One of 16 monumental battle paintings commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor to document Qing reconquest of Xinjiang in 1759.
Key Facts
- Date of battles depicted
- February 1759
- Painting dimensions
- 8 metres wide by 4 metres tall
- Total paintings in series
- 16
- Commissioner
- Qianlong Emperor, Qing dynasty
- Creators
- Chinese court painters and European Jesuits
- Location of battles
- Qurman, modern-day Tajikistan
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following Qing forces' expulsion of the Dzungar people from Xinjiang, Turkic groups occupied the province. The Qianlong Emperor sought to reassert Qing authority over the region, leading to a military campaign that culminated in battles at Qurman in February 1759.
Qing imperial forces engaged Turkic occupiers at Yesil Kol Nor in Qurman, present-day Tajikistan. To commemorate these battles, the Qianlong Emperor commissioned a series of 16 large-format battle paintings executed collaboratively by Chinese court painters and European Jesuit artists at the imperial court.
The Qing Empire successfully regained control of Xinjiang, consolidating its western frontier. The commissioned painting series, each measuring 8 by 4 metres, served as a lasting record of the campaign and the emperor's military achievements.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent