Unable to find a "philosopher-king" in Europe to exemplify his views of religion and government, Voltaire believed Emperor Qianlong would fill the gap, and wrote poems in the distant emperor's honor.
Voltaire's praise for Chinese institutions appeared in a cultural context that was intensely sympathetic to China. During this same brief period in the mid-18th century, Europe was swept by a fascination with China that is usually described by the French word "chinoiserie," an enthusiasm for Chinese decor and design rather than philosophy and government.
In prints and descriptions of Chinese houses and gardens, and in Chinese embroidered silks, rugs, and colorful porcelains, Europeans found an alternative to the geometrical precision of their neoclassical architecture and the weight of baroque design. French rococo was a part of this mood, which tended to favor pastel colors, asymmetry, a calculated disorder, and a dreamy sensuality.
Its popular manifestations could be found everywhere in Europe, from the "Chinese" designs on the new wallpapers and furnishings that graced middle-class homes to the pagodas in public parks, the sedan chairs in which people were carried through the streets, and the latticework that surrounded ornamental gardens.
King Louis XIV was said to like Chinese style furniture. Chinese furniture could also be found in the queen's room and the prince's office.
Some grand aristocratic parties even used China as their theme. In 1667, a big ball was held in the Chateau de Versailles where King Louis XIV hosted the opening ceremony wearing a Chinese costume. And 33 years later at a palace ball, the king appeared seated in a Chinese style sedan.
Of Science and Crosses
However, western art and science were introduced to China via missionaries who were more interested in saving souls than spreading knowledge. Hence, they did not get to the common people. It was only in the late-19th-century's major social upheaval and crisis that the Chinese people turned to western science, for the purpose of reviving their country.
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