Changes

*''Died: [[1722]]''

*''Died: [[1722]]''

*''Reign: [[1661]]-1722''

*''Reign: [[1661]]-1722''

*''Other Names: Aisin Gioro Xuanye''

*''Other Names: Aisin Gioro Xuanye''; 聖祖 ''(Shengzu)''

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 康熙帝 ''(Kāngxī dì / Kouki tei)''

*''Chinese/Japanese'': 康熙帝 ''(Kāngxī dì / Kouki tei)''

The Kangxi Emperor was the fourth emperor of China's [[Qing Dynasty]], and the second to rule over [[China proper]] (i.e. following the fall of the [[Ming Dynasty]]). His lengthy reign is often described as a period of the consolidation of Qing rule.

The Kangxi Emperor was the fourth emperor of China's [[Qing Dynasty]], and the second to rule over [[China proper]] (i.e. following the fall of the [[Ming Dynasty]]). His lengthy reign is often described as a period of the consolidation of Qing rule.

The Kangxi Emperor ruled for sixty years, from [[1661]] when he was seven years old, wielding actual power from the age of 13 until his death in [[1722]] at the age of 68. He is said to have woken up early every day to read memorials to the throne, before meeting with officials, presiding over palace [[Chinese imperial examinations|examinations]], and engaging in other obligations. The emperor is said to have been an extremely knowledgeable scholar, and a great supporter of scholarship, supporting the compilation of [[Kangxi Dictionary|a new dictionary]], [[Imperial Encyclopedia|a vast 5,000 volume encyclopedia]]<!--古今圖書集成-->, and the official [[History of the Ming]] (''Míng shǐ''), the last of which was begun under his predecessor, the [[Shunzhi Emperor]], and was completed under the [[Qianlong Emperor]] in the 1730s.

The Kangxi Emperor was a son of the [[Shunzhi Emperor]] by a consort later known as [[Empress Xiaokang]], who was originally from one of the [[Tong of Fushun|Tong lineages]] (surname 佟) of [[Liaodongese|Liaodong]].<ref>Crossley, Pamela Kyle. ''A Translucent Mirror: History and Identity in Qing Imperial Ideology''. University of California Press, 1999, 56.</ref>

 

Kangxi ruled for sixty years, from [[1661]] when he was seven years old, wielding actual power from the age of 13 until his death in [[1722]] at the age of 68. He is said to have woken up early every day to read memorials to the throne, before meeting with officials, presiding over palace [[Chinese imperial examinations|examinations]], and engaging in other obligations. The emperor is said to have been an extremely knowledgeable scholar, and a great supporter of scholarship, supporting the compilation of [[Kangxi Dictionary|a new dictionary]], [[Imperial Encyclopedia|a vast 5,000 volume encyclopedia]]<!--古今圖書集成-->, and the official [[History of the Ming]] (''Míng shǐ''), the last of which was begun under his predecessor, the Shunzhi Emperor, and was completed under the [[Qianlong Emperor]] in the 1730s.

==Minority==

==Minority==

In the face of such popular opposition, Kangxi took steps from as early as [[1670]] to show his support for Confucian philosophy and statecraft. The [[Six Courses in Morals]] reissued by his predecessor in [[1652]] were now expanded to Sixteen and reissued again by Kangxi in 1670 as a "Sacred Edict" emphasizing Confucian hierarchy, frugality, diligence, and other Confucian values. Kangxi also made a show of studying the [[Chinese classics]] and practicing calligraphy, and offered additional, special forms of the [[Chinese imperial examinations|civil service exams]] aimed at attracting the service of those who otherwise refused to sit the exams for a "barbarian" dynasty. Kangxi and his ministers also recruited scholars for specific projects such as the compilation of official histories, dictionaries, and encyclopedias, and sponsored scholars to tour the country and/or work on their own projects. This brought many scholars into the fold, and also spurred a considerable outpouring of cultural production in late 17th century China, despite the recent or ongoing armed conflicts in many parts of the country. Finally, by the 1690s the Court began to allow or even embrace nostalgia for the Ming, and lionization of those who fought for it. Historian [[Jonathan Spence]] gives the example of the playwright [[Kong Shangren]], whose play ''The Peach Blossom Fan'' takes place in a Ming loyalist pretender's court, and yet Kong and his play were much welcomed at the Qing court.<ref>Spence, 60-63.</ref>   

In the face of such popular opposition, Kangxi took steps from as early as [[1670]] to show his support for Confucian philosophy and statecraft. The [[Six Courses in Morals]] reissued by his predecessor in [[1652]] were now expanded to Sixteen and reissued again by Kangxi in 1670 as a "Sacred Edict" emphasizing Confucian hierarchy, frugality, diligence, and other Confucian values. Kangxi also made a show of studying the [[Chinese classics]] and practicing calligraphy, and offered additional, special forms of the [[Chinese imperial examinations|civil service exams]] aimed at attracting the service of those who otherwise refused to sit the exams for a "barbarian" dynasty. Kangxi and his ministers also recruited scholars for specific projects such as the compilation of official histories, dictionaries, and encyclopedias, and sponsored scholars to tour the country and/or work on their own projects. This brought many scholars into the fold, and also spurred a considerable outpouring of cultural production in late 17th century China, despite the recent or ongoing armed conflicts in many parts of the country. Finally, by the 1690s the Court began to allow or even embrace nostalgia for the Ming, and lionization of those who fought for it. Historian [[Jonathan Spence]] gives the example of the playwright [[Kong Shangren]], whose play ''The Peach Blossom Fan'' takes place in a Ming loyalist pretender's court, and yet Kong and his play were much welcomed at the Qing court.<ref>Spence, 60-63.</ref>   

The emperor also made six tours of the southern provinces, and oversaw the renewal of dikes on the Huai and Yellow Rivers, the dredging of the [[Grand Canal]], and the opening of four ports to foreign trade. He maintained Jesuit astronomers in his court and encouraged the continued adoption of elements of European science.

The emperor also made six tours of the southern provinces, in [[1684]], [[1689]], [[1699]], [[1703]], [[1705]], and [[1707]],<ref>Chang, Michael G. ''A Court on Horseback: Imperial Touring and the Construction of Qing Rule, 1680-1785''. Harvard University Asia Center, 2007, 3n12.</ref> and oversaw the renewal of dikes on the Huai and Yellow Rivers, the dredging of the [[Grand Canal]], and the opening of four ports to foreign trade. He maintained Jesuit astronomers in his court and encouraged the continued adoption of elements of European science.

He enforced continued policies of ethnic separation aimed at ensuring that Manchus, and not [[Han Chinese]], retained superiority and control of the state. Though clearly devotedly engaged in pursuits of Chinese scholarly cultivation, the Kangxi Emperor also practiced and performed his Manchu identity, building a summer palace on the Mongolian steppe, where he often engaged in falconry and hunted on horseback. However, he also took various steps to earn the support of the Chinese scholar-bureaucrats, and of Han Chinese more broadly.

He enforced continued policies of ethnic separation aimed at ensuring that Manchus, and not [[Han Chinese]], retained superiority and control of the state. Though clearly devotedly engaged in pursuits of Chinese scholarly cultivation, the Kangxi Emperor also practiced and performed his Manchu identity, building a summer palace on the Mongolian steppe, where he often engaged in falconry and hunted on horseback. However, he also took various steps to earn the support of the Chinese scholar-bureaucrats, and of Han Chinese more broadly.