Historical Criticism and Academic Summary: The Two Related Aspects in the Development of Ming and Qing History Study

In the mid and late Ming Dynasty,new social factors appeared due to the economic development.With this came into being the activity of historical criticism which shows the dissatisfaction with the contemporary official's dead ideology.But the growing activity of academic summary from the mid-Qing Dynasty can be traced back to the historical criticism of Ming Dynasty.In a certain view,Qing's academic summary can be regarded as the continuity of the rational spirit expressed in the activity of historical criticism at the turn from Ming to Qing.Therefore,historical criticism and academic summary are the two parts mutual related with each other in the development of Ming and Qing history.