‘Stamp boy’: sealing passion of China emperor criticised for harming artistic integrity

As one of the most frequently portrayed Chinese emperors in modern costume dramas, Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong is also renowned for his obsessive habit of impressing seals onto his art collections. The Qianlong Emperor (reigned 1735–1796, died 1799) was exceptionally long-lived even among rulers, and he is celebrated for ushering in a prosperous era alongside his father, Yongzheng, and grandfather, Kangxi. Additionally, he is famous for his enthusiasm for art and literature. Not only did he...