Qing Research Articles

Spatial Expansion, Planning, and Their Influences on the Urban Landscape of Christian Churches in Canton (1582–1732 and 1844–1911)

Canton (present-day Guangzhou, China) has a long history as a trading port and serves as a window for studying the history of Sino-Western cultural exchanges. Canton was a city built under Confucian orders, leading to significant differences (when compared to Christian cities) in urban functional zoning, layout, urban landscape, and methods for shaping spatial order. Therefore, the churches constructed by Christian missionary societies in Canton merit particular attention in missionary history research and urban planning history. Based on local gazetteers, historical maps, export paintings, Western travelogues, and archives at that time, from a cultural landscape perspective, this article compares and analyzes the spatial expansion of Christian churches and their influences on the urban landscape in Canton in two stages. In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the spatial layout of the churches indicated an active integration into Canton City. After the Opium War, churches were not only used for religious purposes but also served as symbols asserting the presence of Christians and Western powers (which made the situation more complicated). Missionary societies attracted believers through the construction of public facilities, building Christian communities centered around churches, thereby competing with authorities for spatial power and influencing the urban functional system and spatial layout controlled by the authorities. Comparatively, the Roman Catholic Cathedral has profoundly changed the traditional landscape order in Canton, while the Protestant Dongshan Church interacted more closely with the city.

Analysis and Research on the Turning Points in the Development of Chinese and Western Civilizations

The 17th century was a significant stage in global history, with the West ushering in the Scientific Revolution and the rise of Enlightenment thinking, and China experiencing the transformations of the Ming and Qing dynasties. These advances have had a profound impact on the development of contemporary society. However, most of the existing studies focus on a single civilization, and there are fewer comprehensive studies on the interaction between Chinese and Western civilizations. The study examines the development of civilisation in ancient China and the West (Europe) through the analysis of existing historical data on China and the West and compares the performance of civilisation in China in the 17th century with that of the West during the same period through a horizontal comparison of the historical processes of the Middle Ages, including the change of polity, the development of the economic system, and the way of education. The results show that China's level of civilisation was higher than that of the West before the 17th century, but the West's civilisation gradually surpassed China's after that. Despite the different paths and speeds of development between China and the West, the turning point in the 17th century had a profound impact on the course of world history (turning point: the 17th century, when China's civilisational development gradually lagged behind that of the West, i.e. the West's entry into a capitalist society).

Research on the art and folk meaning of wedding clothes in Shanxi in the Qing Dynasty

Research on the art and folk meaning of wedding clothes in Shanxi in the Qing Dynasty

Chartalism in Ancient China: A Retrospective of Monetary Thought

Abstract Chartalism is an influential and continuous tradition of monetary thought in ancient China. It dates back to the earliest Chinese text on monetary thought and continued into the Qing Dynasty. A vast body of related literature can be found across ancient Chinese dynasties. Chartalism in ancient China had the following main propositions. First, money originated as an invention of ancient monarchs and is a creature of the state. The second is the nominal theory of money: useless metal can function as money and become a tool of state intervention in the economy through state support. Third, the right to issue money should be monopolized by the state; otherwise, the state's monetary policy will be interfered with by other currencies. Fourth, an important monetary policy is the government's buying and selling of commodities countercyclically by issuing and receiving money, thus stabilizing prices. Fifth, the circulation process of sovereign money consists of two parts: the state's minting of coins (or issuing of paper money) and spending are the outflow of money, and levying monetary taxes (or selling goods) is the inflow of money. The state stabilizes the value of money by intervening in the circulation process.

The Christian interpretations on the nature of heaven’s mandate in late Ming and early Qing dynasties

This paper aims to examine in detail the Christian interpretations on the Confucian concept of the nature of the heaven’s mandate [天命之性] during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties from historical and textual perspective. Neo-Confucians of the Song Dynasty interpret the nature of the heaven’s mandate as human nature, believing that heaven endowed humans with reason, known as the heavenly principle [天理]. In the late Ming period, Christian missionaries such as Jesuits in China used Confucian classics to convey Christian thoughts, interpreting the heaven’s mandate as God’s mandate and the nature of the heaven’s mandate as the spirituality bestowed by God, which is equated with the soul. They also used the nature of the heaven’s mandate as a criterion for determining the authenticity of a teaching (religion[教]), asserting that Christianity is the true teaching (religion). Thus, Christianity in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties provides a new interpretation on the nature of the heaven’s mandate and promotes the integration of Christian and Confucian thoughts through this interpretation.Contribution: The paper provides a detailed review of the history of Christian interpretations on the nature of the heaven’s mandate during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Currently, there is limited scholarly research on the theological thoughts of Christianity during this period. This study not only enhances the understanding of the new interpretations by Christianity but also aids in comprehending the theological ideas of Christianity during the late Ming and early Qing periods. By reinterpreting Confucian classics, Christianity endowed them with new meanings, offering valuable references for the localisation of Christian theology and the study of cross-cultural exchange.

Experimental Study on Optimization of Consolidation Parameters of Silty Clay Based on Response Surface Methodology: A Case Study on the Protection and Restoration of the Ming and Qing Dynasty Hangzhou Seawall Site

The preservation of the ancient seawall site is a focal point and challenge in the protection of historical relics along Hangzhou’s Grand Canal in China. This endeavor holds significant historical and contemporary value in uncovering and perpetuating Hangzhou’s cultural heritage. Researchers investigating the Linping section of the seawall site aimed to address soil site deterioration by selecting environmentally friendly alkali-activated slag cementitious materials and applying the response surface method (RSM) to conduct solidification experiments on the seawall soil. Researchers used the results of unconfined compressive strength tests and microscopic electron microscopy analysis, considering the comprehensive performance of soil solidification mechanisms and mechanical properties, to establish a least-squares regression fitting model to optimize the solidification material process parameters. The experimental results indicate that the optimal mass ratio of lime, gypsum, and slag for achieving the best solidification process parameters for the seawall soil, with a 28-day curing period, is 1:1.9:6.2. This ratio was subsequently applied to the restoration and reconstruction of the seawall site, with parts of the restored seawall exhibited in a museum to promote the sustainable conservation of urban cultural heritage. This study provides theoretical support and practical guidance for the protection and restoration of soil sites.

Investigation on the Construction of Yinshan Buddhist Temple in Beijing

Yinshan Tallin is located in Xihu Village, Xingshou Town, Changping District, Beijing. During the reign of Tang Zhenguan, Yinshan temple was built, and the famous monks and Zen masters of all dynasties came to practice here one after another. Through a detailed review of the construction of Yinshan Buddhist Temple and the development of Buddhism from the Tang Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, that is, from the 7th century to the 20th century, this paper conducted investigation on such a temple with a long history and unique geographical location, which can help people better understand its value and influence, and provide references for protection and inheritance.

The Inheritance and Development of “Intangible Cultural Heritage ” : A Case Study of Zhejiang Taizhou Embroidery

From the needle boneless lanterns in Xianju during the Tang Dynasty to the unearthed artifacts of Huangyan Lingshi Temple in the Northern Song Dynasty, to the carved embroidery of Haimen in the late Qing Dynasty, the history of embroidery in Taizhou has a long and profound history. After several generations of inheritance, development, and historical and cultural accumulation, Taizhou Embroidery has now become one of the artistic treasures of Taizhou culture and even Chinese culture. This paper then is to discuss how to promote Taizhou Embroidery from Zhejiang by using “big data” under the background of the “national trend craze”, and through research on the awareness of Taizhou Embroidery at home and abroad, it reflects the reasons for the necessity of promotion, the challenges faced by promotion, and the corresponding strategies for promotion.

Application and Innovative Design Strategies of Cultural Elements in the Costume Patterns of Qing Dynasty Emperors

This article deeply explores the application and innovative design of cultural elements in the clothing patterns of Qing Dynasty emperors. Firstly, it analyzes the richness and symbolism of Qing Dynasty emperor clothing patterns, the uniqueness and aesthetic value of colors, as well as the exquisite and innovative craftsmanship. The second point is to point out the limitations of traditional element application, cultural connotation misinterpretation and shallowness, as well as the disconnect between market adaptability and consumer demand in current design. Propose optimization measures to address these issues, aiming to promote the widespread application and inheritance of cultural elements of Qing Dynasty emperor costume patterns in modern design.

The Historical Expression and Aesthetic Trends of Lotus in Literati Painting during the Ming and Qing Dynasties

The lotus, celebrated for its cultural symbolism and aesthetic allure, has been a recurring muse for flower and bird painters in Chinese art history. This article explores lotus paintings during the Ming and Qing dynasties, pivotal periods of ideological liberation and societal complexities. Traditional lotus artworks across dynasties have woven a rich tapestry in Chinese painting. Focusing on the lotus, the article intricately combines symbolic meanings and historical contexts, unraveling the flower's intrinsic artistic essence. It sheds light on the evolving aesthetic qualities within lotus depictions, using this exploration as a lens to understand cross-cultural exchanges and clashes between Chinese and Western influences. Emphasizing the inherent artistic will of lotus-themed painting, the research delves into the nuanced development and aesthetic significance of this genre. By elucidating the beauty expressed in the evolution of lotus images, the study provides valuable insights with contemporary relevance. It highlights the symbolic significance of the lotus in Ming and Qing China, incorporating concrete examples of renowned lotus paintings and artists. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance reader-friendly comprehension and explicitly articulates the contribution of these findings to current artistic practices. The research not only deepens our understanding of lotus culture but also serves as a reference for contemporary lotus-themed creative endeavors, connecting historical expressions with modern artistic sensibilities.

Human disturbance exacerbated erosion and deposition in the karst peak-cluster depressions during the Ming and Qing dynasties

Human disturbance exacerbated erosion and deposition in the karst peak-cluster depressions during the Ming and Qing dynasties

Legitimacy and Hegemony in Late Imperial China

Canonical international relations research treats international orders as systemic, long-term projects of hegemons. However, orders can also provide valuable domestic political capital for leaders. Hegemonic leaders have stronger incentives to invest in hegemony when doing so potentially enhances their political legitimacy. Using a new dataset of over 8,000 Ming and Qing dynasty tribute exchanges between 1368 and 1895, I assess whether emperor legitimacy needs help explain China’s engagement in tribute diplomacy, a central institution of Chinese hegemony. The findings show that new emperors, particularly those following “irregular” entry into power, invested heavily in tribute to pursue legitimacy among internal and external audiences. This behavior was most common with “high-value” counterparts. An illustrative case documents how the Yongle Emperor deployed tribute to legitimize his right to rule. The findings demonstrate the importance of domestic politics and leader legitimacy for understanding the nature and persistence of hegemonic order in early modern Asia.

A study on the changes of cultural and educational facilities in Dali City during the Ming and Qing dynasties

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the central government implemented a policy of Bureaucratization of Native Officers, in order to develop and consolidate the integration of frontier with the mainland. Through the gradual construction of cultural and educational facilities, appointed officials were able to achieve the political goal of ideological integration with the Central Plains in the frontier society. Taking the construction of cultural and educational facilities as a starting point, this article attempts to explore the relationship between urban development, power change and cultural identity in Dali City from four aspects: the number of facilities, scale regulation, spatial form and functional structure. Shows that: (1) In basic education facilities, charitable schools replaced village schools, and New-type schools gradually increased and showed decentralised distribution, making Confucianism available to a wider audience. (2) The scale of the main educational facilities had expanded and the regulation has improved, gradually showing a concentrated distribution. And due to the formation of functional zoning, cultural and educational facilities occupy a more central and prominent landscape position in Dali City. (3) Influenced by the Confucian culture of Central Plains, the number of imperial examinations gradually increased, and the social life of Dali City changed. Dali City gradually converged with the Central Plains, and the local people's sense of cultural identity with the Central Plains deepened, strengthening the central government's rule over the border areas.

Study on the spatiotemporal distribution patterns and influencing factors of cultural heritage: a case study of Fujian Province

The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of cultural heritage reveal the trajectory of human activity changes, and a deep analysis of its natural and cultural factors holds significant reference value for the overall conservation and management of cultural heritages. This study focuses on the cultural heritage at the provincial level and above in Fujian, utilizing GIS spatial analysis to explore the spatiotemporal evolution of cultural heritages and their natural and human influencing factors. The research findings are as follows: (1) The distribution of cultural heritage in Fujian exhibits a clustering pattern, with dense areas transitioning from the upstream regions of the prehistoric and pre-Qin periods to the eastern coastal areas gradually. (2) The Ming and Qing dynasties have the highest number of cultural heritages, with the type of heritage transitioning from ancient sites in the early periods to ancient architecture, and in modern times, mainly important historical sites and representative architectural heritages. (3) The overall centroid coordinates of cultural heritage reveal a shift from the northern part of Fujian to the eastern and southern parts. (4) Natural factors significantly influence the distribution of cultural heritage, with a higher concentration in plain and hilly areas, on slight slopes with gradients between 0.5° and 2.0°, and on the southern and southeastern slopes, especially within a 1-kilometer radius of rivers. (5) The creation of cultural heritage during historical periods is closely linked to the regional history, culture, political, and economic environments. The positive development of these socio-cultural factors has a promotional effect on the quantity of cultural heritage. This study demonstrates the utility and applicability of GIS spatial analysis techniques in cultural heritage research, providing a methodological framework that can be adapted and applied internationally. The findings offer insightful data that can inform targeted conservation and development strategies for cultural heritage, ensuring their effective preservation and sustainable management across different regions.

Variational Translation Phenomenon of Six Chapters of A Floating Life

The Variational Translation theory was summarized and proposed by Huang Zhonglian, a Chinese translator and scholar, from his many years of translation practice and research. There are altogether seven flexible means: omission, editing, narration, condensation, combination, modification and addition. Six Chapters of A Floating Life by Shen Fu of the Qing Dynasty was beautifully written and deeply loved by Lin Yutang. To better promote Chinese culture to the world, Lin translated this novel, and its English version was highly praised abroad. Based on the Variational Translation theory and combined with examples, this paper discusses in detail the specific manifestations of the translation variation strategies such as omission, editing, narration, modification and addition in the English version of Six Chapters of A Floating Life. The ultimate goal is to enhance the guiding role of the Variational Translation theory in the English translation of Chinese novels.

The Saber of the Qing Empire: Peculiarities of Chronology and Morphology

The Saber of the Qing Empire: Peculiarities of Chronology and Morphology

The temporal and spatial changes in official facilities in Dali under the bureaucratization of native officers

ABSTRACT During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the bureaucratization of native officers led to a more systematic expansion of Chinese official facilities in frontier areas, resulting in large-scale changes in the local landscape. This expansion is a distinct chapter in the history of ancient urban construction. For the Dali region, where the central government took the lead during the Ming dynasty, this paper compares the construction history of defense, administration, rituals, and education in different periods and discusses changes of Chinese official facilities in the context of the bureaucratization of native officers. The results show the following: 1. The primary concern of the appointed officials was to establish cities and create safe and stable strongholds to demonstrate the authority of the center. 2. The official facilities of administration, sacrifice, and education are all around the official controlled road. In addition, they gradually extended to various areas to control Dali. 3. Through the building of administrative facilities to implement central control, sacrificial facilities to achieve ideological infiltration and educational facilities to implement basic education development, Dali gradually converged with the Central Plains. 4. The political strategy of the appointed officials toward Dali was as follows: build offices – schools -walls – temples.

Exploring the Element of Form Based on Traditional Chinese Auspicious Patterns

Chinese traditional auspicious patterns, which date back more than 5,000 years, are a vital component of national art and traditional culture. These patterns have special meanings and are often associated with good wishes and blessings. Their development reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This research on auspicious patterns focuses mainly on the creation method and classification, with few forms. It seeks to ascertain the features of the traditional auspicious pattern form in China. This study adopts qualitative analysis, specifically in analyzing patterns by observation. Based on Panofsky's theory of iconography, the study selected six common Chinese traditional auspicious patterns and analyzed them to determine their classification, layout, composition and elements. It can be concluded that their form is characterized by various elements, specifically figurative and complete, complex pattern formations, full layout designs, balanced or symmetrical compositions, and single or fit patterns. Thus, this study summarized the pattern form analysis model or the PFC-Model. By addressing this gap in knowledge, the study enhances understanding of auspicious patterns. At the same time, the pattern analysis model can be used to analyze similar patterns, which makes it easier to analyze other pattern forms and brings the study of traditional Chinese patterns to a new height. In the meantime, this research only studies the external form of auspicious patterns. In this regard, as form and color is the first layer of research mentioned in Panofsky's image theory, it needs to be more comprehensive. In the future, researchers can continue to explore its color characteristics and extend the research into the content of the first layer of the theories. Undoubtedly, researchers can also expand the analysis of auspicious patterns using the theory's second and third layers.

Spatio-Temporal Distribution Characteristics of Buddhist Temples and Pagodas in the Liaoning Region, China

Buddhist culture in Liaoning has a long and rich history. The continuous spread of Buddhism has promoted the development of Buddhist architecture, leaving us a rich architectural art heritage. Furthermore, it has also profoundly influenced China’s architectural characteristics, social culture, and economic development. This paper takes Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning as the research objects and uses methods such as the geographic concentration index, nearest neighbor index, kernel density estimation, and standard deviation ellipse to analyze their spatio-temporal distribution characteristics and influencing factors across different periods. 1. Temporal distribution. During the Liao Dynasty (907–1125 AD) and the Qing Dynasty (1636–1912 AD), the construction of Buddhist temples and pagodas was the highest, with a linear increase in the Qing Dynasty. 2. The overall spatial distribution of Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning is uneven, showing an agglomeration distribution state. The distribution status of different periods was different, and the Ming (1368–1644 AD) and Qing dynasties (1636–1912 AD) showed obvious aggregation distribution. The overall state is “more in the west and less in the east” and “more in the north and less in the south”. 3. In different periods, the spatial distribution direction of Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning was relatively obvious and was southwest–northeast, and the center of gravity gradually shifted to the northwest. 4. The kernel density of different periods presents the density distribution and area of each period. The overall distribution is dense to scattered and then to highly dense. 5. The spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of Buddhist temples and pagodas in Liaoning are mainly composed of deep-seated political factors, rapid economic development and stable social environment, diverse culture, natural geography, cultural relics protection, and the artistic value of Buddhist architecture in the Liaoning region.

Spatial evolution and influencing factors of water-town settlements in Southern China: evidence from 942 villages in Zhongshan City

ABSTRACT Zhongshan, a city characterized by its profound historical heritage and distinctive rural civilization, has been consistently influenced by traditional agricultural practices throughout its history. This research conducts an in-depth exploration of Zhongshan’s unique rural spaces, systematically examining the evolutionary trends and determinants of Zhongshan’s water-town settlements across different historical epochs through the application of multidimensional spatial analysis techniques. The results indicate that these settlements exhibited cohesive spatial distribution characteristics across five historical periods. Notably, there was a significant clustering effect during the Ming and Qing dynasties, while Before the Qing dynasty, the spatial distribution of the settlements presented a pattern with multiple core areas coexisting. After the Qing dynasty, the spatial layout of these principal core areas stabilized and gradually diffused to surrounding areas, forming a balanced and continuous distribution pattern. Throughout the study period, the spatial pattern of the water-town settlements exhibited characteristics of five primary core areas and several secondary core areas. Concurrently, the centroid of the water-town settlements consistently shifted southeastward. When examining the intensity of influence on spatial evolution, the study found that socio-economic (q = 0.345) and accessibility factors (q = 0.356) exert a greater impact on the spatial distribution of rural settlements than do natural environmental factors (q = 0.136). However, the interaction between natural environmental factors and socio-economic and accessibility factors provides greater explanatory power than the interactions within natural factors alone. This suggests that in a specific socio-economic context, the impact of the natural environment on water-town settlements is enhanced. Furthermore, multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrates that the rural population, regional economic status, proximity to urban centers, and the distribution of water bodies positively influence the spatial evolution of water-town settlements.