Power into Play: Guest Ritual and Tribute-Paying Dramas of the Qianlong Reign

The Center for Chinese Studies at UC Berkeley presents a discussion with Liana Chen on the important role theatre played in the formation of court culture in Qing China.

Speaker: Liana Chen, Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, George Washington University

Theatre played an important role in the formation of court culture in Qing China. Performances associated with court activities took many forms, ranging from spectacular pageantries on the three-tiered theatres to small-scale performances in the private residences at the inner court. This presentation draws upon the archival materials of both Qing court theatre bureau and non-theatrical archives to examine the pedagogical role of theatrical performances in state-sponsored ceremonial events during the Qianlong reign. It explores the ways in which theatrical performances at the Qing court participated in the creation of an imperial self-image of benevolence and fulfilled the emperor’s desire to project his power.