The literary Inquisition refers to the act of persecuting intellectuals by the rulers on the grounds of speech and writing. Both the Ming and Qing dynasties in Chinese history have experienced literary inquisitions, but their nature and severity vary. So, did the Ming dynasty have a literary Inquisition? Compared with the Qing dynasty, which one was more severe?

First, the Ming dynasty did experience a literary Inquisition. For example, after Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di overthrew the throne, he suppressed the literati who opposed him to consolidate his power. However, overall, the literary Inquisition in the Ming dynasty was not widespread, and its severity was relatively low. This may be related to the relatively lenient political environment and respect for the tradition of the literati in the Ming dynasty.

However, the literary Inquisition in the Qing dynasty was even more severe. Especially during the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong periods, the literary Inquisition reached its peak. Famous cases such as the "Nanshan Case" during the Kangxi period and the "Lu Liuliang Case" during the Yongzheng period involved many literati being convicted of crimes for their words and even sentenced to death. The literary Inquisition in the Qing dynasty was not only numerous but also had severe punishments, indicating the government's strong emphasis on ideological control.

Why was the literary Inquisition in the Qing dynasty more severe than in the Ming dynasty? There may be several reasons:

1. Political Environment: As an alien regime, the Qing dynasty had stronger suspicions and vigilance towards Han Chinese intellectuals. Therefore, the Qing government attached greater importance to the control of ideology to maintain its ruling status.

2. Cultural Policy: The Qing dynasty implemented a series of cultural policies, such as revising the "Si Ku Quan Shu," aimed at regulating thought and culture. In this process, the literary Inquisition became a means to suppress dissenting voices.

3. Imperial Autocracy: The power of the Qing emperor was more centralized, and they were extremely sensitive to any speech that might threaten their imperial power. Therefore, the literary Inquisition became a means to suppress dissent.

In summary, although the Ming dynasty did have a literary Inquisition, its severity and impact were relatively minor compared to the Qing dynasty. The literary Inquisition in the Qing dynasty was numerous, had severe punishments, and had a profound impact on the thought of intellectuals. The historical lesson of this cultural censorship deserves our deep reflection and vigilance.

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