''Ten Thousand Nations Coming to Pay Tribute'' (, 1761) is a monumental (299x207cm)

Qing dynasty The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

painting depicting foreign delegations visiting the

Qianlong Emperor The Qianlong Emperor (25 September 17117 February 1799), also known by his temple name Emperor Gaozong of Qing, personal name Hongli, was the fifth Emperor of China, emperor of the Qing dynasty and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China pr ...

in the

Forbidden city The Forbidden City () is the Chinese Empire, imperial Chinese palace, palace complex in the center of the Imperial City, Beijing, Imperial City in Beijing, China. It was the residence of 24 Ming dynasty, Ming and Qing dynasty, Qing dynasty L ...

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

during the late 1750s. The painting was intended to show the cosmopolitanism and the centrality of the

Qing Empire The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...

, since most countries of Asia and Europe are shown paying their respects to the Chinese Emperor. China already had a long tradition of such paintings (designated as ''"

Portraits of Periodical Offering The ''Portraits of Periodical Offering'' () were tributary documentative paintings (with illustration on each of the portrait) produced by various Chinese dynasties and later as well in other East Asian dynasties, such as Japan and Vietnam. Thes ...

"''), starting from around the 6th century CE, but such paintings ended around the time of the

Opium War The First Opium War ( zh, t=第一次鴉片戰爭, p=Dìyīcì yāpiàn zhànzhēng), also known as the Anglo-Chinese War, was a series of military engagements fought between the British Empire and the Chinese Qing dynasty between 1839 and 1 ...

, which shattered the ideal of the Great Chinese Empire in the middle of the world, and gave way to the awareness of China as simply one country among others. The principle was one of more-or-less voluntary submission, with presents being periodically brought to the Chinese Emperor as a symbolic gesture of acknowledgement of Chinese overlordship. According to Ming period writings "The Emperor resides in the center and holds the reins of all other nations and all things under the sun". The title literally refers to ten thousand countries ("萬國"), but this simply has the meaning of an uncountable multitude.

Asia

Delegates of many Asian countries appear, such as

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

(朝鮮),

Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...

(安南),

Ryukyu The , also known as the or the , are a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Geography of Taiwan, Taiwan: the Ryukyu Islands are divided into the Satsunan Islands (Ōsumi Islands, Ōsumi, Tokara Islands, Tokara and A ...

(琉球國),

Siam Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

(暹羅國), (

Luzon Luzon ( , ) is the largest and most populous List of islands in the Philippines, island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the List of islands of the Philippines, Philippine archipelago, it is the economic and political ce ...

Sulu Sulu (), officially the Province of Sulu (Tausug language, Tausūg: ''Wilaya' sin Lupa' Sūg''; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province of the Philippines in the Sulu Archipelago. It was part of the Bangsamoro, Bangsamoro Autonomous R ...

(蘇祿), and

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

(緬甸國). File:万国来朝图 (Khazak delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg, Kazakh delegates (哈薩克) File:万国来朝图 (Liu-Kyu delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg,

delegates (琉球國) File:万国来朝图 (Japan delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg,

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

delegates (日本國) File:万国来朝图 (Luang Phrabang delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg,

Luang Phrabang Luang Prabang ( Lao: ຫຼວງພະບາງ, pronounced ), historically known as Xieng Thong (ຊຽງທອງ) and alternatively spelled Luang Phabang or Louangphabang, is the capital of Luang Prabang Province in north-central Laos. I ...

delegates (南掌國) File:万国来朝图 Indonesia delegates (咖喇吧国 Jakarta) in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...

delegates (咖喇吧國) File:万国来朝图 Malaysia 马辰国 delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Banjarmasin Banjarmasin is the largest city in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It was the capital of the province until 15 February 2022. The city is located on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. Historically the centre of t ...

delegates (馬辰國) File:万国来朝图 (Siam delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg,

delegates (暹羅國) File:万国来朝图 Myanmar (缅甸国) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

delegates (緬甸國) File:万国来朝图 Korea delegates (朝鲜国) in Peking in 1761.jpg,

delegates (朝鮮國) File:万国来朝图 Badakhshan delegates (拔達克山) in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Badakhshan Badakhshan is a historical region comprising the Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan, eastern Tajikistan, and Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County in China. Badakhshan Province is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. Much of historic ...

delegates (拔達克山) File:万国来朝图 Andijan (安集延) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Andijan Andijan ( ), also spelt Andijon () and formerly romanized as Andizhan ( ), is a city in Uzbekistan. It is the administrative, economic, and cultural center of Andijan Region. Andijan is a district-level city with an area of . Andijan is the most ...

delegates (安集延) File:万国来朝图 Kyrgyzstan (布鲁特) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg, Kyrgyz delegates (布魯特) File:万国来朝图 Brunei (汶莱國) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...

delegates (汶萊國) File:万国来朝图 Johor (柔佛国) delegates in Beijing in 1761.jpg,

Johor Johor, also spelled Johore,'' is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state of Malaysia in the south of the Malay Peninsula. It borders with Pahang, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan to the north. Johor has maritime borders with Singapore ...

delegates (柔佛國) File:万国来朝图 Annam (安南国) delegates in Beijing in 1761.jpg, Annam (安南國) delegates File:万国来朝图 Sulu Archipelago (苏禄国) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Sulu Archipelago The Sulu Archipelago ( Tausug: Kapū'-pūan sin Sūg Sulat Sūg: , ) is a chain of islands in the Pacific Ocean, in the southwestern Philippines. The archipelago forms the northern limit of the Celebes Sea and southern limit of the Sulu Se ...

(蘇祿國) delegates File:万国来朝图 Philippines Luzon island (吕宋国) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

(

Spanish Philippines Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine ** Spanish history ** Spanish cultur ...

) () delegates File:万国来朝图 Sultanate of Singora 宋腒𦛨国 delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

Sultanate of Singora The Sultanate of Singora was a heavily fortified port city in southern Thailand and the precursor of the present-day town of Songkhla. It was founded in the early 17th century by a Persian, Dato Mogol, and flourished during the reign of his son ...

(宋腒𦛨國) delegates File:万国来朝图 Sumatra 苏喇国 delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

Sumatra Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...

(蘇喇國) delegates File:万国来朝图 Malacca 馬六甲國 delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

Malacca Malacca (), officially the Historic State of Malacca (), is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the Peninsular Malaysia#Other features, southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca ...

(馬六甲國) delegates

Xinjiang

Numerous representatives of the newly conquered territory of

Xinjiang Xinjiang,; , SASM/GNC romanization, SASM/GNC: Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Sinkiang, officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the China, People' ...

(through the

Dzungar–Qing Wars The Dzungar–Qing Wars (, ) were a decades-long series of conflicts that pitted the Dzungar Khanate against the Qing dynasty and its Mongol vassals. Fighting took place over a wide swath of Inner Asia, from present-day central and eastern Mong ...

) also appear:

Ili Ili, ILI, Illi may refer to: Abbreviations * Indian Law Institute * Influenza-like illness * Intelligent Land Investments * Intensive lifestyle intervention, a type of lifestyle medicine * International Law Institute, a non-profit organization ...

(伊犁), the core of the former

Dzungar Khanate The Dzungar Khanate ( Mongolian: ), also known as the Zunghar Khanate or Junggar Khanate, was an Inner Asian khanate of Oirat Mongol origin. At its greatest extent, it covered an area from southern Siberia in the north to present-day Kyrgyz ...

; Uqturpan (烏什);

Kashgar Kashgar () or Kashi ( zh, c=喀什) is a city in the Tarim Basin region of southern Xinjiang, China. It is one of the westernmost cities of China, located near the country's border with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. For over 2,000 years, Kashgar ...

(喀什喀爾); and Yarkent (葉爾奇木). File:万国来朝图 (Ili delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg,

delegates (flag with "伊犁", Ili, former

) File:万国来朝图 (Uqturpan delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg, Uqturpan delegates (flag "烏什") File:万国来朝图 Yarkent delegates (葉爾奇木) in Peking in 1761.jpg, Yarkent delegates (葉爾奇木) File:万国来朝图 Kashgar (喀什喀爾) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

delegates (喀什喀爾) File:万国来朝图 Aksu Xinjiang (阿克蘇) delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg, Aksu (阿克蘇) delegates File:万国来朝图 (Kucha delegates 1761).jpg,

Kucha Kucha or Kuche (also: ''Kuçar'', ''Kuchar''; , Кучар; zh, t= 龜茲, p=Qiūcí, zh, t= 庫車, p=Kùchē; ) was an ancient Buddhist kingdom located on the branch of the Silk Road that ran along the northern edge of what is now the Taklam ...

() delegates File:万国来朝图 Khotan 和阗 delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

Khotan Hotan (also known by #Etymology, other names) is a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang, an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region in Northwestern China. The city proper of Hotan broke off from the larger Hotan County to become an ...

(和闐) delegates File:万国来朝图 Qarashahr (哈爾沙爾) delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg, Qarashahr (哈爾沙爾) delegates

Europe

Many representatives of Europe are also present, such as

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

(法蘭西),

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

(荷蘭),

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

(英吉利), and

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

(鄂羅斯國). File:万国来朝图 (French delegates in Peking in 1761).jpg,

delegates (flag "法蘭西") File:万国来朝图 England delegates (英吉利国) in Peking in 1761.jpg,

delegates (英吉利國) File:万国来朝图 Russia delegates (鄂羅斯国) in Peking in 1761.jpg,

delegates (鄂羅斯國) File:万国来朝图 Holland (荷蘭國) delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

delegates (荷蘭國) File:万国来朝图 Switzerland (瑞國) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

(瑞國) delegates File:万国来朝图 Helvetia (合勒未祭亚) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Helvetia Helvetia () is a national personification of Switzerland, officially , the Swiss Confederation. The allegory is typically pictured in a flowing clothing, with a spear and a shield emblazoned with the Flag of Switzerland, Swiss flag, and commo ...

(合勒未祭亞) delegates File:万国来朝图 Poland (波羅呢亞) delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

(波羅呢亞) delegates File:万国来朝图 Hungary 翁加里亚 delegates in Peking in 1761.jpg,

Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...

(翁加里亞) delegates File:万国来朝图 Yerevan 亞利晩 delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

Yerevan Yerevan ( , , ; ; sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia, as well as one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerev ...

(亞利晩) delegates File:万国来朝图 Atlantic Ocean (nationality unclear) 大西洋 delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

(大西洋, Westerners, nationality unclear) delegates File:万国来朝图 Indian Ocean (小西洋, nationality unclear) delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761.jpg,

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...

(小西洋, Westerners, nationality unclear) delegates

Contemporary popular prints ''Ten Thousand Nations Coming to Pay Tribute''

While the Imperial ''Ten Thousand Nations Coming to Pay Tribute'' is quite realistic and derived from the Jesuit pictorial tradition of Giuseppe Castiglione, this theme also gave rise to some contemporary popular prints with the same title, but a much more caricatural rendering, such as the New Year print (

nianhua A New Year picture () is a popular Banhua in China. It is a form of colored woodblock print, used for decoration and the performance of rituals during the Chinese New Year Holiday. In the 19th and 20th centuries some printers began to use the g ...

年畫) by Wang Junfu (王君甫, mid to late 17th century). This reflects the tradition of Chinese folk art with commercial intent, sold to ordinary households for New Lunar Year festivities. Wang Junfu's ''Ten Thousand Nations Coming to Pay Tribute'' (萬國來朝圖) also depicts various foreign countries visiting the Imperial court, but in a rather grotesque manner. Various foreign tribute-bearers arriving at the

Zhengyangmen Qianmen () is the colloquial name for Zhengyangmen (; Manchu language, Manchu: ; Möllendorff:tob šun-i duka, ), a gate in Beijing's historic Beijing city fortifications, city wall. The gate is situated to the south of Tiananmen Square and once ...

gate of the imperial palace are depicted, but with a much more caricatural understanding of geography and foreign physionomies: the print is crowded with representatives of the "countries of the pygmies" (Xiaoren guo 小人國), the people with perforated chests (Chuanxin guo 穿心國),

(日本),

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

(Tianzhu guo 天竺), the Muslim countries (Huihui guo 回回國), Holland (Helan 荷蘭), the Giants of

Patagonia Patagonia () is a geographical region that includes parts of Argentina and Chile at the southern end of South America. The region includes the southern section of the Andes mountain chain with lakes, fjords, temperate rainforests, and glaciers ...

(Changren guo 長人國), and the “Western Ocean” (Xiyang 西洋), probably Europe.

References

{{reflist

External links

Detailed view, Palace Museum
1761 paintings Qing dynasty art Collection of the Palace Museum