The Cultural Politics in the Studio of Painted Pleasure Boat
Emperor Qianlong’s Jiangnan Imaginary and the Discourse of Power
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 24216809 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Qian Zheng (0000-0002-3466-0870, Southeast University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-23 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-22 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cultural and Social History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1478-0038 • E-ISSN: 1478-0046 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/14780038.2026.2706212 |
| OpenAlex | W7170077128 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 6 |
Huafang Zhai in Beihai Garden, built by Emperor Qianlong, integrates Jiangnan literati garden sensibility with imperial ideology. Drawing on archives, poems, and scholarship, this study systematically examines its construction history, spatial usage, and literary inscriptions, identifying three dimensions: cultural appropriation of literati traditions by invoking Ouyang Xiu and Mi Fu; political self-discipline enacted through the ruler-boat analogy as a spatial medium for moral reflection and governance; and psychological reconciliation of the emperor’s inner tensions between indulgence, restraint, and conceit. The case positions Huafang Zhai beyond mere spatial transplantation, as a vehicle for Manchu power and identity in High Qing.
Cultural appropriation · imperial ideology · Mi Fu · Ouyang Xiu · Qianlong Emperor · Chinese history and philosophy · Landscape and Cultural Studies · Spatial and Cultural Studies
| Highly cited | No |
|---|