Expert: Jennifer - 8/25/2005

Question
Hello Jennifer,
I'm a keen player of historical strategy games on the PC, notably Europa Universalis 2, a game which aims to recreate the global and national conflicts of the period 1419-1820. A lot of mods have been made of this game, but all the mods seem to portray China as being constantly riven with rebellions during that time-period in history. Is this really true? It's been some time since I last read up on Chinese history, but I thought that there were several peaceful periods throughout that time.

Thanks
Geoff Purcell

Answer
Hi Geoff,

Your question is highly interesting to me, because I have yet to see a game like what you have mentioned. The period from 1419 - 1820 is a pretty long period. It spans over 5 centuries! The Ming dynastry started from 1368 and ended in 1644 A.D while the Qing dynasty lasted from 1644-1911 A.D. The Ming dynasty is a rather peaceful period, and China's achievements were condsidered the most magnificiant compared to the other 2 dynasties of Later Imperial China. It was during the 15th century when Zheng He, an official, travelled from China to South Pacific, Indian Ocean, Taiwan, Persian Gulf and distant Africa, before Christopher Columbus travelled to the now United States of America.

Hence, it is possible that the creators of the games were trying to depict the struggle to control the Central Plains between the the Han people (literal translation, 'Han' refers to a particular race) and the nomads who live on the outskirts of the Central Plains.

The Qing people gained the upper hand after a long-drawn battle between many groups for years. Hence, it is possible that the game was trying to depict the struggle to control the Central Plains.

However, it would be interesting to note that even though the Qing reigned control in the end, the Han people were constantly trying to stage rebellions to restore the Ming dynasty. People set up many secret societies and their influence were as far-reaching as the South-east Asia and the America. The civillians did suffer a lot under the Qing rule, but perhaps the most important reason why they wish to overthrow the QIng Dynasty is that the Qings are considered a minority group while the Hans belong to the biggest race in China. Hence, it was this sense of pride which perhaps propeled them to try so hard to regain control, even though the monachary was replaced by democracy in the end.

It's pretty easy to spot the dynasty in which the game is depicting. The Qings decreed that all male civilians must spot a pig-tail, and the front portion of the head must be clean-shaven. People from other dynasties don't wear pig-tails at all.

Hope I have helped you understand where the programmers drew their inspirations from.