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Ceremonies and ritual music were regarded as part of the Confucian foundations for administering the country, so dynastic statutes through the ages served as a mirror for the Ch'ing dynastic government. Therefore, not only were important government statutes of the T'ang and later dynasties reprinted, reference was also made to the ceremonial regulations of antiquity, which were edited and printed in such books as Complete Rituals of the Great Ch'ing and Ritual Implements of the Imperial Dynasty in Illustrated Form. In addition, books were compiled and edited on such imperial activities as inspection tours and birthday celebrations, which were used to publicize and extol the benevolence of the ruler. The numerous additions and revisions to Complete Rituals of the Great Ch'ing further exemplify the full ritual and ceremonial regalia of the Ch'ing dynasty, serving as a grand display of civil administration. In addition, to help achieve military success in the far reaches of the country, books were printed on geographical features, maps and gazetteers, and the lifestyles of border and foreign peoples. In fact, the Ch'ien-lung Emperor once wrote, "All matters of troop deployment rely on books for strategy." To commemorate military successes, books were also used to publicize the achievements of the Ch'ing rulers.
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Imperially Endorsed Statutes of the Great Ch'ing with Illustrations
Written on imperial order by Tojin, et al., Ch'ing Dynasty
1818 Wu-ying Palace imprint, Ch'ing Dynasty
故殿012955-012996
Many dynasties through Chinese history had their own outline of statutes. In the Ch'ing dynasty, the K'ang-hsi Emperor ordered Confucian court scholars to compile Statutes of the Great Ch'ing, which was the first comprehensive outline of Ch'ing statutes. Afterwards, each successive emperor made additions and revisions to it. The Ch'ien-lung Emperor had the statutes and precedents compiled separately into established precedents. Then, under the Chia-ch'ing Emperor, a large number of illustrations were added to clarify the contents.
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The Grand Occasion of the Southern Inspection
Written on imperial order by Kao Chin, et al., Ch'ing Dynasty
1768 Wu-ying Palace imprint, Ch'ing Dynasty
故殿014316-014363
The Ch'ien-lung Emperor emulated his grandfather, the K'ang-hsi Emperor, and made a total of six inspection tours to the south during his lifetime. In addition to understanding the sentiments of officials and commoners, they were also used to publicize imperial favors. This book records the first four southern inspection trips of the Ch'ien-lung Emperor and includes accompanying illustrations, providing an overview of the imperial majesty of the Great Ch'ing.
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