Kang Hsi Emperor

Fourth of the Ch’ing emperors at age seven. He seized personal power with the aid of his grandmother when he was 15. He suppressed rebellions, undertook massive public works projects, pacified south China, made tributaries of the Mongols, fought Russia to a standstill, protected Tibetan Buddhism and struggled to ensure the Ch’ing succession. He enhanced the palaces in Beijing and was the subject of much debate about his interest in Christianity.

Emperor Kangxi encouraged scholarship, arts patronage, and economic business that stabilized the empire. Yet during Lunar New Year, all imperial work stopped for the celebration which lasted 27 days during Kangxi’s reign.