Abstract
Rituals to Yu the Great of previous dynasties were incorporated into imperial rites, serving as emblem of legitimate imperial succession. Thus, scholars often discussed ritual of Yu with the context of regime legitimacy from predecessor. Comparing to most studies approaching ritual of Xia Yu at Qing dynasty from the perspective of regime legitimacy, this thesis otherwise focuses on Qing’s emphasis on Yu’s water management in the ritual, especially the changes in Kangxi and Qianlong periods. From emperor’s compositions, poems, edicts and court paintings, one can see that in order to respond to the demand of water management, Kangxi and Qianlong emperor actively participated in and altered the ritual of Yu as well as welded it with the ritual of imperial’s river construction. Manchu emperors consciously appropriate the allusion of Xia Yu from Han culture. After Qianlong pacified Huijiang, he even praised the breadth of the imperial state by comparing to the facts in Yugong, which demonstrating Qing’s strengths prevailing over other dynasties.