Emperor Qianlong also likes to play with toys and has been obsessed with Western automatic toys.

Emperor Qianlong liked western toys since childhood.

This interest is obviously related to the father. Yongzheng is famous for his workaholics. In fact, he is also a very modern player in his spare time, especially like Western games. The Palace Museum now retains several portraits of his suits and wigs, as well as a large number of Western clocks, telescopes and even microscopes he has played.

Qianlong Qing is out of the blue, and also leads the entertainment atmosphere. Western clocks that can pick up a bird or walk out of a villain can always surprise him from childhood to adulthood.

In December of the 22nd year of Emperor Qianlong, the emperor passed the opinion of the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Li Shizhen, and the Guangdong Customs Supervisor Li Yongbiao, saying: "This time, the gold-plated Western Pavilion is very good! After that, there are more than a few good-looking people. Big and good, there are also a few pieces, do not have to worry about the price. If you get it, there are a few tributes to Duanyang!" The emperor so sang directly to the minister, it is rare to see the Qing Dynasty.

It can be seen that the emperor is indeed "likes to be tight."

Do not think that under the retreat, the rulers of the Qing Dynasty had no contact with the outside world. In fact, popular games in Paris or London are often introduced to Beijing with merchant ships or missionaries soon. The top watchmakers in Europe are eager to see the Chinese emperor's preferences in the Kanggan era. There are also Europeans who travel far and wide, transporting mechanical equipment from Europe, and opening a watch factory in Guangzhou to produce luxury goods for the emperors and nobles. Some Chinese artisans also play the unique imitative genius of the Chinese, a large number of counterfeit Western products, and vivid. However, Qianlong saw at a glance that these joint ventures and counterfeit goods were not authentic. They emphasized that the use of the palace must be imported: "From the advancement of bamboo leaves and green lacquerware, it is not foreign. For example, into clocks, lacquerware, gold and silver satin, carpets. Waiting for the foreigner to do it." ("The Emperor Qianlong and Martell")

In addition to watches and clocks, the emperor is also fascinated by Western automatic toys, especially " robots " and "machine animals." Xi Chengyuan, a Western missionary in the palace, developed a "self-lion". The size of the body is the same as that of a real lion. The clockwork is hidden in the lion's abdomen and can travel a hundred steps away. The emperor personally came to watch and watched the "self-lion" stalking toward him and was very happy. ("The Emperor Qianlong's Biography")

In addition, there are many Western artifacts that have caused the emperor's interest. The emperor was very curious about Western musical instruments. His missionary Wei Jijin and Lu Zhongxian taught the eunuch to learn "Da Laqin" (estimated to be a cello), and "Little Laqin" (violin), which organized a large violin, piano, oboe, clarinet in the palace. Western orchestras, including guitars, so that the female priests living in the deep palace can also appreciate the exotic.

Article taken from "The Ten Faces of Emperor Qianlong"
Author: Jie Zhang <br> Press: People's Literature Publishing House

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