New Qing Imperial History: The Making of Inner Asian Empire at Qing Chengde

by Dunnell; Ruth W

• ISBN13: 9780415320061
• ISBN10: 0415320062
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-07-06
• Publisher: RoutledgeCurzon

Summary

New Qing Imperial Historyuses the Manchu summer capital of Chengde and associated architecture, art and ritual activity as the focus for an exploration of the importance of Inner Asia and Tibet to the Qing Empire (1636-1911). The contributors argue that the Qing was not simply another Chinese dynasty, but was deeply engaged in Inner Asia not only militarily, but culturally, politically and ideologically. Emphasizing the diverse range of minorities in the Qing Empire, this book analyzes the importance to Qing History of Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolian peoples and the struggles which resulted in the conquest of Xinjiang. It discusses the nature of emperorship, especially under Qianlong, examining the various representations of the emperor. The role of ritual in relations with Inner Asia, including the tribute system as a way of handling relations with all foreign powers, is also questioned as the contributors attempt to appreciate this culturally and politically complex period. By using aspecific artifact or text as a starting point analysis in each chapter, the contributors not only include material previously unavailable in English but allow the reader an intimate knowledge of the Qing period as a whole.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	ix
Notes on contributors	xi
Note on transliteration	xv
Acknowledgments	xvii
List of abbreviations	xix
1 Introduction	1	(12)
RUTH W. DUNNELL AND JAMES A. MILLWARD
PART I Chengde as Inner Asian capital	13	(40)
2 The Qing empire during the Qianlong reign	15	(7)
EVELYN S. RAWSKI
3 Tibetan Buddhism	22	(11)
DONALD S. LOPEZ, JR
4 Architectural wonderland: an empire of fictions	33	(22)
ANNE CHAYET
PART II Rituals of empire	53	(54)
5 Qianlong on the road: the imperial tours to Chengde	55	(11)
VAN J. SYMONS
6 The Qing hunt at Mulan	66	(18)
MARK C. ELLIOTT AND NING CHIA
7 Imperial banquets in the Wanshu yuan	84	(7)
RENOIU YU
8 Qing Inner Asian empire and the return of the Torghuts	91	(18)
JAMES A. MILLWARD
PART III The emperor's many faces	107	(58)
9 The Qianlong emperor and the Confucian "Temple of Culture" (Wen miao) at Chengde	109	(14)
JOSEPH A. ADLER
10 The Qianlong emperor and Tibetan Buddhism	123	(13)
ELISABETH BENARD
11 The art and politics of painting Qianlong at Chengde	136	(10)
DEBORAH SOMMER
12 The imperial word in stone: stele inscriptions at Chengde	146	(19)
PETER ZARROW
PART IV Voices from Chengde	165	(42)
13 Preface to the "Thirty-six Views of Bishu shanzhuang": Record of the Mountain Villa to Escape the Heat	167	(4)
MARK C. ELLIOTT AND SCOTT LOWE, TRANS.
14 A letter from a Jesuit painter in Qianlong's court at Chengde	171	(14)
DEBORAH SOMMER, TRANS.
15 Qianlong's inscription on the founding of the Temple of the Happiness and Longevity of Mt Sunieru (Xumifushou miao)	185	(3)
PETER ZARROW, TRANS.
16 The Third Panchen Lama's visit to Chengde	188	(11)
NIMA DORJEE RAGNUBS, TRANS.
17 Five poems by the Qianlong emperor	199	(3)
SCOTT LOWE, TRANS.
18 Two folktales from Chengde	202	(5)
KAREN GERNANT, TRANS.
PART V Epilog	207	(10)
19 Chengde today	209	(8)
JAMES L. HEVTA
Bibliography	217	(20)
Index	237