The Qianlong emperor (reigned 1736–95) was a great collector of antiquities. He acquired many famous paintings, bronzes and ceramics, and eventually amassed one of the world's largest jade collections. He was also deeply involved in the commissioning and cataloguing of artworks, and during his reign jade carving and other artistic pursuits reached new heights. In this lecture Professor Xu Xiaodong, the Associate Director of the Art Museum at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, explores how the Emperor's interest in jade influenced its development in China, as well as how jade from this period reflects the Emperor's own political views and personal beliefs.