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The founding of a dynasty was an arduous task, and it could easily collapse if not carefully fostered. Despite the nomadic roots of the Manchu Ch'ing, which wrested control of and settled in China, they still knew quite well that the requirements most suitable to any successor to the Chinese throne was the way of governing the country using Confucian ideals to maintain peace and order. Therefore, on one hand, the Manchu edited and printed educational books on the subject of explaining the moral obligations that bind the ruler and subjects as well as on supporting historical matters of rulers through the ages, which were used to teach children of the imperial clan. The traditions of daily lectures and the colloquium on the Confucian classics were also continued along with research into ways of administering the country. In addition, the contents of attendant lectures and the dialogue between the ruler and officials in the form of memorials were ordered by imperial decree to be printed in book form, providing relevant members of the country with a common source for study and a means to understand the political ideals of the Ch'ing government. As for educating the masses, books commiserating with the hardships of farming and the difficulties of making a living were issued by imperial order throughout the land, encouraging the people and implementing fundamental concepts behind the national policies of the Ch'ing.
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Illustrated Explanation on Cultivating Propriety
Written by Chiao Hung, Ming Dynasty
1895 Wu-ying Palace imprint, Ch'ing Dynasty
故殿011386-011391
In the Wan-li era (1573-1619), this book was compiled by Chiao Hung for Chu Ch'ang-lo, the eldest son of emperor, on how to be a ruler. The entire text includes sixty precedents, each with an illustration. It was passed down and admired in the Ch'ing dynasty, the Ch'ien-lung Emperor composing poetry and the Chia-ch'ing Emperor writing eulogistic praise for it. In 1895, the book and the imperially produced poetry and eulogies were printed together and distributed.
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Models of Ruling
Imperially written by Emperor T'ai-tsung, T'ang Dynasty
Ch'ien-lung era (1736-1795) court manuscript edition in red lined columns, Ch'ing Dynasty
故殿009445-009446
This is the T'ang emperor T'ai-tsung's own narrative on the way of a ruler, which as a book was used to instruct the crown prince Li Chih (the future emperor Kao-tsung). It provides models for instructing emperors in China.
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