The Qianlong Emperor (Chinese pinyin: Qianlong Di; Wade-Giles: Chien-lung Ti) was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty; and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor; he reigned officially from 11 October 1736 to 7 February 1795. On 8 February (the first day of that lunar year); he abdicated in favor of his son; the Jiaqing Emperor - a filial act in order not to reign longer than his grandfather; the illustrious Kangxi Emperor. Despite his retirement; however; he retained ultimate power until his death in 1799. Although his early years saw the continuity of an era of prosperity in China; he held an unrelentingly conservative attitude. As a result; the Qing Dynasty's comparative decline began later in his reign.