Self-Isolation and/or Self-Imposed Border Restriction for China

In this note, introducing a research paper “New Research into the Ming and Qing Dynasties Self-Isolation Policy” published by The Research Group of Chinese Academy of History under China’s CASS, from a modern perspective and sensibility, we consider why this research group decided to suggest replacing the key historical term “self-isolation (biguansuoguo [闭关锁国])” with “self-imposed border restrictions (zizhuxianguan [自主限关])”, which reflects the international relationship between Western Europe and China in the late Ming and Qing dynasties.