Jiaqing Emperor (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Liu Degui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2000-01-01
Features: Content Introduction
White Silk Half a Huaxin
As the Root of Qing Dragon and Han Phoenix.
In the Reign of Kangxi and Qianlong,
Unknown Where to Find the Remnant of His Shadow.
——From Fuca Huyen’s "Twelve Poems on Qing Emperors, No. 7: Jiaqing"
Aisin Gioro Yongyan, originally named Yongyan, was born in 1760. His mother, Wei Jia, belonged to the Han military banner but was later elevated to the Manchu banner. Thus, called Yongyan the "Child of Qing Dragon and Han Phoenix." Yongyan’s father, Qianlong, remained healthy after ruling for sixty years as emperor. However, because he did not wish to surpass his grandfather Kangxi’s reign, he designated his fifteenth son, Yongyan, as the crown prince and abdicated the throne to him, changing the era to Jiaqing. As a result, the Great Qing Dynasty had an unprecedented and unique situation: an emperor-emperor and a Jiaqing emperor who ascended the throne under the shadow of the retired emperor.
Yongyan truly grasped state affairs after the retired emperor passed away in the fourth year of the Jiaqing era. At this time, the Great Qing was no longer the prosperous "Kangxi and Qianlong" praised by historians. The White Lotus Society and the Tianli Society had risen in rebellion, and some frontier lords had repeatedly shown disrespect. What troubled Jiaqing the most, however, was the rampant corruption among officials, which caused strong dissatisfaction among the people. It can be said that the twenty-five years of Jiaqing’s rule were also the twenty-five years he agonized over reforming the corrupt bureaucracy. He first targeted the notorious official Heshen, confiscating his wealth to replenish the treasury, and then eradicated a large number of corrupt officials. Unfortunately, Jiaqing had long lived under the halo of Qianlong’s brilliance, developing a indecisive personality. As a result, he often punished rather than executed corrupt officials and restrained rather than eradicated corruption. Even by the time of his death, the bureaucracy had not been truly effectively reformed. This cannot be said to be the greatest regret of Jiaqing’s life.
Jiaqing died in 1820 and was posthumously titled "Receiving Heaven’s Mandate, Promoting Prosperity, Enriching Culture, Pacifying the Realm, Cultivating Virtue, Governing with Wisdom, Filial, Diligent, Frugal, Principled, Sincere, and Wise Emperor," with the temple name of Renzong. He was buried in Changling.
The book "Jiaqing Emperor" vividly portrays Yongyan’s inner world and the ups and downs of the Jiaqing era. With smooth writing, intricate plots, and sharp language, it leaves readers deeply moved and sighing in reflection upon finishing it.