The Qing dynasty, officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speaking ethnic group who unified other Jurchen tribes to form a new "Manchu" ethnic identity. The dynasty was officially proclaimed in 1636 in Mukden. Following the Battle of Shanhai Pass it seized control of Beijing in 1644 with the defeat of the short-lived Shun dynasty, and within decades it began to rule over the whole of China proper and Taiwan. By the mid-18th century, the Qing had expanded its rule into Inner Asia. The dynasty lasted until 1912 when it was overthrown in the Xinhai Revolution. In Chinese historiography, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the Ming dynasty and succeeded by the Republic of China. The multiethnic Qing dynasty assembled the territorial base for modern China. It was the largest imperial dynasty in the history of China and in 1790 the fourth-largest empire in world history in terms of territorial size. With 419,264,000 citizens in 1907, it was the most populous country in the world at the time.
The Qiánlóng Emperor, also known by his temple name Emperor Gāozōng of Qing, personal name Hongli, was the fifth emperor of the Qing and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796. In 1796, he abdicated in favour of his son, the Jiaqing Emperor, out of filial piety towards his grandfather, the Kangxi Emperor, who ruled for 61 years, so that he not officially usurp him as the longest-reigning emperor. Despite his retirement, however, the Qianlong Emperor retained ultimate power as the Emperor Emeritus until his death in 1799, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in history as well as one of the longest-lived, having died at the age of 87. He was respected as the "Emperor Manjushri" (文殊皇帝) by Tibetans.
The Yongzheng Emperor, also known by his temple name Emperor Shizong of Qing, personal name Yinzhen, was the fourth emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China proper; reigning from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, the Yongzheng Emperor's main goal was to create an effective government at minimal expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, the Yongzheng Emperor used military force to preserve the dynasty's position.
The Revolt of the Three Feudatories, also known as the Rebellion of Wu Sangui, was a rebellion in China lasting from 1673 to 1681, during the early reign of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644–1912). The revolt was led by the three lords of the fiefdoms in Yunnan, Guangdong and Fujian provinces against the Qing central government. These hereditary titles had been given to prominent Han Chinese defectors who had helped the Manchu conquer China during the transition from Ming to Qing. The feudatories were supported by Zheng Jing's Kingdom of Tungning in Taiwan, which sent forces to invade Mainland China. Additionally, minor Han military figures, such as Wang Fuchen and the Chahar Mongols, also revolted against Qing rule. After the last remaining Han resistance had been put down, the former princely titles were abolished.
Zhang Tingyu was a Han Chinese politician and historian who lived in the Qing dynasty.
Empress Xiaoshengxian, of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Niohuru clan, was a posthumous name bestowed to the consort of Yinzhen, the Yongzheng Emperor and mother of Hongli, the Qianlong Emperor. She was honoured as Empress Dowager Chongqing during the reign of her son and posthumously honoured as empress, although she never held the rank of empress consort during her lifetime.
Imperial Noble Consort Huixian, of the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner Gaogiya clan, was a consort of the Qianlong Emperor.
The Miao Rebellion of 1735–1736 was an uprising of autochthonous people from southwest China.
The history of the Qing dynasty began in 1636, when Manchu chieftain Hong Taiji founded the dynasty, and lasted until 1912, when Puyi abdicated the throne in response to the Xinhai Revolution. The final imperial dynasty of China, the Qing dynasty reached heights of power unlike any of the Chinese dynasties which preceded it, engaging in large-scale territorial expansion which ended with embarrassing defeat and humiliation to the foreign powers whom they believe to be inferior to them. The Qing dynasty's inability to successfully counter Western and Japanese imperialism ultimately led to its downfall, and the instability which emerged in China during the final years of the dynasty ultimately paved the way for the Warlord Era.
Yu Minzhong was an official of the Qing Dynasty, who served as chief grand councilor for part of the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. Yu Minzhong was a native of Jintan, Jiangsu province. In 1737, he became a Zhuangyuan of the Imperial examination. Before his appointment as chief grand councilor, he served as an editor and scribe to the emperor. During his tenure as chief grand councilor, a significant rise in corruption occurred.
Fang Bao, courtesy names Fengjiu (鳳九), Linggao (靈皋), and Wangxi (望溪), was a Chinese nobleman, courtier, orator, philosopher, poet, scholar, author and government official of the Qing dynasty. He is best known as a founder of the Tongcheng school of literary prose which was influential during the mid-Qing dynasty.
The Jinchuan campaigns, also known as the Suppression of the Jinchuan Hill Peoples, were two wars between Qing Empire and the rebel forces of Gyalrong chieftains ("Tusi") from the Jinchuan region. The first campaign against Chiefdom of Chuchen happened in 1747 when the Tusi of Greater Jinchuan Slob Dpon attacked the Chiefdom of Chakla (Mingzheng). The Qianlong Emperor decided to mobilize forces and suppress Slob Dpon, who surrendered to the central government in 1749. The second campaign against Chiefdom of Tsanlha took place in 1771, when the Jinchuan Tusi Sonom killed Gebushiza Tusi of Ngawa County in Sichuan Province. After Sonom killed Gebushiza Tusi, he helped Tusi of Lesser Jinchuan, Skal bzang, to occupy the lands belonging to the other Tusi in the region. The provincial government ordered Sonom to return lands and accept the trial at the Ministry of Justice immediately. Sonom refused to retreat his rebels. The Qianlong Emperor was furious and gathered 80,000 troops and entered Jinchuan. In 1776, Qing troops sieged the castle of Sonom to force his surrender.
Fan Wencheng was a Qing dynasty Scholar-Official, Prime Minister and Grand Secretary (Daxue Shi). His official career went through four generation of Qing dynasty emperors through Nurhaci, Hong Taiji, Shunzhi, and Kangxi. Many rules and regulations in the early days of the Qing Dynasty were drafted by him.
Liu Tongxun was a politician in Qing dynasty. He was one of relatively few ethnically Han Grand Secretariat of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. He has served for the Qing government for more than 40 years with integrity, and dares to direct advice to the emperor, has made remarkable achievements in official administration, military affairs and river conservancy.
Events from the year 1674 in China.
The early Qing emperors adopted the bureaucratic structures and institutions from the preceding Ming dynasty but split rule between the Han and Manchus with some positions also given to Mongols. Like previous dynasties, the Qing recruited officials via the imperial examination system until the system was abolished in 1905. The Qing divided the positions into civil and military positions, each having nine grades or ranks, each subdivided into a and b categories. Civil appointments ranged from an attendant to the emperor or a Grand Secretary in the Forbidden City (highest) to being a prefectural tax collector, deputy jail warden, deputy police commissioner, or tax examiner. Military appointments ranged from being a field marshal or chamberlain of the imperial bodyguard to a third class sergeant, corporal or a first or second class private.
He Tengjiao, courtesy name Yuncong, was a military officer of the late Ming dynasty who led rebellions against the Qing dynasty. He was from Liping, Guizhou.
Zhang Boxing was a Han Chinese politician and scholar in the Qing dynasty.
Hu Zhongzao (胡中藻) (1712-1755), sobriquet Jianmosheng (坚磨生), was a Qing dynasty scholar who was a disciple of the Manchu politician Ortai. During the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, Ortai and all his political allies were implicated, and Hu Zhongzao and his entire family were sentenced to death for treason and literary crimes.
