Historedia
Person

Qianlong Emperor

Events
6
Episodes
12
Years
1768–1828

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Qianlong Emperor, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Qianlong Emperor's Directive on Sorcery Rumors

    1768

    Role: reigning Qing emperor in 1768; reported issuer of the directive

    1. 25 July 1768 (reported; unverified) · imperial court, reported as BeijingReported directive on sorcery rumors

      A legacy record reports that Qianlong and three grand councilors warned Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shandong officials to respond to sorcery rumors in 1768.

  2. Completion of Putuo Zongcheng Temple

    1771

    Role: Dedicatee

    1. 1771 · Putuo Zongcheng TempleCompletion of the Temple Complex

      The Putuo Zongcheng Temple complex was completed in 1771 after construction began in 1767.

  3. Written work begins on the Siku Quanshu

    1772–1782

    Role: Commissioner

    1. 1772 · Qing capital (inferred institutional context; passages say only 'the capital')Commission of the Siku Quanshu

      The Qianlong Emperor ordered the creation of the Siku Quanshu in 1772, initiating a massive literary compilation project.

    2. by 1773 (one passage) or by 1782 (another) · Qing CapitalCompletion of Bibliography

      The initial compilation started with the Siku Quanshu Zongmu Tiyao bibliography, whose completion is dated differently by different passages.

    3. March 1773 · Qing CapitalEstablishment of Editorial Board

      By March 1773, an editorial board in Beijing began gathering and reviewing books for the encyclopedia.

  4. Origin of Peking Opera

    1790–1828

    Role: Patron

    1. 1790-09-25 · BeijingArrival of the Four Great Anhui Troupes

      The Four Great Anhui Troupes introduced Hui opera to Beijing in September 1790 for the Qianlong Emperor's 80th birthday.

    2. 1828 · BeijingArrival of Hubei Troupes

      Famous Hubei troupes arrived in Beijing in 1828 to perform jointly with Anhui troupes.

  5. Arrival of the Macartney Embassy in Canton

    1793

    Role: Chinese emperor whose ports were instructed to aid the embassy

    1. June 1793 (before Macartney's arrival) · Guangdong province, of which Canton was the principal portRequest to Land at Tianjin

      East India Company representatives asked the Guangdong military governor for permission to land at Tianjin rather than Guangzhou.

    2. 19 June 1793 · MacauArrival at Macau

      The embassy's ships reached Macau on 19 June 1793, the squadron's first arrival on the China coast.

  6. Abdication of the Qianlong Emperor

    1795–1799

    Role: Retiring emperor; abdicated after a 60-year reign and ruled as Emperor Emeritus until 1799

    1. October 1795 · Qing courtAnnouncement of Abdication

      In October 1795 Qianlong announced he would voluntarily abdicate the following spring at age 85 in favour of his son.

    2. 1796–1799 · Forbidden CityQianlong as Emperor Emeritus

      Though succeeded by his son, Qianlong retained ultimate power as Emperor Emeritus until his death in 1799 at age 87.

    3. February 1796 · Qing courtAccession of the Jiaqing Emperor

      Prince Jia ascended the throne and adopted the era name Jiaqing in February 1796, becoming the sixth Qing emperor.

Sources

  1. Qianlong Emperor Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-19
  2. Putuo Zongcheng Temple Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-30
  3. Siku Quanshu Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27
  4. Peking opera Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-29
  5. Macartney Embassy Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-24