Éloge de la ville de Moukden et de ses environs, poème composé par Kien-Long, Empereur de la Chine & de la Tartarie, actuellement regnant [Ode to Mukden and its surroundings, poem composed by Qianlong, Emperor of China & Tartary, currently reigning].

Accompagné de notes curieuses sur la géographie, sur l'histoire naturelle de la Tartarie Orientale... On y a joint une pièce de vers sur le thé, composé par le même empereur. First French edition. 8vo. Contemporary calf (minor wear), re-backed, spine richly gilt in compartments. Overall a very good copy. [xxiv], xxxviii, 381, [ii] (approbation)pp. Paris, N. M. Tilliard, 

The present is a first translation into a Western language of the laudatory poem by the Qianlong Emperor about the city of Mukden (Manchu, also called Shengjing 'Rising Capital'). Mukden was conquered by the Jurchen (Manchu) leader Nurhaci (1559-1626) in 1625 from the Ming. He proceeded to move his entire administration to the town and built a large palace complex to accommodate them. From here the Manchus launched their attack on Northern China which led to the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644. Following the establishment of the Qing dynasty Nurhace was elevated to the first Qing emperor and given the name Taizu Emperor. Mukden remained the spiritual home of the Manchus and subsequent Qing Emperors continued to visit and expand the palaces. The 'Ode to Mukden' was written on the occasion of a visit by the Qianlong Emperor in 1743, who had it published in a beautiful palace edition in the same year ('Yuzhi Shengjing fu').

Stock Code: 251874