Why China Fell Behind and Was Beaten: Accountability for Kang, Yong, and Qian

During the Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty, many positive policies were implemented and made important contributions to the development of the Chinese nation. However, from this time onwards, the Qing emperors and their ministers were in a closed state for a long time and were ignorant of the modern international environment and diplomatic methods that had already formed in the world. As a result, when China was involved in the international community, it took appropriate measures but failed to respond appropriately, which became the beginning of modern China's lagging behind the West. By horizontally comparing China and the West during the Kangxi, Yongzong and Qianlong periods, the author describes in detail the reasons why China fell behind the West in modern times.