The Development and Influence of the Qing Dynasty’s Royal Meal during the Qianlong Period

Abstract

Food culture development reflects a country’s growth to a certain extent. Qing Dynasty’s royal meals represent this period’s food culture. As the Qing Dynasty became stronger than before, it peaked during the Qianlong period. This development reflects the Qing Dynasty’s political, economic, and cultural development and occupies an essential position in the history of food culture. However, the development and influence of royal meals during the Qianlong period have yet to be comprehensively analyzed and sorted out. Therefore, this study aims to explore the development process of royal meals during the Qianlong period and the positive and negative effects on politics, economy, and culture. This article adopts qualitative research, including literature survey and analysis methods to classify and organize the literature and historical archives collected from Chinese historical archives and libraries. Through sorts out and analysis of the development of royal meals during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it found that the development of royal meals during the Qianlong period was accompanied by the development of national strength and the personal preferences of the emperor, and the development of royal meals also brought various influences. This study is of great value for studying ancient Chinese culinary culture and provides a new perspective for studying the social development during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. At the same time, it also reminds us that while vigorously developing the cultural industry, we must consider its impact on society.ReferencesAisin-Gioro, H. (1988). Dining in the Court. China Food Publishing House.Dai, Y. (1997). Emperor Qianlong and His Era. Renmin University of China Press.Dong, X. X. (2014). Three imperial dietary archives recreating the food of Yangzhou under Qianlong. Archives and Construction, (6), 50–52. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1003-7098.2014.06.015Gao, W. J. (2024).  Exploration of the Practice of Archives Opening in China's First Historical Archives Shanxi Archives, 277 (5), 178.Huang, L. (2012). A brief study on the dietary customs of the Manchu people in Northeast China during the Qing Dynasty. Cultivation Records: Jilin Provincial Museum Academic Papers 2010-2011, 215–220.Li, D. (2014). Yangzhou Boat Painting Record: Hardcover Book. China Pictorial Publishing House.Liu, L. L., & Zhang, M. J. (2007). On the food culture of Manchu in the Qing Dynasty. Journal of Qiqihar Junior Teachers’ College, (05), 96-97. https://doi.org/10.16322/j.cnki.23-1534/z.2007.05.048Liu, X. K. (2019). The Royal Meal of Emperor Qianlong and the Eating Habits in Beijing [Master’s thesis, Jilin University]. Jinlin.Qiu, P. T. (2004). Simple Analysis of the Imperial Menu during Emperor Qianlong’s Visit to Jiangnan. Culinary Science Journal of Yangzhou University, 21(04), 1–8. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:YZPX.0.2004-04-001Ren, H., & Abdullah, S. (2023). The Relationship Between Man and Nature in Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 20(3), 365-372. https://doi.org/10.17576/ebangi.2023.2003.32The First Historical Archives of China. (1990). Old files in Manchurian. Zhonghua Book Company.The First Historical Archives of China. (2001). Imperial Archives of the Qing Dynasty. Zhejiang Fuyang Huabaozhai Publishing House.Weng, G. M. (1999). Diet of the Manchu Emperors. Food and Health, (08), 39. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:SPJK.0.1999-08-051Williamson, F. (2015). History and Climate Science: A Collaborative Relationship for the Twenty-First Century. e-Bangi: Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 10(1), 1.Wu, Q. (2017). Manchu-Chinese fusion in the Qing court diet. Heilongjiang Historical Journal, (01), 30–33. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1004-020X.2017.01.006.Wu, Z. G. (1988). Manchu Food Customs and Qing Imperial Cuisine. Liaoning Science and Technology Publishing House.Wu, Z. G. (1990). A Study on Emperor Qianlong’s Imperial Cuisine: Replicas of 127 Qianlong Dishes. China Food Publishing House.Wu, Z. G. (2010). The Historical Origin of the Manchu-Han Banquet. Heritage, (19), 38–39. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1005-5258.2004.06.011Xu, H. R. (1999). A History of Chinese Cuisine. Huaxia Publishing House.Xu, Q. X. (1980). Meals of Qing Dynasty Emperors. Forbidden City, (04), 10–11. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:ZIJC.0.1980-04-004Yan, C. (2023). On the People’s Livelihood Policy of the Qing Dynasty and the Kangxi and Qianlong Periods of Prosperity. Social Sciences Front, (08), 266–274.Yao, W. J. (1997). The Qing court diet of Manchu-Chinese fusion. Journal of Central South University for Nationalities: Humanities and Social Sciences, (01), 69–73. https://doi.org/10.19898/j.cnki.42-1704/c.1997.01.015Yuan, H. Q. (1994). The longevity and diet of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. Archives Management, (05), 45–46. https://doi.org/CNKI:SUN:DAGL.0.1994-05-031