The Shadow of Yongzheng: A Violent Prelude

The reign of Emperor Yongzheng (1722–1735) remains one of the most controversial periods in Qing Dynasty history. Accused by scholars like Zeng Jing of patricide, matricide, fratricide, and even infanticide, Yongzheng consolidated power through ruthless purges. His brothers, the princes Yinsi and Yintang, were stripped of their titles, imprisoned, and humiliated with derogatory Manchu names (“Aqina” and “Seshe,” meaning “dog” and “pig”). Officials who supported them, like Kuixu, faced posthumous vilification—their tombstones engraved with insults. When Yongzheng died in 1735, his son Hongli ascended the throne as Emperor Qianlong, inheriting a court steeped in fear.

Qianlong’s Calculated Benevolence

### Rehabilitating the Disgraced

Qianlong’s first acts aimed to dismantle his father’s legacy of terror. In 1737, he restored Yinsi and Yintang’s original names and reintegrated their descendants into the imperial lineage (玉牒), granting them the symbolic “red girdle” of nobility. By 1778, he formally reversed their convictions, declaring the cases “unjust.” This was more than mercy—it was political theater, signaling a break from Yongzheng’s tyranny while reinforcing Confucian ideals of familial harmony.

### The Liberation of Yunti

Yunti, Qianlong’s uncle and a key rival to Yongzheng, had been imprisoned for over a decade. Qianlong freed him in 1735, later elevating him to Prince Xun of the Second Rank. This move wasn’t purely altruistic; it neutralized lingering resentment among Yunti’s supporters and showcased Qianlong’s magnanimity.

### Correcting Epitaphs and Restoring Honor

The case of Kuixu epitomized Yongzheng’s vindictiveness. His tombstone, branded with “Treacherous and Unfilial Kuixu Lies Here,” became a symbol of oppression. Qianlong ordered its removal, framing the act as a rejection of petty vengeance. Similarly, he rehabilitated officials purged during the Nian Gengyao affair (1726), a notorious corruption case under Yongzheng, offering survivors opportunities to return to service.

### Righting Historical Wrongs

In 1778, Qianlong audaciously exonerated Dorgon, the regent accused of treason in 1650. By restoring Dorgon’s princely title and enshrining him in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Qianlong positioned himself as a rectifier of historical injustices—a ruler above factional grudges.

The Limits of Mercy: Qianlong’s Iron Fist

### The Tragic Fate of Empress Ulanara

Qianlong’s reputation for benevolence faltered in 1765 when Empress Ulanara, possibly protesting his infidelities, cut her hair—a Manchu taboo symbolizing mourning for the living. Qianlong, interpreting this as treason, had her demoted and erased from records. Her sudden death in 1766 remains shrouded in mystery, underscoring Qianlong’s intolerance for dissent.

### The Execution of Heshen’s Predecessor

Decades before the rise of the corrupt Heshen, Qianlong demonstrated zero tolerance for graft. When his brother-in-law was implicated in embezzlement, Qianlong ordered his execution despite familial ties, proving his willingness to uphold law over kinship.

Legacy: The Architect of Qing Propaganda

Qianlong’s dual strategy—combining selective clemency with uncompromising authority—cemented the Qing Dynasty’s golden age. By rehabilitating Yongzheng’s victims, he crafted an image of Confucian virtue; by crushing opposition, he maintained absolute control. Modern historians debate whether his actions were genuine reforms or calculated optics. Yet, his reign’s paradoxes endure: a ruler who preached benevolence but wielded terror, a patron of justice who silenced critics. In this duality, Qianlong embodied the essence of imperial power—balance between the humane and the merciless.

### Why Qianlong’s Story Matters Today

In an era of political polarization, Qianlong’s tactics—public reconciliation paired with private repression—offer eerie parallels to modern governance. His reign reminds us that historical narratives are often shaped by rulers themselves, and that “benevolence” can be as much a tool of control as a virtue. The Qianlong Emperor’s legacy, then, is not just a chapter in Chinese history, but a timeless study of power’s contradictions.