In the third issue of Historical Research in 2022,the Research Group of Chinese Academy of History published an article titled"New Research into the Ming and Qing Dynasties Self-Isolation Policy"which questi...In the third issue of Historical Research in 2022,the Research Group of Chinese Academy of History published an article titled"New Research into the Ming and Qing Dynasties Self-Isolation Policy"which questioned the mainstream discourse that describes the Ming and Qing dynasties with the concept of"Self-Isolation.This article aroused a great deal of public attention and considerable criticism.To many,attempting to defend a closed,backward,barbaric East Asia,which was unable to develop"modernity"and"civilisation"through endogenous drive,seems tantamount to reversing its own sinful history,and isolating itself from the civilised world where Western civilisation is the only criterion.However,was East Asia truly ever"closed to the world"?Are non-Western civilisations inherently stagnant and"without history"?Is the Western way of modernisation the only feasible and viable option?Are these assumptions truly self-evident and beyond reconsideration?展开更多
文摘In the third issue of Historical Research in 2022,the Research Group of Chinese Academy of History published an article titled"New Research into the Ming and Qing Dynasties Self-Isolation Policy"which questioned the mainstream discourse that describes the Ming and Qing dynasties with the concept of"Self-Isolation.This article aroused a great deal of public attention and considerable criticism.To many,attempting to defend a closed,backward,barbaric East Asia,which was unable to develop"modernity"and"civilisation"through endogenous drive,seems tantamount to reversing its own sinful history,and isolating itself from the civilised world where Western civilisation is the only criterion.However,was East Asia truly ever"closed to the world"?Are non-Western civilisations inherently stagnant and"without history"?Is the Western way of modernisation the only feasible and viable option?Are these assumptions truly self-evident and beyond reconsideration?
