According to Beijing Archives (No.10, 2009), the early years of the Qing Dynasty generally followed the previous dynasty, and the early years were before dawn, around 5 am; During the reign of Qianlong and Jiaqing, the world was peaceful, but later, it was postponed to sunrise, that is, at 6 am; Emperor Tongzhi was dissolute and didn't come to the DPRK until eight o'clock at the latest; Later, in order to save the decline of the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Guangxu attempted to reform and reform, and once advanced the early dynasty to 4 am.
But in the early Qing dynasty, it was another story. According to Mr. wuyue's Looking at Small Shenyang, "There is no system of gathering officials for deliberation in the early morning." The Kangxi dynasty once followed the system of "obeying the government". At six o'clock in winter and spring, at five o'clock in summer and autumn, Gan Qing Gate first, then Taihe Gate. More or less like the early dynasty, but in the Xianfeng dynasty, the "imperial gate to listen to politics" was cancelled.
Extended data
In the early dynasties, ministers had to get up at midnight and cross half the capital to reach the meridian gate. At 3 o'clock in the morning, the minister arrived at the noon gate and waited. As soon as the drum on the rostrum rang, the ministers lined up; When the bell rang at 5 am, the door of the palace was opened. Guan Bai entered in turn, crossed the Jinshui Bridge and lined up in the square. If an official coughs, spits or walks unsteadily, it will be recorded by the censor in charge of picketing and waiting for treatment.
Usually, when the emperor visits the Taihe Gate or Hall, 100 officials kneel and kowtow three times. Only officials above level 4 have the opportunity to talk to the emperor. Ministers report government affairs to the emperor, and the emperor asks questions or gives answers.
The emperor mainly listened to politics in Ganqingmen and managed politics in hall of mental cultivation. Usually go to the court to listen to politics two or three times a week, meet with the heads of central departments at Ganqingmen, accept their memorials and listen to work reports. The emperors of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong ruled the country diligently, and Zhu approved the imperial edict without others ghostwriting, and often read the throne until late at night.
The memorial is a kind of secret instrument, which began with Emperor Kangxi. In order to master the first-hand grass-roots political situation, the original player can go directly to the emperor without going through bureaucratic hurdles. The memorial of Zhu Pi personally instructed by the emperor has legal and administrative effects. The content of Zhu Pi may be a serious political admonition, and more often it is simply "I know", "I am happy to see" and "I am happy to see". In front of the emperor, the Manchu and the Han people are different: those who call themselves "slaves" must be ministers of banners, while Han officials can only call themselves "ministers".
Baidu Encyclopedia-Early Dynasty (China Ancient Ceremony)
Phoenix. Com-Qing officials have no holidays and must arrive at the early morning at midnight every day.
People's Daily Online-Historical Secret: Why did the ancient emperors not live long because they got up early and went to bed early?