The reading is “Jonathan Spence, Emperor of China: Self-Portrait of K’ang-Hsi. TK”
Please only use sources and references from the book, and please please please when you are writing. Quote the source material from the book. Without quotes from the material to illustrate the points the person who is going to grade the paper can’t be sure if I read it. I also attached a full paper instruction Doc.
Now from the questions below, choose “one” to answer.
1. Was Kangxi a good Confucian ruler? Was this the standard to which he aspired? In what ways does he most closely resemble Polo’s portrait of Kublai Khan, the Chinese emperor or Tartar king of the Yuan drama, or Monkey?
2. Recall the Sinicized Mongol emperor Khubilai Khan taking time each year to participate in the hunt. Now consider the importance of the hunt for this Manchu ruler. How and why is it such an important part of his identity? In what ways does Kangxi more closely resemble the Chinese emperor or the barbarian king in Autumn of the Palace of Han?
3. For Kangxi, what is the relationship between travel, the hunt, warfare, and governing?
4. Kangxi refers back repeatedly to the War of the Three Feudatories (San-Fan) to consolidate his control of south China. How did that experience color the rest of his rule?
5.Kangxi says, “Giving life to people and killing people—those are the powers that an emperor has.” (29) Explain the responsibilities and limitations of the emperor.
6. Based on Kangxi’s self-portrait, what personal qualities would you ascribe to him?
7. How reliable is an autobiography or a self-portrait? What can we expect it to tell us, and what can we not expect it to tell us?
8. How does he view the Manchus and the Chinese, and the relationship between them? What qualities does Kangxi value in each? What does he criticize?
9. Based on the text, what are his views of religion, fate, and the like? What are his views of the Western visitors and their religious beliefs? What are his views on medicine, health, and growing old?
10. How does he assess his own abilities and reign?
11. Think about the two versions of his valedictory speech. How and why are they different?