--- title: Qing Dynasty Emperors (1636–1912) url: https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/ language: en description: "The emperors of China's last dynasty, from Nurhaci and Hong Taiji to the Xuantong Emperor: the Manchu conquest, the High Qing and the Opium Wars." alternates: zh-Hant: https://realrareantiques.com/zh-hant/qing-dynasty-emperors/ zh-Hans: https://realrareantiques.com/zh-hans/qing-dynasty-emperors/ --- # Qing Dynasty Emperors The Qing was China's last imperial dynasty. Founded by the Manchus in the north-east, it ruled China from 1644 until the last emperor abdicated in 1912. Its first century and a half brought the empire to its greatest size and prosperity; its last seventy years were overshadowed by foreign wars, unequal treaties and rebellion. **Dates:** 1644 to 1912 **Rulers:** 12 ## **The Manchus in China** Nurhaci united the Jurchen tribes and in 1616 proclaimed the Later Jin dynasty. His son and successor, [Hong Taiji](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/hong-taiji/), renamed his people the Manchus and in 1636 adopted the dynastic name Qing, "pure". The Qing therefore existed as a state in the north-east for eight years before it ruled China. In 1644 the rebel leader Li Zicheng captured Beijing, and the last Ming emperor took his own life. The Ming general Wu Sangui, holding the Shanhai Pass at the eastern end of the Great Wall, joined forces with the Manchus. Together they defeated Li Zicheng, and the Qing occupied Beijing and made it their capital. The new dynasty kept much of the Ming system of government, including the civil service examinations, and employed Chinese officials alongside Manchus. At the same time it required Han Chinese men to adopt the Manchu hairstyle, the shaved forehead and queue, as a sign of submission. Hong Taiji died in 1643, and his five-year-old son succeeded him as the [Shunzhi Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/shunzhi-emperor/), the first Qing emperor to rule from Beijing. The conquest of the south took decades. The last Ming claimants were defeated by 1662, the Revolt of the Three Feudatories was put down in 1681, and in 1683, under the [Kangxi Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/kangxi-emperor/), Taiwan was brought under Qing rule. The reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong, from 1661 to 1796, are known as the High Qing. The empire grew to include Mongolia, Xinjiang and Tibet, the population rose rapidly, and the imperial kilns at Jingdezhen produced some of the finest porcelain ever made, from famille verte to famille rose and flawless monochromes. Our [Qing dynasty porcelain](https://realrareantiques.com/product-category/antique-chinese-porcelain/qing-dynasty-porcelain/) collection includes pieces from across the period. China was not isolated, but the Qing controlled foreign trade closely. From 1757 Western merchants were confined to Canton (Guangzhou), where they bought tea, silk and porcelain and paid largely in silver. ## **The Opium Wars** To reverse the flow of silver, British merchants shipped growing quantities of Indian opium into China from the late eighteenth century. The Qing had banned the drug, but the smuggling trade went on and addiction spread. In 1839 the imperial commissioner Lin Zexu confiscated more than twenty thousand chests of opium and had it destroyed at Humen, near Canton. Britain responded with force, and the First Opium War followed. The Qing navy was no match for British warships. The Treaty of Nanjing of 1842 ceded Hong Kong Island to Britain and opened five ports to foreign trade. A second war, from 1856 to 1860, ended with the sack of the Old Summer Palace and further concessions, including Kowloon, the right of foreign diplomats to live in Beijing and freedom for Christian missionaries to work in China. You can read more on our page about [the Opium Wars](https://realrareantiques.com/the-opium-wars/). ## Timeline of reigns, 1616–1912 1. [Nurhaci](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/nurhaci/) 2. [Hong Taiji](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/hong-taiji/) 3. [Shunzhi Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/shunzhi-emperor/) 4. [Kangxi Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/kangxi-emperor/)2 pieces 5. [Yongzheng Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/yongzheng-emperor/) 6. [Qianlong Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/qianlong-emperor/) 7. [Jiaqing Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/jiaqing-emperor/) 8. [Daoguang Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/daoguang-emperor/) 9. [Xianfeng Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/xianfeng-emperor/) 10. [Tongzhi Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/tongzhi-emperor/) 11. [Guangxu Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/guangxu-emperor/) 12. [Xuantong Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/xuantong-emperor/) Reigns with pieces in our collection ### Later Jin - [Nurhaci1616–1626 · 天命United the Jurchen tribes, created the banner system and founded the Later Jin in 1616.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/nurhaci/) ### Qing Dynasty - [Hong Taiji1626–1643 · 天聰 崇德Renamed his people Manchu and proclaimed the Qing dynasty in 1636.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/hong-taiji/) - [Shunzhi Emperor1643–1661 · 順治The first Qing emperor to rule from Beijing; Transitional porcelain of his reign is prized for its painting.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/shunzhi-emperor/) - [Kangxi Emperor1661–1722 · 康熙The longest-reigning Chinese emperor, whose rebuilt Jingdezhen kilns produced superb blue and white and famille verte.2 pieces in the collection](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/kangxi-emperor/) - [Yongzheng Emperor1722–1735 · 雍正A demanding administrator whose porcelain is admired for its restraint, fine enamels and copies of Song glazes.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/yongzheng-emperor/) - [Qianlong Emperor1735–1796 · 乾隆A great collector and patron whose reign marked the height of Qing power and technical virtuosity in porcelain.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/qianlong-emperor/) - [Jiaqing Emperor1796–1820 · 嘉慶Brought down the corrupt minister Heshen and suppressed the White Lotus rebellion.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/jiaqing-emperor/) - [Daoguang Emperor1820–1850 · 道光A frugal emperor whose reign saw the First Opium War and the Treaty of Nanjing.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/daoguang-emperor/) - [Xianfeng Emperor1850–1861 · 咸豐Faced the Taiping rebellion, which destroyed the Jingdezhen imperial kilns in 1855.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/xianfeng-emperor/) - [Tongzhi Emperor1861–1875 · 同治Reigned under the regency of Empress Dowager Cixi during the Tongzhi restoration.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/tongzhi-emperor/) - [Guangxu Emperor1875–1908 · 光緒Launched the Hundred Days' Reform of 1898 and spent his last decade confined by Cixi.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/guangxu-emperor/) - [Xuantong Emperor1908–1912 · 宣統The last emperor of China, who abdicated in 1912 at the age of six.](https://realrareantiques.com/qing-dynasty-emperors/xuantong-emperor/) ## Pieces from this period - Qing Dynasty Porcelain [Set of Four Enamelled Porcelain Cups with Flower and Crane Panels, Late Qing Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/antique-chinese-enameled-porcelain-cup-set-late-qing-dynasty/)Late QingPrice on request - Qing Dynasty Porcelain [Blue and White Bowl with Landscape Panels and a Leaf Mark, Qing Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/blue-and-white-antique-chinese-porcelain-bowl-qing-dynasty/)Qing DynastyPrice on request - Qing Dynasty Porcelain [Blue and White Bowl with Fu Characters and Bees, Qing Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/antique-chinese-porcelain-bowl-qing-dynasty/)Qing DynastyPrice on request - Qing Dynasty Porcelain [Blue and White Plate with Pine, Bamboo and Plum, Qing Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/antique-chinese-porcelain-plate-qing-dynasty/)Qing DynastyPrice on request Looking for something specific? [Ask us about a piece](https://realrareantiques.com/contact-us/) and we will reply by email.