The Secret Garden of Emperor Qianlong

[Positive Change]

For hundreds of years, the Chinese garden has held a fascination for scholars and artists, and even emperors. The well-designed garden is a retreat from the world, a chance to create a perfect and peaceful environment in the midst of an often imperfect and noisy one, a place to cultivate your soul. Emperor Qianlong built himself one such place of retreat in The Forbidden City. An exhibition currently showing at the Museum of Art shows artefacts from the garden, and also gives some idea of the emperor's own philosophical thoughts.

The “Qianlong Garden”, also known as the Ningshougong Garden, is located in the northeastern corner of the Forbidden City. It is a complex built by Emperor Qianlong for his enjoyment after his retirement and long remained unknown to the public before. The Garden is now being restored to its former splendour, after which some of the objects in the Garden are revealed to the world. The Hong Kong Museum of Art is honoured to be the first museum in Asia to stage the artifacts of the Garden.

Featuring 75 sets of painting and calligraphy, furniture, mural paintings, architectural elements and religious art on loan from the Palace Museum, the exhibition attempts to study the cultural significance of the traditional Chinese royal garden, as well as the Emperor’s philosophical thoughts and religious beliefs, his pursuit of longevity and eternal bliss as reflected in the intriguing design of the Garden and its artifacts.

The exhibition gallery is designed to reconstruct the sense of intimacy and the allure of the Garden. Interactive installation is incorporated to offer the audience a new visiting experience.

Very interesting videos! Take some time to watch and take in the incredible detailed vision of Emperor Qianlong :

http://youtu.be/DrLpyTouNPs
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http://youtu.be/scspfzBILz8
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[hope rainbow]

In the Yong He Gong temple in Beijing I remember seeing many many statues and thangkas sent by a Tibetan embassy or produced for the visit by a Tibetan embassy in Beijing.
On one of the thangka, we can see the emperor Qianlong in the middle of it, portrayed like the main figure, just as a buddhist scholar somehow... I wish I would have taken the picture then, as i can't find it on the internet. Next I am there, I'll take the picture for sure.
Perhaps, anyone has the picture of this thangka here?

[Tenzin K]

 Many of the artifacts on display are making their first appearance outside the Mainland, reflecting fully the support of the Museum for Hong Kong.

     The exhibition signified a milestone in collaboration between the Palace Museum and the LCSD's museums. The two museums had signed a letter of intent on co-operation today, strengthening efforts by the two parties in co-organising exhibitions as well as the exchange of expertise and skills, so as to preserve and promote Chinese cultural heritage in the coming five years.

     The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang also took the opportunity to thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for their sole sponsorship, which helped to enhance educational and other extension activities related to the exhibition. He also thanked the Design & Cultural Studies Workshop led by Mr Chiu Kwong-chiu for injecting innovative digital technology into the exhibition, bringing visitors a brand new interactive exhibition experience.

     Divided into four sections, namely Leisurely Pursuits, Blessed Longevity, Enhancing Life for All, and A Life of Art and Artistry, the exhibition includes items of painting and calligraphy, furniture, mural paintings, architectural elements and religious art. The exhibition aims to illustrate the cultural significance of the traditional Chinese royal garden, as well as the Emperor's philosophical thoughts and religious beliefs, and his pursuit of longevity and eternal bliss as reflected in the intriguing design of the garden and its artefacts.

     In order to enhance visitors' knowledge of Qianlong Garden, the exhibition gallery has been designed to reconstruct the garden's sense of intimacy and allure. Multimedia installations such as animation and computer programming are incorporated to offer the audience a new exhibition experience. The Hong Kong Museum of Art has also created a huge and eye-catching outdoor QR code to enable visitors to obtain relevant background information about the exhibition.

     In addition, the Hong Kong Museum of Art will organise a series of education programmes during the exhibition period. These include lectures, videos about Qianlong Garden, stories about Emperor Qianlong, and family activities. A lecture entitled "The Palace Museum: Striving and Exploring as a Modern Museum", to be conducted by the Director of the Palace Museum, Dr Shan Jixiang, will be held at 10.30am on June 22 at the lecture hall of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Admission to the lecture is free. It will be conducted in Putonghua and will offer 130 seats on a first-come, first-served basis.

     The Hong Kong Museum of Art will open specially for schools and registered non-profit-making organisations to visit the exhibition on Thursdays, and will also provide a free coach service, which is sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. Interested parties may apply in writing at least three weeks prior to the date of visit, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Schools and registered non-profit-making organisations that are planning group visits with a minimum of 20 persons can also apply in writing for free admission.

[Big Uncle]

Emperor Qianlong’s Painting to the 6th Panchen Lama

Text & Photos by Dawa & Soinam Zholma ( http://2007.tibetmagazine.net/en/20053-p51.htm )


In the 11th month of the 45th year of the reign of Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong (1781), he gave the 6th Panchen Lama a painting of a Saba tree complete with a Chinese text when the latter came to Beijing to celebrate the imperial birthday.

The ink-water painting, 204 cm wide and 90 cm long, bears words written in the Chinese, Tibetan, Manchurian and Mongolian languages. Each of the four sections ends with a seal text meaning Qianlong in corresponding language. Also stamped on the painting are four seal texts of the emperor, such as the one meaning “Treasure of the Emperor in His Advanced Age.”

The text in each language lauds the Tibetan master saying the Tibetan master had become a Buddha under the Saba tree and had traveled westward to propagate the tenets of the Yellow Sect at a time when his birthday was celebrated.

The Saba tree is also called a holy tree, with palm-sized leaves. It blossoms in May or June each year. Its flower takes the shape of a pagoda with a pointed top.

According to Buddhist records, Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, entered nirvana under the Saba tree. The Buddha suffered from illness in his advanced age but he still worked hard to spread Buddhism. When he reached the Saba trees in Kusinagara in India, he felt exhausted and decided to enter nirvana there. He finished his lecture on Buddhism while sitting between two Saba trees, and then died peacefully. This is why Buddhist followers deem Saba trees to be holy. When Qing Emperor Qianlong decided to paint the tree, he intended to laud the Panchen Lama’s contribution to the spread of Tibetan Buddhism.

The 6th Panchen Erdeni Dainba Yexei was born in Zexi Manor, Zongzha, Namling of the Xigaze area on the 11th day of the 11th lunar month (1738 or the third year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign).

On the second day of the eight lunar month (1740), the 7th Dalai Lama submitted a report on the results of search for the incarnation of the late 5th Panchen Erdeni to the Qing court. The report was sent to the emperor through a Qing high commissioner stationed in Tibet and approved by the former.

In 1766, the 31st year of his reign, the emperor granted the 6th Panchen Lama a gold seal of authority and a golden sheet of confirmation. The gold seal, weighing 208 tales, bears a text written in Manchurian, Chinese and Tibetan. The content of the seal text is a copy of the seal Emperor Kangxi granted to the 5th Panchen Erdeni. Upon receipt of the gold certificates and gold seal, the 6th Panchen Lama kowtowed toward the east and sent envoys to Beijing to thank the emperor.

In the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, the chief Galoon Polhanei was assassinated, and, eight years later, the Qing High Commissioners Fu Qing and Labodun were murdered. This convinced Qianlong of the need to support the religious forces confronting the rebellious nobles in Tibet. He thought this would make it easy for the High Commissioners to exercise supervision over Tibet.

While doing his best to help the Dalai Lama strengthen his rule, the emperor also managed to raise the position of the Panchen Erdeni. In 1652, the Dalai Lama had traveled to Beijing to visit Emperor Shunzhi. When the Panchen Erdeni was eventually invited to visit the capital, he made up his mind to be loyal to the Qing court. The visit helped enhance the political position of the Panchen Erdeni.

Traveling to Beijing, he passed through Qinghai and Inner Mongolia, exerting great influence on the people there. This also helped the Qing court to strengthen its rule over the two areas. The Tibetan master left for Beijing at the head of some 300 Tibetan monks in 1779, reaching present-day Chengde (Rehe) in Hebei province on the 21st day of the seventh lunar month in 1780.

In this imperial summer resort, the Tibetan master received a red-carpet welcome from the Qing officials, Living Buddha’s from various parts of China and lamas. Emperor Qianlong received him and the 6th Panchen Erdeni presented a hada scarf to the emperor. When the Tibetan master knelt down to kowtow, the emperor rose to his feet and invited him to sit down, creating a warm atmosphere.

For his, the emperor had already had a hall built along the lines of the Tashilhungpo Monastery in Xigaze, the Panchen’s home monastery. The emperor also invited tribal leaders from Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang to meet the Tibetan master.

The 6th Panchen Lama presented gifts to Emperor Qianlong, including gold images of Buddha, gold ingots, strong horses, Tibetan incense and pulu woolen fabrics. In return, the emperor presented him with generous gifts and staged a grand reception. Theatrical performances lasted for five days.

The birthday party drew to an end in late August, and the 6th Panchen Erdeni left Chengde for Beijing accompanied by the emperor’s son. During his time in Beijing, he stayed in the Xihuangsi Temple. Receptions were also held for him and he visited scenic spots in the capital. He also worshipped Buddha in Zaomiao in the Western Hills and some other temples. On many occasions, he gave a blessing touch on the foreheads of monks attached to the Yonghegong Lamasery in Beijing. Unfortunately, he became exhausted and died on the second day of the 11th lunar month in Huangsi Temple.

In the second day after the Tibetan master’s demise, Emperor Qianlong issued an edict to the effect that gifts original granted to him and the painting of the Saba tree should be used in sacrifices to him. The elder brother of the 6th Panchen Lama accepted the gifts on his behalf.

Towards the end of the eighth month in 1781, the 46th year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the remains of the 6th Panchen Lama were escorted back to Tashilhungpo Monastery. The remains were placed in a silver stupa in the monastery. Four years later, Emperor Qianlong ordered that a Purification Dagoba should be built in Huangsi Temple in Beijing, including Buddha halls and monk dormitories. Emperor Qianlong wrote inscriptions for the stone tablet, and the inscription was carved in the four languages of Chinese, Manchurian, Mongolian and Tibetan. The stone tablet bearing this inscription is still intact.

Emperor Qianlong’s painting is today preserved in the Tibet Museum as witness to the close ties between the Central Government and the local government of Tibet. 

[rossoneri]

Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China after more than 5,000 years China was ruled by various warlords, kings and emperors. And Emperor Qian Long is one of the famous 3 emperors of the Qing, the other 2 was KangXi and YongZheng.


Here are some brief history of Qing Dynasty

The age of Qing Dynasty is - not only in the eyes of Westerners, but also in the mind of Chinese - a period of prosperity, of decay, of stagnation, of revolution, of laziness and of challenges that came upon a population that seemed to sleep a beauty's sleep of Confucian social ethics in a paradise where a wise ruler governed over a satified and happy population, and on the other side a society that was bound by rules of a backward social thinking. The period of early and middle Qing Dynasty is the culmination of two thousand years of bureaucratical administration, two thousand years of literature, thinking and art, and therewith seems to be the conservation of traditional thinking structures - especially in the shape of the Neo-Confucian wise and paternal ruler - that were unable to cope with the sudden challenges that occurred in the 19th century. The Qing rulers were the second dynastical family that were not of Chinese origin and nonetheless were able to govern the largest territory China had ever occupied. Their rule over the majority of "cultured" and highly sophiticated Chinese population was only possible by a mixture of authoritarianism - or force - and paternalism - or benevolence. The second and third generation emperors of the Qing learned that is was only possible to rule China if the Manchu became Chinese themselves, not racial, but culturally and mentally. Therefore, the three great emperors with the reign mottos Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, saw themselves as protectors of Chinese literature and art. China was the largest, richest and most effectively governed state of the world - at least during the 18th century. Internal problems and external conflicts lead to the decay of a glorious empire from the begin of 19th century, focusing in the Opium war and the following unequal treaties.