The Kangxi Emperor — Qing Shengzu

He took power at fifteen by arresting his own regent, crushed the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, annexed Taiwan, drove the Dzungars back and signed China's first treaty with a European state at Nerchinsk. He also learned mathematics from Jesuits, commissioned the dictionary that still bears his name, and abolished the tax increase on new population permanently.

He is generally regarded as the ablest emperor China ever had, and he could not settle his own succession: his heir was deposed twice and the fight among his sons poisoned his last decade.

Three of his empresses have paintings: Xiaochengren, who died at twenty giving birth to that heir; Xiaozhaoren, who lived six months in the rank; and Xiaoyiren, made empress on the day she died.