Sixty years from the fall of Ming to the rise of Qing.

Author: Yan Chongnian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: This book uses Yuan Chonghuan as a to depict the historical turmoil of the six decades from the late Ming to the early Qing. The author observes the political, economic, and military situations of both the Ming and Manchu sides in parallel, aiming to summarize the historical experiences and lessons of why the Ming declined and why the Manchu rose. In terms of narrative technique, the book uses Yuan Chonghuan's personal ups and downs as the thread to advance the plot, while also enriching the broader social and historical context behind it. Thus, it is both readable and possesses depth and breadth. The second volume of "Sixty Years of the Ming's Fall and the Qing's Rise" is now launched, completing the entire series. These were the years of earth-shaking upheaval, dynastic change, and dramatic historical events; a stage that stirred passion and revealed individuality. Nurhaci's perseverance, Hong Taiji's ambition, Emperor Wanli's indolence, Emperor Tianqi's incompetence, Yuan Chonghuan's loyalty, Wei Zhongxian's cunning, the desperate struggles of the Donglin Party, and the tyrannical behavior of the eunuch faction—these figures and events narrate an era of good versus evil, loyalty versus treachery, witnessing the rise of the Qing and the decline of the Ming. This book is another significant work by author Yan Chongnian, the author of "Authentic Accounts of the Twelve Emperors of the Qing Dynasty."
"Sixty Years of the Ming's Fall and the Qing's Rise, Volume 2": This book is based on the first 24 lectures of Yan Chongnian's lecture series on Qing history at CCTV's "One Hundred Lectures Forum," slightly revised and published. The book covers a span of 60 years, from the Ming's Wanli 11th year (1583), when Nurhaci rose in arms, to the Qing's Shunzhi 1st year (1644), when Fulin established the capital in Beijing. Throughout these six decades, the historical changes were profound. Yan Chongnian summarizes the characteristics of this 60-year period as: "The Ming's fall and the Qing's rise"—victory and defeat, rise and decline; both the rise and the fall were tragic.