Ch'ien-lung (1711-1799) was the fourth emperor of the Ch'ing, or Manchu, dynasty in China. His rule covered a span of 63 years, a reign longer than any other in the recorded history of China, dating back to the Shang dynasty, 1766-1122 B.C.

In the reign of Ch'ien-lung the Ch'ing dynasty reached its zenith and began the downward spiral that was to culminate in the Revolution of 1911, which marked the final demise of imperial China. The signs of impending collapse, however, were only dimly perceived during the late 18th century, and for the most part the Ch'ien-lung reign was characterized by courtly splendor, prodigious accomplishments in literary compilations, and vigorous expansion of the Chinese frontiers to the west and the south.

Ch'ien-lung was born Hung-li on September 25, 1711, the fourth son of the energetic and suspicious Yung-cheng and the grandson of the illustrious K'ang-his emperor. Ch'ien-lung's mother, the empress Hsiao-sheng...