: "Nanzhang pays tribute and spreads, and people from afar reach the heavenly court." The "Nanzhang" here refers to the region of present-day Laos. In this year, the Lao king sent emissaries to China to pay tribute, which was regarded as a major diplomatic victory by the Qianlong Emperor. This incident reflects the influence of the Qing Dynasty in Southeast Asia, and also demonstrates the diplomatic strategy of the Qianlong Emperor's "Huairou Yuanren".
In the New Year's Day test of the 48th year of Qianlong (1783), there is such a sentence: "Taiwan suppresses the sea and does not rise, and the shape of mountains and rivers wins into books." This is a record of the pacification of Lin Shuangwen's uprising. The Lin Shuangwen Uprising was the largest uprising in Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Qianlong sent the general Fukangan to lead an army across the sea to quell the rebellion, which lasted more than a year before it was finally quelled. This counterinsurgency operation not only consolidated the Qing Dynasty's rule over Taiwan, but also prompted the Qianlong Emperor to adjust his policy on Taiwan's governance.
In the New Year's Day test of the 55th year of Qianlong (1790), Emperor Qianlong mentioned: "The joy of Gurkha pacification is coming, and the border is peaceful and peaceful." "This is an account of the battle to pacify the Gorkhas. Gorkha is the region of present-day Nepal that invaded Tibet at that time. Emperor Qianlong sent his general Fukangan to lead an expedition and eventually forced the Gurkha to surrender. The victory in this war not only protected Tibet, but also consolidated Qing rule in the Tibetan Plateau.
In addition to these major military and diplomatic events, there are also some important cultural events recorded in the "Celebration of the Record". For example, in the New Year's Day test of the 37th year of Qianlong (1772), the Qianlong Emperor wrote: "The four libraries are compiled in order, and the articles are brilliant and dazzling. This is a record of the completion of the compilation of the "Siku Quanshu". Siku Quanshu is the largest book series in Chinese history, including all kinds of classics from the pre-Qin period to the early Qing Dynasty, and is an important carrier of Chinese culture.
The historical events in the "Records of the Collection" not only reflect the major historical events of the Qianlong Dynasty, but also show the Qianlong Emperor's governing philosophy and cultural aspirations. These accounts provide valuable first-hand information for our study of the history of the mid-Qing Dynasty and provide a unique perspective on the longest-reigning Qing emperor.
As a collection of the New Year's Day of the 60th year of Emperor Qianlong, "Records of Jiqing" is not only a precious historical document, but also a work of important literary value. This anthology not only shows the profound literary accomplishment of the Qianlong Emperor, but also provides us with an important window into the political, cultural and social conditions of the mid-Qing Dynasty.
From a literary point of view, the poems in "Track End Jiqing" show the superb poetry creation skills of the Qianlong Emperor. His poems are not only rigorous and neat in rhythm, but also quite ingenious in the choice of words and sentences. For example, in the New Year's Day test of the twentieth year of Qianlong (1755), he wrote: "Spring returns to the land and is joyful, and Vientiane is more than renewal." These two lines of poetry not only depict the festive atmosphere of the New Year, but also skillfully use the pun of the word "new", which not only refers to the New Year, but also hints at the new atmosphere of the country. This subtle use of words abounds in the "Celebration of the Tracks", which fully demonstrates the literary talent of the Qianlong Emperor.
In addition, the poems in "Track End Collection" also cover a variety of poetry genres, including seven-character quatrains, five-character poems, seven-character poems, etc. This diversity not only demonstrates the Qianlong Emperor's mastery of various poetic forms, but also provides rich material for later generations to study the development of Qing poetry. For example, in the New Year's Day test of the thirtieth year of Qianlong (1765), he composed a five-character poem: "Yuan Zheng starts the new year, and Vientiane glows in the morning." The four seas are peaceful, and the eight directions congratulate Changchun. This poem is not only rigorous in terms of rhythm, but also quite open in artistic conception, showing Emperor Qianlong's skillful use of the traditional poetic style of five-character poetry.
From a historical point of view, "Shoduan Jiqing" provides us with important information to understand the politics, economy, culture and other aspects of the Qianlong Dynasty. For example, in the New Year's Day test of the 40th year of Qianlong (1775), he wrote: "The four seas rise to the level and the song is peaceful, and the five grains are abundant and happy. These two poems not only reflected the social stability and economic prosperity at that time, but also reflected the Qianlong Emperor's expectations for the country's development. Through these poems, we can get a glimpse of the social conditions of the Qianlong Dynasty and the ruler's philosophy of governance.
The "Celebration of the Record" also records many major historical events. For example, in the New Year's Day test of the 25th year of Qianlong (1760), he mentioned: "The snow in the Tianshan Mountains disappears early, and the grass outside the Yumen Pass is green. These two lines allude to the victory of quelling the Hui rebellion. Through these verses, we can trace the major military operations and political events in the middle of the Qing Dynasty, which provides valuable first-hand information for the study of Qing history.
From the perspective of cultural inheritance, "Track Collection" is also of great significance. As a royal anthology, it not only inherits the ancient Chinese poetry tradition, but also incorporates elements of Manchu culture. For example, in some poems, the Qianlong Emperor would refer to traditional Manchu festivals or customs, such as the Mulan Autumn Festival. This characteristic of cultural integration reflects the wisdom of the Qing rulers in cultural policy, and also provides important materials for us to study the cultural exchanges between the Manchu and Han people.
The compilation process of the Records is also of great cultural significance. Every year, the New Year's Day test is an important court ritual, reflecting the concept of "governing the country with literature" in traditional Chinese culture. Through this ceremony, the Qianlong Emperor not only demonstrated his literary talents, but also conveyed his philosophy of governing the country and his expectations for the New Year to the courtiers and the common people. This method of political propaganda through literary works is an important feature of ancient Chinese political culture.
From the point of view of the art of calligraphy, the "Celebration of the Record" is also of great value. Emperor Qianlong was a famous calligrapher, and his New Year's Day test pen is not only worth studying in terms of content, but his calligraphy works are also precious works of art. By studying these calligraphic works, we can understand the characteristics of Qing court calligraphy, as well as the evolution of Emperor Qianlong's personal calligraphic style.
In addition, the book also provides important clues for us to study the literati politics of the Qing Dynasty. As the emperor's literary work, this anthology will undoubtedly have an important impact on the literary world of the time. By studying the evaluation and reaction of the literati of the time to these works, we can understand the complex relationship between the literati and political power in the Qing Dynasty.
In general, as a work of both literary value and historical significance, "Records of the Collection" provides valuable information for us to study the political, cultural, and social aspects of the mid-Qing Dynasty. It is not only a testimony of Emperor Qianlong's personal literary talent, but also a microcosm of the prosperous culture of the Qing Dynasty. Through this anthology, we can have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of this special historical period.