The 6th emperor of the Qing dynasty and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. Born as the fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he ascended the throne in 1735 and reigned for approximately 60 years until abdicating in 1796. Even after his abdication, he retained actual power as Retired Emperor until his death in 1799. Under his reign, the territory of the Qing dynasty reached its maximum extent, establishing rule over Xinjiang, though his military campaigns placed a heavy burden on the treasury. He patronized literature and art, commissioning the compilation of the Siku Quanshu, while also enforcing strict ideological controls and literary inquisitions. In his later years, bureaucratic corruption and political stagnation became prominent, deepening issues that contributed to the eventual decline of the Qing dynasty.

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