According to ancient texts, Emperor Kangxi was able to read and write at the age of five. Everyday he'd write thousands of words as constant practice. When learning the Four Books of Confucianism, the young Kangxi would memorize every character. After ascending the throne at the age of eight, Emperor Kangxi became even more dedicated to his studies. The books he read included, The Book of Changes, Annals of Zuo, Documents of the Elder, and The Book of Odes. Later he studied mathematics, geography, and science from the Jesuit missionaries, some of whom became his trusted advisers.
After getting rid of the officials who had thwarted him, Emperor Kangxi recruited Chinese scholars to help him transform his rule into one based on Confucian teachings. His promotion and support for Chinese culture and arts helped him to win over the scholarly elite and also the Chinese people.
Emperor Kangxi had a deep appreciation for Chinese literature and history. He loved Chinese calligraphy, wrote many books and over 1,000 poems. He was meticulous about keeping historical records and employed Chinese scholars to compile the Kangxi Dictionary—the greatest to date. He also mapped much of China.