Blending profound historical insights with genuine human warmth, this essay collection offers a rich exploration of the Qing Dynasty. Split into three sections, it vividly captures the era’s multifaceted nature and sweeps you from palace intrigues to the bustling life of ordinary city dwellers, from the grand narratives of emperors and generals to the humble stories of street vendors and common folk. With the rigor of a scholar and the narrative skill of a historian, the author leads readers through the Qing court life and society at large, uncovering the rise and fall of history, alongside the vivid, everyday moments that defined the period.