Scholarly Trends at the End of the Ming Dynasty and the Beginning of the Qing Dynasty (Library of the 20th Century)

Author: Xie Guozheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: During the period of great social upheaval at the transition from the Ming to the Qing Dynasty, intellectuals exhibited a variety of behaviors and transformations. These manifestations reflected the changes in the political, economic, and academic thought of the time. Xie Guozheng, a renowned historian in China, possesses a unique and insightful approach to the study of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The author often delves into obscure and overlooked sources to uncover the broader social context of this era, thereby conducting in-depth research on the intellectual trends, the living conditions of intellectuals, and their political circumstances during the late Ming and early Qing periods. For example, a single low-price rice ticket from the 48th year of the Wanli reign can reveal the economic development and political system of the late Ming Dynasty, while the peasant uprising organizations "Sniveling Class" and "Black Dragon Society" during the late Ming can shed light on the class contradictions and struggles of the time. The ability to sift through scattered and inconsistent historical materials, combining rigorous source criticism with a strong sense of historical humanism, is the best testament to the author's profound expertise in historical research and traditional historiographical methods. Reading this book allows one to appreciate and experience the beauty of this.