Emperor Kangxi: A Cultured Emperor

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Known mainly as a cultured emperor, Kangxi was also known as a scholar, administrator, and a conqueror (Wills 153). Kangxi was the first in the Golden Age of Emperors: Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong (Zhang 61). Aixin-Jueluo Xuanye, was the emperor’s full name; Kangxi lived between 1654-1722 and reigned between 1661-1722 (Zhang 61). Kangxi, which is his reign name, is named by many names: Jen Huang-ti, K’ang-hsi, Kangxi, Sheng-tsu, and Hsuan-yeh (EWB). Emperor Kangxi resided in the Qing dynasty and brought stability, tranquility, and prosperity to a foreign land. Xuanye did not live an easy life as he had trouble in government, strife in wars, and the hardest part of all, trying to find himself.
As a child, the emperor was self-motivated and knew two languages: Chinese and Manchurian. His mother was Manchurian, coming from southern Manchuria, and his father was Chinese, which lead Xuanye to know both languages (EWB). He started his Manchurian studies with the servant of his grandmother, Empress …show more content…

Kangxi trusted these men who surrender themselves to the Manchus in 1633 and have proven themselves by recapturing Canton from Ming supports in 1650 (Spence 50). These generals were proficient killers as they slaughtered every defender in Canton recapture and proved themselves on multiple occasions to the emperor; Wu Sangui also participated in the Canton event (Spence 50). The two generals and Sangui were called the “Three Feudatories” and were given provinces of China to rule over as a token for their allegiance with the Manchus (Spence 50). Later, as Shang Kexi grew ill and Geng Jiamo died, Sheng asked if he could retire back to his homeland; with this inquiry, Kangxi granted his request gracious, which was a cataclysmic decision for the emperor (Spence

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