Abstract: In 1770, with the purpose of presenting an unusual gift to his mother Empress Dowager Chongqing (1692-1777) for her eightieth birthday, Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) ordered the imperial architectural department to construct a Buddhist compound named jile shijie or World of Utmost Pleasure on the northern shore of imperial Beihai Park next to the Forbidden […]

Johnny Erling & Joseph Fewsmith in Dialogue Moderator: Jürgen Trittin Since taking office in 2012, Xi Jinping has reshaped the Chinese political landscape, consolidating authority in ways not seen since Mao Zedong. His leadership has redefined governance, the role of the Communist Party, and China's position on the global stage. But how does power function […]