Читать книгу Asia Past and Present - Peter P. Wan - Страница 66

To restore order in chaotic times, I have no choice but to use harsh measures.

—Zhu Yuanzhang, founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty

The Ming and Qing Dynasties were China’s last two dynasties, each lasting nearly three centuries. At their peak, China surpassed all other nations in the world in terms of wealth, population, territory, and science and technology. But despite the power and magnificence they exhibited, their extreme despotism and conservatism stifled the vigor and creativity that had distinguished Chinese culture during the Tang and Song Dynasties.