With the popularity of Qing court dramas, the audience's interest in the history of the Qing Dynasty has become more and more intense. However, the image of the Qing Dynasty in TV dramas is often due to artistic processing and plot needs, and there is a big gap between it and real history. This article will analyze these historical misunderstandings in depth and take you to explore the real and vivid Qing Dynasty.
1. Costumes: from gorgeous to diverse
The costumes of the Qing Dynasty in TV dramas often appear in a gorgeous, dazzling, unified and standardized image. However, the real Qing Dynasty costumes are not so singular. Although the flag costume is the traditional costume of the Manchus, the robes and horse coats of the Han people have also been inherited and developed in the Qing Dynasty. In addition, the clothing styles of different regions, nationalities, and social classes are very different, showing the diversity and richness of Qing Dynasty clothing. Therefore, the stereotypical depiction of Qing Dynasty costumes in the TV series is undoubtedly a neglect of historical authenticity.
2. Court Life: Power Struggles and Red Tape
The court life of the Qing Dynasty in TV dramas is often depicted as romantic and extravagant scenes. However, the real Qing court life was full of power struggles and red tape. Members of the court must abide by strict etiquette and rules, and life is not as easy as it is in the TV series. In addition, the power struggle within the court was extremely fierce, with frequent changes of the throne and full of intrigue and power schemes. Therefore, the beautification of the court life of the Qing Dynasty in the TV series actually covers up the cruelty and complexity of history.
3. Political system: centralization and checks and balances
TV dramas often simplify the political system of the Qing Dynasty to the emperor**, which is actually a misunderstanding of the political system of the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty had a highly centralized political system, but the emperor did not have a monopoly on power. Institutions such as the Council of Ministers and the Military Aircraft Department played an important role in the handling of government affairs, and the existence of these institutions made the Qing Dynasty's political system have a certain degree of complexity and checks and balances. In addition, the Qing Dynasty also implemented the secret folding system, the folding system, etc., so that the emperor could have a more comprehensive understanding of national affairs, so as to rule effectively. Therefore, the simplified treatment of the political system of the Qing Dynasty in the TV series ignores the authenticity and complexity of history.
4. Foreign relations: openness and conservatism coexist
TV dramas often portray the Qing Dynasty as a closed, conservative country, which is actually a misunderstanding of the Qing Dynasty's foreign relations. During the Qing Dynasty, China's exchanges with Western countries gradually increased, such as missionary visits to China, diplomatic activities with Russia, Japan and other countries. These exchange activities not only promoted the exchange of Chinese and Western cultures, but also brought new opportunities and challenges to the foreign relations of the Qing Dynasty. At the same time, the Qing Dynasty also actively carried out overseas ** and established extensive contacts with all parts of the world. Therefore, the closed depiction of the Qing Dynasty's foreign relations in the TV series ignores the openness and pluralism of history.
5. Culture and Arts: Prosperity and Pluralism
The culture and art of the Qing Dynasty in TV dramas are often confined to the court and aristocratic level, which makes the audience's understanding of Qing culture and art biased. In fact, the culture and art of the Qing Dynasty were very prosperous, covering many fields such as literature, painting, calligraphy, and opera. During the Qing Dynasty, not only the court culture and art have been greatly developed, but also the folk culture and art have been widely inherited and innovated. Forms of opera, such as Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera, have gradually matured and become treasures of Chinese culture. The prosperity and development of these cultural and art forms reflects the cultural diversity and innovation of the Qing Dynasty. Therefore, the limited depiction of Qing Dynasty culture and art in the TV series ignores the authenticity and richness of history.
To sum up, the historical misunderstandings of the Qing Dynasty in the TV series stem from the simplification of historical events, stereotypes of cultural traditions, and misunderstandings of the political system. In order to gain a deeper understanding of Qing history and cultural traditions, we need to abandon stereotypes, gather multifaceted information, and delve deeper into history to explore what it really is. Only in this way can we have a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient and diverse historical period of the Qing Dynasty.