Customer Reviews

Splendors of China's Forbidden City: The Glorious Reign of Emperor Qianlong

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Splendors of China's Forbidden City: The Glorious Reign of Qianlong is a marvelous work of art in and of itself. Splendors is published to coincide with the special exhibition of the same name currently being held by Chicago's Field Musuem that is set to run until the first week of September, 2004. The book, like the exhibit, is very well done and contains the only published photographs of the objects featured in the exhibit, making this book an extremely rare resource as photography is prohibited in the actual exhibit. These objects have never been publicly displayed in China, so aside from attending the exhibition yourself, this book is your only opportunity to view the the collection that Emperor Qianlong amassed throughout his reign. The book is not, however, simply a catalogue for the exhibition, but features wonderful commentary that gives great insight into the political, religious, and cultural tides of Qianlong's reign. It is the only book of its kind to be published in the English language. As a lover of art and literature, Qianlong himself would be quite pleased with the content of this work.

This must be one of the most beautiful book that I have ever come acrossed. The cover is very imposing and impressive with the portrait of the Emperor Qian Long, the 4th emperor of the Ching Dynasty. The book contains wonderful history about the rise of the Manchurians and how they replaced the Ming Dynasty in the 17th century A.D.

In this book it discuss the origins of the Manchurian and where they originated from and how they ascended the imperial throne of China and ruled over a nation with the largest human population of their time. A country that has been known for its inventions and a long history dating back to early beginning of Chinese civilization.

This book talks about the Emperor Qian Long and the reign that brought China prosperity and peace. The centuries before that, relations between the Han Chinese and the Manchurians were a little bit unstable. However during Qian Long's reign the country became stable. The country prospered, the relations been the Han Chinese and the Manchurian wasn't as much strained. There are wonderful photographs of robes and jewellry worn by the empror and his wives and family members. Also sections talk about traditions that were Manchurian and others that were created through generations like the wearing of triple earrings by the women. The large headdresses worn by the Manchurian court ladies and the emperor's wives, princesses etc... which in the beginning weren't even of Manchurian origin that has become part of a iconic tradition often associated with the Ching Dynasty. The dragon robe worn by the emperor and the long queues kept by Emperor and the Han Chinese subjects were made to conform to practice which became the stereo type associated with the West in regards to the Chinese.

The book also talks about the private lives of the Emperor Qian Long and his wives and also day to day business and affairs. There are so many artifacts that belonged to Qian Long like his own personal things like brushes, ink stone, wooden lacqured screens, throne, and crockery as well as gold and silver utinsels used by him when dining.

The information was vast in book and who can ever get bored reading it. Each page I turn it gets more interesting. From the personal life through to the day to day business affairs etc... The book contains wonderful collection of paintings and also a few old photographs of the imperial residences before the turn of the 20th century. This is a lovely book even though its a little bit bigger than most books and a little bit more heavier. However its guaranteed that its worth while too to have a look and have a read in regards to one of the great rulers of Chinese history.

It is rather unfortunate that such a wonderful book has too small pictures.In some pictures one can hardly see the fine details of the pictures which are described in the accompanying text.

China's Emperor Qianlong (1736 - 1795) is remembered for many reasons, not the least of which is the priceless collection of treasures which he amassed during his 60 year reign. Now, a number of these stunning objects are presented in this volume, many of them seen for the first time. All bring forth gasps of astonishment and pleasure. Paintings, sculptures, furnishings, armor, and, yes, clothing, glitter and glow in unmatched opulence.

To leaf through this book is to experience an unprecedented view of the Chinese court during its golden age. Included is a towering (six foot high) Buddhist stupa, fashioned entirely of gold. Through this collection life is seen as it once was inside the Forbidden City.

During his day Emperor Qianlong headed what was then the world's richest empire. Today we are the beneficiaries of his acquisitiveness and taste.

Published in association with Chicago's Field Museum, "Splendors of China's Forbidden City" is a treasure in itself.

- Gail Cooke

This book is the companion piece to a traveling art exhibit, with a pompous biography of a glorious chinese emperor. There are precious few pictures of the forbidden city, and no comprehensive map. And of the famous emperor, who was comparable to Louis XIV in his lavish spending, his development of culture and arts, and longevity, there is only one portrait. The book is poorly composed, not comprehensive, and worth checking out from the library, but not purchasing. And it definitely is not about the Forbidden City. Lastly, I was disappointed and have tried to understand this Chinese trandsliteration system, but the book gives one no clue as to how to pronounce "Qianlong" In Enlish, Q never occurs without a U following it, and is a K sound. So is it Kianlong? or Shianlong or Chianlong? Another great example is the grand dowager empress Cixi. How would you prononunce that? Sixy? Well, turns out it's more like Tsu-tsi. The only thing to recommend this book is the photos, but a very poor compilation.