A Comparative Study On The Acceptance Willingness Of Upper Class In The Ming And Qing Dynasty

As to the study of Ming and Qing Dynasty, the sino-foreign relationhas long been a hot topic. Study on this issue in the academic filed hasbecome so much maturely that a very large number of monographs andacademic theses concerning this topic has appeared. By examining theformer materials, the author tries to make a comparative study on theattitudes the upper class shows towards western learning, wishing todeepen the study on this issue.The introduction part of this thesis indicates the reason why thistopic is chosen, the study object and the study trends in the academic fieldat home and abroad. Besides, the author also makes a brief review aboutthe study state with regard to this issue. The body consists of three parts.The first part is about the western learning and the upper class in thelate Ming Dynasty. This part mainly discusses the situation of westernlearning in the late Ming royal court, the distinct attitudes shared by theupper officials towards the western learning, as well as the influence onthe royal court and the upper officials made by the western learning,affirming the strategies of the early western missionaries.The second part is about the western learning and the upper class in the Qing Dynasty. This part mainly argues how the western learning isspread in the four courts, namely, Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong.It also introduces the representatives of those who are inclined to thewestern learning and those who are opposed to it, as well as theirsupporting views. What’s wore, the influence on the palaces and on theupper officials in the middle and early Qing Dynasty is also introduced.And it speaks highly of what contributions the western learning makes tothe communication between China and western countries.The third part is about the different attitude of the upper class in theMing and Qing Dynasty towards the western learning. This part carriesout a comparative study which views the late Ming and the early-middleQing Dynasty as a respective body. Arguing the historical spreadingprocess of western learning and the psychological difference showed bythe upper class in the process of accepting western learning, this part alsoembodies what basic strategies the rulers take towards the westernmissionaries, as well as explaining what had caused these differences.The last part is about what this thesis enlightens us and what thesignificance it is in the actual world. This thesis conducts a detailed studyon the basic historical facts about the western learning acceptancewillingness in the late Ming and in Shunzhi, Kangzi, Yongzheng,Qianlong time. It reappears the flourishing communication betweenChina and western countries. Taking the history as a mirror and thinking about the reality, this thesis is designed to offer some suggestions on howto foster higher-quality talents needed by society and how to betterenhance the cultural communication between China and westerncountries, expecting to surpass ourselves and accomplish a deeperadvancement.