Changes

Kangxi was hale and hearty of body, and skilled at horseriding, hunting, and so forth, and thus had little difficulty maintaining the support of his Manchu officials and subjects. At the beginning of his reign, however, the Qing still faced considerable difficulties in having the support of the Chinese people. Many Chinese scholar-officials killed themselves following the fall of Beijing, took up arms against the invasion, or simply resigned their posts and refused to serve the new "barbarian" dynasty. In [[1673]], the entire southeast & southwest, [[Wu Sangui]] and two other Chinese generals given extensive lands as their personal fiefs in thanks for their subjugation of those regions, now led those regions in rising up against the Qing, earning considerable popular support. This [[Revolt of Three Feudatories]] was not quashed until [[1681]], and loyalists based on [[Taiwan]] continued to harass the coast, and maritime shipping, until the Qing took the island in [[1683]].

Kangxi was hale and hearty of body, and skilled at horseriding, hunting, and so forth, and thus had little difficulty maintaining the support of his Manchu officials and subjects. At the beginning of his reign, however, the Qing still faced considerable difficulties in having the support of the Chinese people. Many Chinese scholar-officials killed themselves following the fall of Beijing, took up arms against the invasion, or simply resigned their posts and refused to serve the new "barbarian" dynasty. In [[1673]], the entire southeast & southwest, [[Wu Sangui]] and two other Chinese generals given extensive lands as their personal fiefs in thanks for their subjugation of those regions, now led those regions in rising up against the Qing, earning considerable popular support. This [[Revolt of Three Feudatories]] was not quashed until [[1681]], and loyalists based on [[Taiwan]] continued to harass the coast, and maritime shipping, until the Qing took the island in [[1683]].

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.<ref>Spence, 60-61.</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, 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.