Speak of the three hundred years of the Qing Dynasty

Author: Lin Tao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: Renowned Qing historian Dai Yi said in his article "Strengthening the Study of Qing History" that the study of Qing history "should, from a vertical perspective, encompass the entire process of the Qing Dynasty's rise, development, and decline; from a horizontal perspective, it should include all aspects such as politics, economy, military, foreign relations, ethnicity, and ideological culture. Its timeframe spans from 1644, when the Qing Dynasty entered the capital and established nationwide rule, through the high prosperity of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns, to the decline after the Opium War, until the Xinhai Revolution and the fall of the Qing Dynasty, totaling 268 years. If extended to include the history of Nurhaci and Hong Taiji before the Qing Dynasty entered the capital, it would span over three hundred years." The article advocates "studying Qing history as a whole." Doing so "helps us summarize historical lessons from the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty, enables us to better understand the origins and developments of various institutions, policies, organizations, historical events, and ideological trends during the Qing period. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the three hundred years of Qing history as a complete research subject." This book attempts to compile a concise comprehensive history of the Qing Dynasty based on this idea. The 14 chapters of this book aim to reflect the main aspects and development of the Qing Dynasty. The "Emperors" section not only reflects the personalities and merits/shortcomings of each emperor but also seeks to outline the rise and decline of the Qing Dynasty by narrating major events of each reign. The chapters on "Imperial Harem," "Palace and Imperial Gardens," "Royal Family," "Politics," "Civil Officials," "Legal System," "Foreign Relations," "Military," "Economy," "Education," "Imperial Examinations," and "Culture" both horizontally showcase the main aspects of the Qing Dynasty and vertically reflect the development of these aspects in stages. The "Decline" chapter is dedicated to narrating the process of its downfall.