Illustrated Books of the Battle of Pingding Annam: The Picture of Ruan Guangxian Entering the Sacrificial Banquet

“The Painting of Ruan Guangxian Entering the Sacrifice and Giving Banquet” in the “Annam War Atlas of Pingding”, Qianlong, Qing Dynasty, anonymous painting, paper edition, colored, 55.6cm long and 91.2cm wide< In the upper part of the painting, Emperor Qianlong wrote a poem titled "The Picture of Ruan Hui Sending His Nephew Ruan Guangxian to a Banquet", with the following inscription: "Qianlong's Youyou Mid Autumn Imperial Brush." The seal includes "The Treasure of the Ancient Xi Emperor", "Zhu Wen Fang Seal," Sanxi Tang Jingjian Seal, "and" Suitable for Descendants. "Jiyou" refers to the 54th year of Qianlong (1789), when Emperor Qianlong was 79 years old
In the second half of the 18th century, due to the change of regime in Annan (now Vietnam), there were four wars. The brothers Ruan Wenyue and Ruan Hui (later renamed Ruan Guangping) of the Guiren Mansion led their troops to overthrow the Li Dynasty, and King Li Weiqi fled. In the 53rd year of Qianlong’s reign (1788), the mother and wife of King Annan appealed to the Qing court for assistance. Since the fifth year of Kangxi’s reign (1666), when the Qing court conferred the title of King Li Weixi of the Great Yue as King of Annan, the Li Dynasty maintained vassals and paid tribute, and was very obedient to the Qing court. The Emperor Qianlong decided to send troops to help the Li family and restore the rule of the Li Dynasty in Annan. Emperor Qianlong ordered Sun Shiyi, governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, to command the army and take over the expedition. Soon, he occupied Xuanguang, Xinghua, and other places in Annam, and established Li Weiqi to take over the throne again. However, the following year, when the Qing soldiers celebrated the Spring Festival, they were heavily counterattacked by Ruan Huijun. The Qing soldiers hastily responded, losing their troops and defeating their generals, and Licheng regained its victory. Although Ruan Hui defeated the Qing army and destroyed the Li Dynasty, he was well aware that in order to stabilize order and strengthen governance, it was necessary for the Qing Dynasty to recognize and canonize him in order to gain legal status. Ruan Hui constantly sought to improve her relationship with the Qing Dynasty in order to transform the Qing government’s policy of “supporting Li and destroying Ruan.”. In the face of Ruan Hui’s persistent actions and the political situation in Annan, Emperor Qianlong decided to change his policy towards Annan, changing from supporting Li to supporting Ruan, and canonizing Ruan Hui as King of Annan
Emperor Qianlong, in order to commemorate the several battles won by the Qing army when they sent troops to Annam, and to praise the heroic actions of Guangxi’s governor Xu Shiheng, commander Shang Weiping, Zhang Chaolong, and other generals and men who served the imperial court during the Pingnan Campaign, ordered the compilation of a “Battle Map of Pingding Annam” (6 volumes in total). In addition to the battle scenes depicting the battles of Shouchang River, Sanyi Column Right, Shiqiu River, and Fuliang River, there are also the “Ruan Guangxian Gifts Banquet” depicting Ruan Hui sending his nephew Ruan Guangxian to a summer resort in July of the 54th year of the Qianlong reign (1789). The Emperor of Qianlong received Ruan Guangxian and his party at the Qingyin Pavilion Grand Theater in the resort, and ordered him to sit down with the Minister of Culture and Military Affairs, the Mongolian Duke, to enjoy the opera. In the picture, Emperor Qianlong is full of energy and sitting with his knees crossed. In front of him are envoys such as Ruan Guangxian kneeling in a row in red robes. This composition, which made Emperor Qianlong reign supreme, is both realistic and vivid, vividly depicting the strict hierarchy between Emperor Qianlong and his envoys, as well as the position of emperor Qianlong in the painting

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