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The cover of The Hungry Prosperous Age: Gains and Losses in the Qianlong Era

The Hungry Prosperous Age: Gains and Losses in the Qianlong Era

Zhang Hongjie

Zhang Hongjie follows Qianlong’s reign through famine relief, western conquest, censorship, corruption, and the British embassy, asking how celebrated prosperity coexisted with fragile lives and rigid rule.

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7 parts, about 26 minutes to read.

Why read it

  • Balances famine relief and population growth against censorship, military violence, and corruption during the prosperous reign
  • Shows how western conquest secured territory while devastating Dzungar communities
  • Explains the British embassy through the court’s tribute expectations and the visitors’ trade demands

Who it is for

  • Readers examining the strengths and limits of Qing statecraft
  • History students studying conquest, censorship, and imperial administration
  • Readers interested in why diplomatic encounters fail across political systems

What the summary covers

  1. The Splendor and the Hunger2 min
  2. A Young Emperor Inherits a Disciplined State5 min
  3. Relief, Growth, and the Western War4 min
  4. Protection Without a Right to Protest4 min
  5. The Court's Expensive Later Years4 min
  6. Two Empires Meet5 min
  7. A Peaceful Transfer, an Unfinished Retirement2 min

About the author

  • Zhang HongjieHistorical writer and member of the China Writers Association
    • 张宏杰1972年4月出生于辽宁。
    • 1990至1994年就读东北财经大学投资系，获经济学学士。
    • 2009至2012年在复旦大学历史地理研究所攻读历史学博士。
    • 在清华大学历史系做过博士后。
    • 在中国人民大学历史学院研究非虚构历史写作与公共史学传播。

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