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Emperor of China: Self-portrait of K'ang-Hsi: Self-Portrait of K'ang-Hsi Paperback – October 22, 1988

by Jonathan D. Spence (Author)

4.5 66 ratings

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A remarkable re-creation of the life of K'ang-hsi, emperor of the Manchu dynasty from 1661-1722, assembled from documents that survived his reign. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index.

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From the Back Cover

A remarkable re-creation of the life of K'ang-hsi, emperor of the Manchu dynasty from 1661-1772, assembled from documents that survived his reign. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, index.

About the Author

Jonathan D. Spence’s 11 books on Chinese history include The Gate of Heavenly Peace, Treason by the Book, and The Death of Woman Wang. He has been awarded Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships and is professor emeritus of history at Yale University.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Reissue edition (October 22, 1988)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 067972074X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679720744
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.16 x 0.65 x 7.93 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #891,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #129 in Historical China Biographies
- #1,327 in Royalty Biographies
- #9,521 in Short Stories Anthologies

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4.5 66 ratings

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Philip C Wells

~: in Shangrila, we don't live without it :~

Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2013

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This well written book is about the character who patronized my Kangxi Dictionary. (And enough about insider jokes. ) But seriously I recommend more books: Vincent Cronin's 1955 The Wise Man from the West - Mateo Ricci; John M Rosenfield's 1973 The Courtly Tradition in Japanese Art and Literature - Japanese Script; Jonathan D Spence's 1974 Emperor of China - Kangxi; S Robert Ramsey's 1987 The Languages of China; Ray Huang's 1988 China a Macro History; RWL Guisgo's 1989 The First Emperor of China; Cecilia Lindqvist's 1991 China Empire of Living Symbols - Chinese Script (in Joan Tate's English translation); Jonathan D Spence 1996 God's Chinese Son; Kevin Bishop's 1997 China's Imperial Way; Richard Bernstein 2001 Ultimate Journey Retracing the Path of an Ancient Buddhist Monk - Xuanzang (with David Lindroth's maps); Jack Weatherford's 2004 Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World; Peter Hessler's 2006 Oracle Bones - Chinese Script; Christopher Beckworth's 2009 Empires of the Silk Road; Jack Weatherford's 2010 The Secret History of the Mongol Queens. Have a good read!

12 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Fascinating book

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2014

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This is a fascinating book. Jonathan Spence, the renowned China scholar, has written a masterful memoir in the first person of a 17th and 18th century Chinese emperor. Based on the K'ang-Hsi emperor's own notes and documents, this book gives a powerful insight into China at the time. An easy written style makes this book even more accessible and useful. I learned much more from this slim volume than from classic histories of China

One person found this helpful

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Bob Newman

Manchu Monarch’s Memorable Moments and More

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2019

Jonathan Spence has not written any bad books. If you want readable, interesting books about China which take unusual angles, choose any of his. This one, which focuses on the life of the Qing (Manchu) emperor Kang-hsi (now spelled Kangxi) who ruled for 61 years, from 1661 to 1722, is no exception. China at that time was powerful and mostly peaceful, though a vicious civil war marked eight years in the 1670s. Though you may learn much Chinese history here, that is not the main aim of the book. Spence went through reams of Qing Dynasty documents and even got hold of some of Kang-hsi’s personal letters. From these he created a text in which the Emperor seems to speak for himself, a kind of faux-autobiography. It’s an interesting idea, a historical montage if you will, with all the dots connected by an author who lived more than 250 years later. The emperor is a big hunting aficionado, writes poetry, and is very interested in traditional medicine. As he grew older, medical topics loom larger---probably a human universal. He admonishes readers to regulate what they eat and drink and describes various herbs and remedies. He criticized the Western missionaries who flew like buzzards around the court, hoping to see Chinese religion crash, and commented that they hardly understood Chinese culture, but wanted to give advice anyhow. They did prove useful in many ways and the emperor acknowledges this fact. He rubbishes Taoist quacks who claimed to have pulled off various incredible feats. Like other Chinese emperors (and most other absolute monarchs as well) he condemns many people to execution or to the “lingering death”. He praises himself for all the people he pardoned, exiled, or otherwise showed mercy. The problems of choosing which of his many sons to succeed him are among the most interesting parts. Several of said sons were total wastrels, whom he repeatedly punishes then forgives. He reiterates the Confucian principles of ruling---to listen to the people, while remaining true to the Rules of Heaven. The ultimate responsibility for China’s welfare was his, after all. Though there are many fascinating details of an emperor’s life, inevitably there are large sections of idealistic moralizing and repetition of various philosophies. These may really have been what he would have written if he’d put this life story together, but they seem too pat and rather trite for today’s readers.
Kang-hsi comes across as very human. What a fate, to be emperor of the largest nation on earth! Perhaps he would have written something closer to the heart, if he’d known such a work would be compiled. But as it is, his personality comes out between the lines, a man, who despite his nearly unlimited power, remained true to a philosophy of moderation, thought, interest in education, and moral principles. Spence has created a portrait that, though it might have been photoshopped (if I may use such an anachronistic term) is still a detailed and accurate picture of life at the top in those times.

One person found this helpful

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Gene R. Brumbach

Great additon to your library of China history!

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2013

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It is like an autobiography - his feelings and perspectives written in memorials and not just a book about the Emperor. It shows he was a moral man always concerned with the "mandate of Heaven" which he believes is why his reign lasted so long.

5 people found this helpful

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rathefarmer

Interesting but not Captivating

Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2008

This book was a good read; it showed a glimpse of 17th/18th century China in a very unique way: through the very words of the emperor at the time. Although it was interesting, it was not exciting or captivating and it became difficult to keep track of who was who in parts. I would recommend it, but only because it doesn't take very long to read so the benefits outweigh the costs.

One person found this helpful

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Charlie

Fascinating.

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2018

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Really good story. And the history of it is fascinating.

2 people found this helpful

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curt

Spence's best...

Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great book, humanizing what must have been a lonely job. Originally read it in paperback years ago, nice to have it on Kindle.

2 people found this helpful

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R. Albin

The Best of Spence's Books

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2001

This is a very interesting book by the distinguished Yale scholar Jonathan Spence. Spence's approach is often unconventional. He has a written several books in which an important theme of Chinese history is examined by close analysis of a single episode of Chinese history. In this case, Spence's goal is to depict the center of the Chinese political system, the Emperor. Spence accomplishes this goal by editing the writings of an important Qing Emperor, K'ang Hsi, into an autobiographical work. This is daring and surprisingly successful. Spence is careful to show both private and public aspects of K'ang Hsi. A good deal of the success of this book must be attributable to K'ang Hsi himself. Through Spence's careful editing, K'ang Hsi emerges as a vigorous and articulate individual who seems to have had an attractive personality. This book is simultaneously edifying and entertaining.

23 people found this helpful

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