Under the influence of global history and ethnic studies, international academia is increasingly focusing on historical groups that traditional Chinese historiography has often overlooked, such as Inner Asia and maritime history. Simultaneously, there is an effort to contextualize Chinese and Taiwanese history within the framework of global history. In Taiwan, the “New Historiography” movement has inspired scholars to expand on the solid foundation of institutional history, embracing a bottom-up approach to write compelling and nuanced new social histories, including medical history and gender studies, which have drawn considerable academic attention.

The ethnic dynamics between the 16th and 18th centuries had significant impacts on Chinese and East Asian culture, religion, society, and politics, involving officials, Jesuit missionaries, Tibetan Buddhist monks, intellectuals, land and maritime merchants, and local populations. This interaction offers ample room for further exploration and reflection. Additionally, previous research on China’s external relations was often confined to land and sea domains without much interdisciplinary dialogue between the two.

Recent scholarship on 17th-century Taiwan has expanded to include a maritime historical perspective, examining how Dutch and Spanish colonial powers influenced Taiwan and its connection to world history, as well as the actions of the Zheng regime within the East Asian maritime domain. Meanwhile, scholarly discourse has also delved into the Qing Empire’s expansion into Inner Asia and its cultural exchanges. Yet, studies rarely explore the connections and interactions between Taiwan and the Ming-Qing Empire across both land and sea during the 17th century.

We are eager to foster in-depth communication and exchange on this subject. Hosting an international academic conference will promote dialogue between Taiwanese scholars and leading researchers worldwide. We hope that these discussions will broaden to encompass the East Asian maritime world and Inner Asia, enriching research perspectives and expanding the significance of these studies.

This conference aims to bring together Taiwanese and international scholars to discuss Inner Asia and the maritime world around the 17th century. The dialogue will span diverse fields such as art, material culture, Taiwanese history, East Asian history, maritime world history, Ming and Qing history, international exchange, Central Eurasian studies, body and gender studies, life and medical sciences, archaeology, and literature. This will be a vital forum where scholars from different academic fields, nationalities, and cultural backgrounds can share insights and experiences.