A Day in the Life of a Chinese Emperor

Chinese Emperor's daily routine. Epoch Times

China’s last imperial dynasty, the Qing, was founded with a shock. In the 17th century, Manchurian warriors, hailing from the chilly northeast, breached the Great Wall and conquered the waning Ming Dynasty.

For the next 250 years, these foreigners managed to rule over hundreds of millions of Chinese by adopting Chinese culture. Under their rule, China’s territory increased threefold and the empire was widely held in awe by great thinkers of the European Enlightenment.

Early Risers and Workers

The Manchu ethnic group, comprising but a tiny portion of China’s massive population, went to great lengths to rule efficiently and harmoniously. Ruling from the Forbidden City in China’s northern capital of Beijing, Qing emperors led lives of painstaking diligence. Particularly the three greats—Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong—who presided over a 140-year period of prosperity are remembered for their personal discipline and measured dedication.