Qing Dynasty character stories

Author: Xu Yiqiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: China has a long history with many dynasties. The last dynasty was the Qing Dynasty. The history of the Qing Dynasty, if calculated from 1644 when the Qing forces entered the Shanhai Pass and transformed from a regional regime into a national regime, lasted 267 years. If calculated from when Emperor Shunzhi changed the state name to "Da Qing," it lasted a total of 276 years. If calculated from when Nurhaci established the "Da Jin" regime in Hetu Ala City east of Shenyang, it lasted a total of 295 years. Less than three hundred years of Qing history can be roughly divided into two phases: before the First Opium War in 1840 (the early period) and after 1840 (the later period). The early Qing period can be further divided into three stages: the founding stage (Nurhaci, Hong Taiji, and Shunzhi), the prosperous stage (Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong), and the stage of decline from prosperity (Jiaqing and Daoguang). The later Qing period can also be divided into three stages: the stage of the "Celestial Empire's" dream being shattered (Xianfeng), the stage where the conservative faction in the Qing government both struggled against and colluded with Western powers, and the stage where China became completely a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society (Tongzhi and Guangxu). As for the last emperor, Puyi, he was three years old when he was carried onto the throne and six years old when he was forced off it, unknowingly becoming a king of a fallen nation. It should be noted that from Shunzhi to Puyi, they used era names instead of their personal names. The table below lists their names and reign durations:
| Name | Era Name | Reign Period | Reign Duration |
|------------|------------|---------------|----------------|
| Nurhaci | Tianming | 1616-1626 | 11 |
| Hong Taiji | Tianzong, Chongde | 1627-1643 | 17 |
| Fulin | Shunzhi | 1644-1661 | 18 |
| Xuanye | Kangxi | 1662-1722 | 61 |
| Yinzhen | Yongzheng | 1723-1735 | 13 |
| Hongliu | Qianlong | 1736-1795 | 60 |
| Yongyan | Jiaqing | 1796-1820 | 25 |
| Minning | Daoguang | 1821-1850 | 30 |
| Yizhu | Xianfeng | 1851-1861 | 11 |
| Zaitian | Tongzhi | 1862-1874 | 13 |
| Zaitian | Guangxu | 1875-1908 | 34 |
| Puyi | Xuantong | 1909-1912 | 3 |
Among these, this book includes Nurhaci, Hong Taiji, Shunzhi, Kangxi, Qianlong, and Puyi. The first three are undeniably important to the establishment of the Qing Dynasty. Kangxi and Qianlong led the Qing Dynasty into its most prosperous period (with Yongzheng acting as a transitional figure, bridging the gap), known as the "Kangxi and Qianlong Prosperity." Especially during Qianlong's reign, the country flourished like never before, making it one of the most powerful nations in the world at the time. However, this peak of prosperity also marked the beginning of China's decline. Qianlong lived to be 89 and reigned for 60 years. He loved spending money and showing off, nearly exhausting the wealth accumulated by his ancestors. During his reign, China also produced the largest corrupt official in its history—Heshen. His corruption was shocking. Although officials like Ji Xiaolan and Liu Yong (Liu Luoguo) fought against Heshen, he remained unscathed due to the emperor's protection until the new emperor took the throne and executed him.
Just as there were corrupt officials, there were also honest ones. Yu Chenglong, known as one of the "honest officials" of the Qing Dynasty during the Kangxi period, is a prime example. However, such good officials were extremely rare, or else the history of the Qing Dynasty might have been rewritten. After Qianlong, things only got worse. Jiaqing was entangled in the White Lotus Rebellion across the country; Daoguang faced the Second Opium War; Xianfeng, who reigned for only 11 years, was nearly overthrown by Hong Xiuquan's Taiping Rebellion and then forced to flee Beijing after the Anglo-French (Allied Forces) attacked it, seeking refuge in the Chengde Mountain Resort; the subsequent Tongzhi and Guangxu emperors were even more unlucky, lacking real power. In fact, since Xianfeng's death, Chinese history was largely controlled by a woman named Yehe Nara—better known as the Empress Dowager Cixi. Cixi knew how to use people and relied on this to suppress the Taiping Rebellion. However, she was too stubborn, conservative, and lacking in international awareness, making it impossible for her to handle foreign challenges. She suffered repeated defeats, even leading to the bizarre outcome of China "winning without winning" in the Sino-French War: the veteran Feng Zicai had already won the battle, but China still signed an unequal treaty with France. Such events are rare in world history. Later, Emperor Guangxu attempted to rule independently, seeking reform with figures like Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and Tan Sitong. However, the opposition from Empress Dowager Cixi ultimately led to failure. Of the hundreds of reform measures proposed, only one was eventually implemented—the establishment of the Capital University, the predecessor of today's Peking University. At least it wasn't "completely useless."
Over the two hundred years of the Qing Dynasty, a large number of scholars, thinkers, writers, and artists emerged. Take Jin Shengtan, a literary genius of the late Ming and early Qing periods, Gu Yanwu, who proposed "When the nation rises or falls, every man has a responsibility," Lin Zexu, a national hero of modern China and a leader in the anti-opium movement, Gong Zizhen, a poet who cried out, "I urge the heavens to shake and stir, may they send talent of all kinds," Yan Fu, a translator who greatly influenced Chinese thought, Huang Zunxian, a poet and diplomat, Rong Hong, the first Chinese student to study abroad, and Zhang Taiyan, a thinker and revolutionary. Of course, we must not forget Cao Xueqin, who wrote the monumental novel Dream of the Red Chamber, as well as Wu Jingzi, Pu Songling, Kong Shangren, Yuan Mei, Li Boyuan, and the artist Zhu Da, known as "Eight Great Mountains." Zheng Banqiao and Huang Sheng, representatives of the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou," Zhang Mingshan, known as "Master Zhang of Clay Figures," and Wang Xiaoyong, an artist.
The Qing Dynasty also produced a number of scientists. This book includes Feng Ru, an aircraft designer; Zhan Tianyou, a railway engineer; and Mei Wending, a mathematician. All of them used their wisdom to prove that the minds of Chinese people were no inferior to foreigners. Equally admirable were martial arts masters like Huo Yuanjia, who founded the "Chinese Jingwu Physical Culture Association," a comprehensive folk sports organization, promoting martial arts and taking them to the world. Among the many heroes, this book also includes Xiaohuan Chun, a young hero; Zuo Zongtang, a veteran who recovered Xinjiang; Deng Shichang, a national hero; Qiu Jin, a female hero; and Sun Yat-sen, the leader who overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Puyi was chosen because his life was full of drama. Additionally, there was Wang Zhihe, who invented stinky tofu.