Introduction

This introduction establishes the historical context for the Imperially Commissioned Pictures of Tilling and Weaving of the Qing, thus, providing a background into its earlier tradition. It discusses the significance of agrarian productivity in classical theories of governance, as well as its enduring capacity to address concerns about the well-being of farming families. Moreover, this chapter outlines the philosophical discourse surrounding agrarian knowledge in its indigenous system - referred to herein as Dao Xue or Learning of the Way as well as in Xi Xue or Western Learning.. The chapter concludes with an investigation of the Qing emperors’ construction of their noble labor through demonstrations of their knowledge of agriculture and its promotion in the art they patronized.