What is the New Qing History and why has it sparked heated debates between Chinese and Western scholars? Emerging in the 1990s, New Qing History challenged traditional narratives of the Qing dynasty, reframing it as a multi-ethnic, Manchu-centric empire rather than simply another "Chinese dynasty."

We unpack the origins, key arguments, and innovations of New Qing History, as well as the contrasting receptions it received in China and the West. Why do Chinese scholars criticize it as a Western attempt to undermine China’s historical unity? How has it influenced global perspectives on empire, ethnicity, and historiography? Join us as we bridge this intellectual divide and explore how history continues to shape modern debates on identity, nationalism, and scholarship.