Spence offers a remarkable recreation of the life of K'ang-hsi, emperor of the Manchu dynasty from 1661 to 1772, assembled from contemporary documents. The result is an astonishing self-portrait, unmatched in the historical literature.

"For the first time in publishing history we non-scholars see the Emperor as a living man."--The New York Times Book Review

"This incredibly vivid, modern-sounding personality from a time and place that superficially seem 'hopelessly remote,' is brought to us in an absorbing, beautiful book."--The Wall Street Journal

Contents

K'ang-hsi's Reign

1. In Motion

2. Ruling

3. Thinking

4. Growing Old

5. Sons

6. Valedictory

Appendix A: Seventeen Letters to Ku Wen-hsing, Chief Eunuch, Spring 1697

Appendix B: The "Final" Valedictory Edict
Jonathan D. Spence’s 11 books on Chinese history include The Gate of Heavenly PeaceTreason by the Book, and The Death of Woman Wang. He has been awarded Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships and is professor emeritus of history at Yale University. View titles by Jonathan D. Spence

About

Spence offers a remarkable recreation of the life of K'ang-hsi, emperor of the Manchu dynasty from 1661 to 1772, assembled from contemporary documents. The result is an astonishing self-portrait, unmatched in the historical literature.

"For the first time in publishing history we non-scholars see the Emperor as a living man."--The New York Times Book Review

"This incredibly vivid, modern-sounding personality from a time and place that superficially seem 'hopelessly remote,' is brought to us in an absorbing, beautiful book."--The Wall Street Journal

Contents

K'ang-hsi's Reign

1. In Motion

2. Ruling

3. Thinking

4. Growing Old

5. Sons

6. Valedictory

Appendix A: Seventeen Letters to Ku Wen-hsing, Chief Eunuch, Spring 1697

Appendix B: The "Final" Valedictory Edict

Author

Jonathan D. Spence’s 11 books on Chinese history include The Gate of Heavenly PeaceTreason by the Book, and The Death of Woman Wang. He has been awarded Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships and is professor emeritus of history at Yale University. View titles by Jonathan D. Spence

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