44:I[185,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0za7dr7c2y81~.js","/_next/static/chunks/03klviw01y.ih.js","/_next/static/chunks/0gx_3vy1-syt4.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"SendEmailButton"] 46:I[63625,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0za7dr7c2y81~.js","/_next/static/chunks/03klviw01y.ih.js","/_next/static/chunks/0gx_3vy1-syt4.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"AddToLibraryButton"] 47:I[29721,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0za7dr7c2y81~.js","/_next/static/chunks/03klviw01y.ih.js","/_next/static/chunks/0gx_3vy1-syt4.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"ShareButton"] 48:I[58016,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0za7dr7c2y81~.js","/_next/static/chunks/03klviw01y.ih.js","/_next/static/chunks/0gx_3vy1-syt4.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"ProcessEpisodeButton"] 49:I[45269,["/_next/static/chunks/08z4tkzvltetr.js","/_next/static/chunks/121~yigv24_j6.js","/_next/static/chunks/0a~e7k..h6jfc.js","/_next/static/chunks/0za7dr7c2y81~.js","/_next/static/chunks/03klviw01y.ih.js","/_next/static/chunks/0gx_3vy1-syt4.js","/_next/static/chunks/0i6hzvr84kc1r.js"],"SignupCTA"] 3e:["$","div",null,{"className":"flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-1 font-mono text-[12px] uppercase tracking-[0.1em] text-[color:var(--fg-3)]","children":[["$","time",null,{"dateTime":"2025-08-15T20:13:00.000Z","children":"August 15, 2025"}],["$","span",null,{"aria-hidden":true,"children":"·"}],["$","span",null,{"children":"00:41:43"}],false]}] 45:T4a7,

Qianlong's empire shines as a beacon of both martial might and cultural splendor, yet its mirrored glory hides truths too fragile for celestial ambitions.

Time Period Covered:

~1770-1799CE

Major Historical Figures:

Qing Empire:

The Qianlong Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Hongli) [r. 1735–1796, d. 1799]

Grand Councillor Heshen [1750-1799]

Great Britain:

Lord George Macartney (1737-1806)

Major Sources Cited:

Bland, J.O.P. and Lord Edmund Backhouse. Annals and Memoirs of the Court at Peking.

Fairbank, John King, and Denis Twitchett, eds. The Cambridge History of China, Volume 9, Part 1: The Ch'ing Empire to 1800.

Perdue, Peter. China Marches West: The Qing Conquest of Central Eurasia.

Woodside, Alexander. The Qing in the Age of Confucian Empire.

Yuan, Wei. Shengwu ji (Sacred Military Achievements).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices