Topic:                         A Den for the Flood Dragons: Dengzhou’s Emergence as an International Hub Amidst the Ming-Qing Wars

Time & Date:              3pm-4:30pm, November 22, 2024 (Friday)

Venue:                        TB103

Speaker:                     Dr. Ma Zoudan [CUHK(SZ)]

Host:                           Dr. Yang Shengyu [CUHK(SZ)]

Language:                  Chinese

Abstract:

Once a destitute port city marked by underdeveloped agriculture, saline-alkali soil, and its population surviving primarily through offshore activities, Dengzhou (now in Penglai, Shandong) underwent a remarkable transformation in the early seventeenth century. At that time, it evolved into a place of prosperity and burgeoning opportunities. Meanwhile, on the opposite shores of the Bohai Gulf, the Manchus exercised dominance over the northeastern region, while the Ming dynasty grappled with severe financial, military, and bureaucratic turmoil. This talk delves into the intricate story of how the tumultuous Ming-Qing wars had a profound impact on Dengzhou. The wartime deployment played a pivotal role in shaping Dengzhou into a bustling seaport and acted as a catalyst for the emergence of a distinctive maritime society. This talk first examines the maritime logistics network established by the Ming state in 1618, which initially saw the city’s militarization. Subsequently, it explores the unforeseen consequences of this transformation, including the influx of merchants and commodities, the strategic investments by the Ming state, and the infrastructure development that laid the foundation for Dengzhou’s enduring prosperity. As a result of these multifaceted developments, Dengzhou and its offshore community adopted unparalleled patterns of political and economic growth within a broader international and interregional framework. This context encompassed the dynamic flow of people and goods from diverse regions such as Manchuria, southern China, Japan, and Chosŏn Korea.

About the Speaker:

Zoudan Ma is a historian specializing in late imperial China and Chosŏn Korea. He earned bachelor’s degrees in history and sociology from Peking University and completed a master’s degree in history at the University of British Columbia, followed by a PhD in Asian Studies. He is currently a lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen.