The Process of Economic Recovery, Stabilization, and its Accomplishments in the Early Ch'ing, 1681-1735

Abstract

I feel that there is a tendency among historians who have been recently discussing early Ch'ing history to emphasize the damage to the economy after the entry of the Manchus into China proper, and to ignore the aspects of recovery and accomplishments, or to underestimate them if they should be mentioned. This is incorrect. It cannot be denied that during the period after the Ch'ing armies entered China proper and were waging war, Chinese society actually suffered destruction — and the destruction was very grave. This was owing to the old custom of plundering by the Banner nobility, and the wrongdoing added by the Chinese soldiers who had gone over to the Manchus, pillaging, massacring, and perpetrating all sorts of outrages. At the same time, in order to raise the military finances for countering the resistance of the Chinese people, the Ch'ing regime was ruthless in extorting more taxes; there was no haven from their demands.