Abstract:

In the early years of the Shunzhi reign, rumors about the Ming-Qing War situation were often spread among the Ming loyalists in Jiangnan area. Although the rumors were far from factual,they still gained the trust and were further spread by loyalists. According to The Diary of Hou Qiceng which contains comparatively abundant information, the reasons that Ming loyalists believed these rumors were varied. First, the loyalists had similar political, social, and ideological backgrounds and living conditions, therefore they shared the same beliefs and desires to restore the Ming Dynasty. This was psychological basis for them to accept rumors. Second, as a social activity, the exchange of news between the loyalists aimed to consolidate their relationships, establish confidence in the restoration of the country, dispel negative emotions, and even plan concrete actions, such as the resistance to the Qing regime. Thus, the credibility of the news may not have been important, and, because of this, the dissemination of rumors among the loyalists was fueled.