The Qing Dynasty, China’s last dynasty, was founded by Nurhachi, and lasted nearly 300 years, from 1644 to 1912. As the first Qing Emperor, Nurhachi unified the scattered tribes of the north, and, under his rule, the Manchus and the Chinese were able to work peacefully together while maintaining their own distinct cultural traditions. The end of the Qing Dynasty in the 19th century was a turbulent period in Chinese history, with many uprisings.
One of the most interesting characters was the ruthless Empress Dowager Cixi (1835—1908). Her epicurean demands famously bordered on the obscene — she lived in such fear that she would be killed, she demanded that meals consist of up to 100 dishes, on the premise that it would have been difficult for someone to poison every dish! An appreciation for the art of cooking, eating and drinking tea became part of everyday Chinese life.
