Compare And Contrast Ming And Qing Dynasties

The Ming and Qing dynasties lasted from 1368-1912. Although the beginning of the Ming dynasty was considered China’s “age of exploration,” that was not the case in the latter half of the 15th century. In the beginning, the government sent out great treasure ships to explore the world. However, after a lack of funding and a resurgence of the closed Confucian ideology, these voyages stopped. The close resulted, in part, because China became more sinocentric; it focused on internal affairs and secure coastlines (Worden et. al). As Confucianism regained popularity, authority once again began to look down on the merchant classes. They began to focus on farming and self-sufficiency. The government spurned and wrote-off the attempted contact of

foreign nations. It then entered a period of isolation with isolationist policies. The Ming government was trying to limit contact with foreign empires and kingdoms. To do this, they targeted the strong trade that occurred between China and the rest of the world. The Hongwu emperor, who ruled 1368-1398, created the haijins, or bans, that he placed mainly upon maritime trade. The Hongwu haijin was the first of a series of bans which prevented any private trading by merchants; only the government-sanctioned tributes (Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 C.E.). Tributes were the result of other governments recognizing the authority of the Chinese. They would then send a series of yearly gifts as a show of support. All other legal and private trade was at a virtual standstill, however. This had a lasting effect on China’s history. China isolated itself during the Ming and Qing dynasties when the government imposed maritime trade bans because of China’s pirate-plagued trade routes, and their sinocentric views, which led to a period of illegal piracy, decreased foreign contact, and the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
Of the many factors that contributed to the isolation policies, sinocentrism was prevalent in affecting the course of China’s history. Sinocentrism is a worldview that specifically pertains to China. It is the idea that China, which calls itself the Middle Kingdom, is the center of the world—not just geographically, but culturally as well. China considered neighboring cultures and civilizations offshoots or products. It was like the “city on a hill.” The sinocentrism that developed in the latter part of the Ming and Qing dynasties fostered a self-important world view among the Chinese, and this affected the relations China had with other countries. In 1753, King George III of England became concerned with the amount of trade he controlled in China, and he sent a letter to then-emperor Qianlong. Although he was most likely looking for a foothold into China’s wealth, he was still respectful in the letter he sent. Qianlong, however, wrote a rather arrogant response. One passage reads, “As to your entreaty to send one of your nationals to be accredited to my Celestial Court and to be in control of your country's trade with China, this request is contrary to all usage of my dynasty and cannot possibly be entertained” (Qianlong). Although China was powerful enough to be disdainful, this was not the best attitude with which one should approach diplomacy, and it most likely did not create a good relationship between England and China, which would be crucial in the next couple centuries. Foreigners within the country were not highly regarded either. China put restrictions on its European residents and did not allow them to leave (Qianlong). The Europeans were less ambassadors, but rather prisoners. After rebuking England and other countries, the Chinese were unused to foreign diplomacy, and it made it difficult when they made contact again later on. The refusal to accept trade from England also stemmed the flow of ideas in and out of Eurasia. Innovations and technologies, such as the printing press, gunpowder, and Christianity, developed in Europe and China did not reach each other. Had this happened, it could have impacted both their histories in many ways. As a result of the sinocentrism China developed in the Ming and Qing dynasties, foreign relations are not good or well practiced, and ideas do not flow with trade.
The maritime trade bans produced wokou, or pirates, who in turn plagued the eastern coasts and had lasting effects on trade and coastal cities in China.

“Wokou” was the Chinese word for pirates. Originally, the pirates that plagued the eastern coast of China were Japanese, but eventually Chinese and Koreans got involved. As a result of the illegal trading, along with the raiding and pillaging these merchants inflicted upon coastal towns, the label “pirate” was introduced. When the government began to introduce the sea bans on Chinese trade, the merchant population was understandably unhappy. In Japan, many people depended on China and had great desires for the luxury goods and bountiful food it produced. Because of Japan’s mountainous terrain, they did not have much space for growing crops. However, the tribute trade did not bring much in (Sanchitha). As a result, many merchants started illegally smuggling goods to and from China. This was very rewarding with a high profit margin. The raids devastated coastal towns. In the Encyclopedia of Asian History, there is a passage describing Ming and Qing piracy stating that, "During these years the Chinese coast from Jiangsu to Guangdong suffered repeated invasions and plundering. The resulting devastation and loss of life were factors contributing to Ming decline" (Piracy: Japanese Piracy in China). The Ming government created these trade laws, with the reasoning that it would secure the coast from pirates. However, the violent wave of piracy in the 1550s ultimately contributed to their downfall in 1644. The tighter they pulled the “net,” the further and more drastic the means people had to go to make a living. Indeed, "the laws are often interpreted quite differently before and after receiving bribes" (Newman). Trade officials began taking bribes from pirates to allow trade. Not only did the government prohibit trade, but it became corrupted in that goal as well. These restrictions and bribery created more pirates, and

made the merchant and coastal trading populations unhappy. They could not trade where they needed to, and the trade system was thrown into chaos. Governmental tributes was the only form of exchange allowed to go on, and it was not truly trade. However, when a government gave tribute to China, the wealth and goods did not go to the people. The government’s need for trade was satisfied, but private merchants were not allowed to continue their business, which had a large negative impact on their lives. They could not support their families, and the economic output of these towns was diminished. The merchants would not be able to pay their taxes to the government, and they could receive even more legal repercussions for this. Riots or general chaos would have ensued. Laozi, the writer of the Tao Te Ching and creator of Taoism, focused on balance in his philosophies. He states that one way that the balance is upset is that when, “the more laws and orders are issued the more thieves and robbers abound” (Laozi). As a result of the maritime trade restrictions, the number of pirates increased, towns were destroyed, and people were killed.
The Chinese turned inward during the Ming and Qing dynasties because maritime trade bans and sinocentric views developed in the 15th century led to a decline in trade, an increase in the pirates plaguing the eastern coasts, and they helped contribute to this period of decline in China. Trade is and has been a critical contribution to furthering civilizations since humans first started. By not taking part, China did not advance well. The amount of fresh goods and ideas or religions flowing into China declined with the laws. Although the culture was very highly developed, China's sinocentrism hurt it in other ways. The laws initiated in the Ming-Qing dynasties and how they represented China's world views had long term effects on the country. While China may have stayed internally strong and kept fairly self sufficient, when they re-entered the rest of the world, they found themselves behind. Perhaps if the government had decided not to close itself off, the world would look different today. China was the top world power up until the 17th century. They dominated eastern Asia, geographically and culturally. They had great access to the trade routes and gathered ideas and innovations. They produced so much food that they were able to support a huge population. They invented groundbreaking technology such as paper, the compass, the wagon, and gunpowder. Before the period of isolation, they began to send out expeditions. There is evidence they even reached the Americas before Columbus. If they had not isolated themselves, perhaps they could be ruling today.