Qing Dynasty (1616 AD to1911 AD)

To be strict, Qing Dynasty lasted from 1644 AD to 1921 when the Republic of China was founded. It was reduced to be a semi-colonized and semi-feudal society after the first Opium War. Normally the history of Qing Dynasty was divided into two stages.

The political system of Qing Dynasty was basically inherited from Ming Dynasty. But the central department for government affairs was Grand Secretariat with Chief Secretary functioning as the Grand Councilor. Six Boards were the executive organ. Later the Grand Minister of State in Privy Council received the same power of Grand Secretariat. Privy Council was very efficient; it reflected that the concentrated state power under emperor autarchy was strengthened.

The Qing Dynasty reached the zenith of its power during the reigns of emperors Kang Xi, Yong Zheng and Qian Long. That period was reputed as the Booing Times of Emperor Kang Xi during which Taiwan Island was returned to the Chinese motherland and rebellions were successfully pacified. Its territory was extensive and production boomed.

In the ruling period of Emperor Qian Long in late Qing Dynasty, social contradictions and conflicts escalated together with continuous peasant uprisings. The serious, malpractice of corruption by He Shen, the Grand Councilor at late Qing Dynast, was an epitome of imperial administration. That was the major cause to the failure of Opium War.