Selection of Authentic Imperial Edicts by Qing Dynasty Emperors (II): Authentic Imperial Edicts by Emperor Yongzheng

Author: Chen Qiangyi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1995-10-01
Features: This is the second volume of the book, collecting 69 works of the Yongzheng Emperor. The documents span from December 22, 1662 (the 61st year of the Kangxi reign) to August 3, 1734 (the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign). The Kangxi Emperor passed away on November 13, 1662 (the 61st year of his reign). The Yongzheng Emperor ascended the throne on November 20, 1662, becoming the connecting emperor of the "Kang-Qian Prosperity" era in the Qing Dynasty. Having inherited the throne in middle age, he immediately assumed the emperor's ruling power after his accession. The documents collected in this volume are the imperial comments and endorsements of official memorials reviewed by the Yongzheng Emperor shortly after his accession, before the new era name was changed. Although the Yongzheng Emperor's reign was relatively short, he was diligent in governance, pragmatic, and left behind a wealth of comments and endorsements on memorials. Moreover, the formation and perfection of the memorial system in the Qing Dynasty, as well as the establishment and implementation of the system for returning imperial endorsements on memorials, were all accomplished by the Yongzheng Emperor. Therefore, the imperial endorsements left by the Yongzheng Emperor are of high value and numerous in quantity. Yang Qiqiao pointed out: "Emperor Shizong was skilled in calligraphy, and the calligraphy works in the world are mostly in running script. Those in cursive script are particularly precious." Although the imperial endorsements in the Yongzheng Emperor's memorials are mostly in running script, there are also some mixed works of running and cursive script. Perhaps they can compensate for the scarcity of such works in circulation.