Speaker: Kishimoto Mio Professor Emeritus, Ochanomizu University, Japan

Born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1952, Kishimoto Mio specializes in the socio-economic history of the Ming and Qing dynasties. She obtained her master's degree from the University of Tokyo and taught at both the University of Tokyo and Ochanomizu University. She is currently a Professor Emeritus at Ochanomizu University and a researcher at the Toyo Bunko (Oriental Library). Her major works include Price and Economic Fluctuations in Qing China (Japanese ed. 1997, Simplified Chinese ed. 2010), The Ming-Qing Transition and Jiangnan Society (Japanese ed. 1999, Traditional Chinese ed. 2025), Customs and Historical Views (Simplified Chinese ed. 2022), Late Ming and Early Qing China and Early Modern East Asia (Japanese ed. 2021), and the four-volume collection Essays on Ming-Qing History (Japanese ed. 2012-2021).

The 16th century was a period of great global change, marked by the rapid movement of people, goods, and currency. Old systems were collapsing while new ones had not yet fully formed, leading to significant economic, political, religious, and ideological shifts. The various issues that emerged during this time are commonly referred to as "the 16th-century problem." Amid the great upheaval of the 16th century, new political powers arose in Europe, East Asia, and other regions. From the 17th century onward, these powers, through a process of exploration and adaptation, established their own independent state systems.

The states that emerged during this period, such as the absolute monarchies in Europe, the Qing dynasty in China, and the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan, transcended their regional differences to face common challenges related to ethnicity, religion, social organization, market economy, and public finance. People in different regions exerted great effort to find unique solutions to these "common problems." This lecture series will focus on the following topics, discussing the unique characteristics of China's solutions from a comparative perspective.

Lecture 1: What is "the Post-16th-Century Problem"? September 17, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Guanghua Tower East Annex, Room 103 Moderator: Ge Zhaoguang, Distinguished Professor of Arts and Humanities, Fudan University In the 16th and 17th centuries, the commercial boom in the regions surrounding China became a cradle for the growth of new powers. In this period of great historical change, East Asian countries faced three "common problems." This first lecture will provide an overview of the historical dynamics of the East Asian region from a transnational perspective and briefly discuss how different East Asian countries (Qing China, Tokugawa Japan, and Joseon Korea) attempted to solve these problems.

Lecture 2: Silver Circulation and the Ming-Qing Economy: "Mercantilism" and China September 19, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Guanghua Tower East Annex, Room 103 Moderator: Zhang Jia, Researcher, Institute for Historical and Philological Studies, Fudan University Impacted by the massive circulation of silver after the 16th century, mercantilist economic thought emerged in Western European countries. In contrast, what measures did China, which was also subject to the influx of silver from the late Ming onward, adopt in response? How did these measures compare to Western mercantilism? This second lecture will focus on "mercantilism" to discuss an aspect of Ming and Qing economic thought.

Lecture 3: Local Politics and Popular Movements: "Public Opinion" in Ming-Qing China September 24, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Guanghua Tower East Annex, Room 103 Moderator: Yang Zhigang, Researcher, Shanghai Museum The late Ming dynasty saw frequent popular uprisings in the cities of Jiangnan. The public opinion of the people, seen as a manifestation of "Heaven's will," attracted widespread attention—a notable phenomenon in world history. How did this so-called popular opinion differ from the "public sphere" of the European Enlightenment? What were the views of the intellectuals of the time regarding the legitimacy and danger of popular opinion? This third lecture will focus on "public opinion" to discuss an aspect of Ming and Qing political culture.

Lecture 4: State Integration and Religious Issues: An "Empire of Tolerance"? September 26, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Guanghua Tower East Annex, Room 103 Moderator: Zhang Qing, Professor, Institute for Historical and Philological Studies and Department of History, Fudan University The 16th century in Europe was marked by bloody religious wars. Tired of religious conflicts, Western thinkers turned their attention eastward: Qing China seemed to be an ideal state that tolerated various religions. What attitude did the Qing rulers, who were a minority population and urgently needed to win the support of the diverse ethnic groups under their rule, adopt toward religious and cultural diversity? What was the relationship between their policy of tolerance and harsh policies like the "literary inquisitions"? This fourth lecture will focus on "tolerance" to discuss an aspect of the legitimacy of Qing rule.

Lecture Language: Chinese Q&A Session: Japanese (Translation by Ai Jing)