Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1636 - A.D. 1911. Began to become China’s nationwide regime in 1644)

The corruption of Ming Dynasty and the rebellion of Li Zicheng insurrectionary army accelerated the extinction of the Ming Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty of China north seized the chance to capture the regime of China. The Qing Dynasty was the dynasty that Manchu set up. It was the last dynasty of feudal autocratic monarchy in China’s history. (Manchu is an ethnic minority of China). The life-span of Qing Dynasty is 296 years. There are 12 emperors in all.

Though there was some development in science and technology, medical science, mathematics, the building, agronomy, etc. in Qing Dynasty. But in order to keep the dominant position of Manchu. The emperor of Qing Dynasty implemented the wrong policy on ethnic affairs; Ban on maritime trade and intercourse with Europe countries at the same time. Seclusion and despise the thought and technology of Europe. Though these policies have safeguarded the social stability temporarily, cause to the nation problem and country weak in latter period of Qing Dynasty. The emperor of Qing Dynasty does not pay attention to the military development, do not allow the army to use guns. (In fact there were cannons and firelocks in Ming Dynasty. The army of Ming Dynasty once defeated the army of Qing Dynasty with the guns, so the emperor of Qing Dynasty disliked guns very much.) In the meantime, the industrial revolution that can influence the world happen in the Occident countries. The Bastille is captured; the steam engine is invented; U.S.A. has published the Declaration of Independence. But the Qing Dynasty was self-importance and blindly arrogant at that moment. Thus cause to lose the good chance of the reform. The emperor was fatuous in later period of Qing Dynasty. Government and army all corrupt very much. The soldiers all took opium(a kind of drugs), had totally lost fighting capacity. The ancient country of China that has the magnificent civilization for 5,000 years has lagged behind. Fell into the abyss of semi-feudal semi-colonial finally.

The Qing Dynasty became the new target which colonialists invaded such as Britain, France, etc. colonialism countries in latter period. The western countries headed by Britain successively launched the Opium War (1840-1842) twice. The Qing Dynasty was defeated. The Qing dynasty government had been forced to sign a series of unequal treaties. The emperor Guang Xu began “Wu Xu Reform” in 1898, but the blocking of conservative power led to the fact the reform failed. The Xinhai Revolution broke out in 1911. Many provinces declared independence successively. The last an emperor of Qing Dynasty — Puyi gave up the throne. The Qing Dynasty was over. China’s feudal society was over. But China had fallen into confusion at that time.

I have already finished introducing the ancient history of China so far. Through the China history, everybody can clear find out: The extinction of any dynasty is all cause of self. Arrogant blindly, no attempt, no progress, does not reform, corruption… I remember a famous dictum of great Chairman Mao: “Modesty helps people go forward; conceit makes people lag behind.” This is the truth that never will change. There is no eternal dynasty, there is only eternal history.