Introduction: Beyond the Throne

The Yongzheng Emperor (r. 1722–1735) remains one of the Qing Dynasty’s most enigmatic figures—a reformist administrator known for his rigorous governance, yet equally fascinating for his vivid personal eccentricities. While history remembers him for consolidating imperial power and streamlining bureaucracy, his private life reveals a man of contradictions: a workaholic monarch who found solace in wine, art, and even pet dogs. This article peels back the layers of imperial protocol to explore the intimate world of a ruler whose hobbies, vices, and aesthetic tastes humanize the often-impersonal image of Chinese emperorship.

The Emperor’s Vices: Wine and Women

### A Sovereign’s Liquid Escape
Historical accounts, including critiques by dissident Zeng Jing, depict Yongzheng as a ruler who turned to alcohol to manage the stresses of statecraft. His poetic verses—”Toasting with wine as flowers urge me to drink, / Crafting verses amid blossoms, I ponder alone”—hint at melancholy indulgence. Court records suggest a particular fondness for yanggao jiu (lamb fetus wine) from Ningxia, a delicacy he secretly requested from general Nian Gengyao. These nocturnal drinking sessions with confidants like Longkodo reveal a ruler seeking camaraderie beyond the throne’s isolation.

### The Controversy of Imperial Desire
Zheng Jing’s accusations of debauchery find echoes in Korean diplomatic records, which claim the emperor’s “lower body grew useless from overindulgence” in his later years. While his 25 consorts paled in number compared to predecessors like Kangxi, Yongzheng’s legacy became intertwined with sensuality through the famed Twelve Beauties portraits. Modern scholars debate whether these artworks reflected personal obsession or mere imperial patronage of court artists.

The Aesthetics of Identity: Costuming and Collecting

### A Monarch in Many Guises
Yongzheng’s fascination with self-reinvention produced one of history’s most eclectic imperial portrait collections. Daoist robes, European wigs (uncannily resembling Louis XIV’s style), and Han scholar attire showcased a ruler playing with identity. These were not mere whimsy—donning Han clothing while plowing fields or reading subtly legitimized Manchu rule by aligning with Confucian ideals of scholar-gentlemen.

### The Black Palette
Breaking from traditional imperial yellow, Yongzheng championed black as his signature hue. Artisans produced black-enameled snuff bottles, lacquerware, and even dragon robes with onyx backgrounds. This preference may have reflected his austere personality or served as visual shorthand for his no-nonsense governance style.

Sensory Indulgences: Snuff and Spectacles

### The Emperor’s Nasal Obsession
Yongzheng’s adoption of snuff—powdered tobacco blended with musk and herbs—exemplified Qing China’s global connections. Originally an Indigenous American practice via the Philippines, snuff became a status symbol under Yongzheng, who commissioned exquisite bottles and gifted them to officials. The habit’s purported medicinal benefits (relieving headaches, improving focus) aligned with his pragmatic nature.

### Visionary Modernity
The emperor’s embrace of European eyeglasses—still novel in 18th-century China—revealed his utilitarian side. Distributing lenses to palace laborers demonstrated an unusual egalitarianism, while his personal use countered stereotypes of anti-Western sentiment among Qing rulers.

The Supernatural and the Canine

### Astrology as Statecraft
Yongzheng’s reliance on bazi (Eight Characters) astrology went beyond personal superstition. Before meetings with officials like Nian Gengyao or Ertai, court astronomers calculated celestial compatibility. This blending of cosmology and personnel management reflected the era’s belief in cosmic governance.

### Imperial Dog Lover
The emperor’s affection for pets like “Fortune Dog” and “Creation Dog” softened his stern image. Meticulous notes to workshops about canine coats and kennels (“Make the vest reversible for warmth”) show surprising tenderness. These animals likely provided emotional respite from the brutal politics that marked his reign, including the purge of Nian Gengyao.

The Workaholic Reformer

### Midnight Oil Governance
Yongzheng’s 4,000+ vermilion-endorsed memorials (many annotated “written by lamplight at the second watch”) attest to his legendary work ethic. His administrative overhauls—from tax reforms to corruption crackdowns—were fueled by this relentless drive, though contemporaries whispered such diligence masked paranoia about threats to his contested succession.

Legacy: The Man Behind the Mandate

Yongzheng’s personal habits offer a lens into 18th-century China’s cultural intersections—where Manchu traditions collided with global imports and Confucian ideals. His black-enameled snuff bottles now museum treasures, his calligraphy still admired, the emperor emerges not as a marble statue but a complex figure who ruled an empire while wrestling with very human desires and insecurities. In an era when most rulers became mythologized, Yongzheng’s quirks preserved his humanity across centuries.

Modern reassessments see his vices and virtues as two sides of the same coin—a ruler whose personal indulgences may have been the price paid for transforming Qing governance. As historians decode more palace archives, the man who wore wigs and wrote poetry between midnight edicts continues to fascinate as both statesman and individual.