The splendid Chinese exhibition, The Three Emperors 1662-1795 currently at the Royal Academy, London, will no doubt
renew and stimulate interest in all things Chinese. Chinese textiles
and costumes are still an underrated area compared to paintings,
ceramics and the other decorative arts, but perhaps the balance
will be addressed in the UK after this exhibition.
In 1644 the Manchus, a nomadic horseriding people from NW China overthrew
the Ming dynasty and gradually gained control over the rest of China
, doubling the size of their empire, their rule being called Qing
(pronounced Ching).
