On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i>
After the arrival of Jesuits in China during the late Ming dynasty, they adopted a strategy of aligning Catholicism with Confucianism, referring to themselves as “Western Confucians” to gain sympathy and support from the Chinese literati. However, during the early Qing dynasty, particularly during t...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Qinghe Xiao |
| author_facet | Qinghe Xiao |
| author_sort | Qinghe Xiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | After the arrival of Jesuits in China during the late Ming dynasty, they adopted a strategy of aligning Catholicism with Confucianism, referring to themselves as “Western Confucians” to gain sympathy and support from the Chinese literati. However, during the early Qing dynasty, particularly during the late Kangxi era, because of the resurgence of traditional Confucian ideology and the consolidation of Manchu rule, literati attitudes toward Catholicism shifted significantly. This paper uses the early Qing scholar Dong Han (董含, 1626–?) from the Songjiang region as a case study, with his <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> 三冈识略 as the primary textual source, to analyze his critiques of Western learning (including Catholicism and Western science). Additionally, it examines Catholic responses to these critiques, based on the manuscript <i>Refute the False Accusation</i> 辩诬 collected in the BnF (Bibliothèque nationale de France). Through an analysis of Dong Han’s attitude toward Western learning and the responses it provoked, the paper aims to shed light on the changing attitudes of early Qing literati in the Jiangnan area toward Western learning, as well as the challenges faced by Catholicism in establishing their legitimacy in early modern China. It points out that the fundamental differences between Western learning and Confucianism prevented it from making an effective argument for legitimacy in China. The lack of support from the literati and the emperor led to the eventual fate of Catholicism—being prohibited. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec683eaadef44a0c8989b3ff211518ef |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec683eaadef44a0c8989b3ff211518ef2025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442025-06-0116674710.3390/rel16060747On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i>Qinghe Xiao0Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaAfter the arrival of Jesuits in China during the late Ming dynasty, they adopted a strategy of aligning Catholicism with Confucianism, referring to themselves as “Western Confucians” to gain sympathy and support from the Chinese literati. However, during the early Qing dynasty, particularly during the late Kangxi era, because of the resurgence of traditional Confucian ideology and the consolidation of Manchu rule, literati attitudes toward Catholicism shifted significantly. This paper uses the early Qing scholar Dong Han (董含, 1626–?) from the Songjiang region as a case study, with his <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> 三冈识略 as the primary textual source, to analyze his critiques of Western learning (including Catholicism and Western science). Additionally, it examines Catholic responses to these critiques, based on the manuscript <i>Refute the False Accusation</i> 辩诬 collected in the BnF (Bibliothèque nationale de France). Through an analysis of Dong Han’s attitude toward Western learning and the responses it provoked, the paper aims to shed light on the changing attitudes of early Qing literati in the Jiangnan area toward Western learning, as well as the challenges faced by Catholicism in establishing their legitimacy in early modern China. It points out that the fundamental differences between Western learning and Confucianism prevented it from making an effective argument for legitimacy in China. The lack of support from the literati and the emperor led to the eventual fate of Catholicism—being prohibited.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/747Dong Han<i>Notes in Three Hills</i><i>Refute the False Accusation</i>CatholicismWestern sciencelegitimacy |
| spellingShingle | Qinghe Xiao On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> Religions Dong Han <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> <i>Refute the False Accusation</i> Catholicism Western science legitimacy |
| title | On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> |
| title_full | On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> |
| title_fullStr | On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> |
| title_short | On the Literati’s Attitude to Western Learning in the Early Qing Dynasty: A Case Study on Dong Han (1626–?) and <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> |
| title_sort | on the literati s attitude to western learning in the early qing dynasty a case study on dong han 1626 and i notes in three hills i |
| topic | Dong Han <i>Notes in Three Hills</i> <i>Refute the False Accusation</i> Catholicism Western science legitimacy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16/6/747 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qinghexiao ontheliteratisattitudetowesternlearningintheearlyqingdynastyacasestudyondonghan1626andinotesinthreehillsi |