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Using Deep Learning to Unlock the Secrets of the Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), one of China’s most influential historical periods, has left a rich legacy of art, culture, governance, and foreign relations. With the advent of deep learning, modern researchers now have new tools to uncover hidden patterns and generate fresh insights into this era. In this blog, I’ll explore how deep learning can be applied to Qing Dynasty studies, transforming how we understand history, cultural shifts, and imperial governance.
- Digitizing Historical Texts with Natural Language Processing (NLP)
The Qing Dynasty’s vast archives, including official documents, literature, and personal diaries, are critical sources of historical information. Yet, the sheer volume of these texts can overwhelm historians. Deep learning models, especially Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, allow us to analyze and extract key insights from these texts.
How It Works:
NLP models like BERT and GPT can be trained on historical documents from the Qing era. These models can automatically translate classical Chinese, identify important historical figures, and recognize common themes across large collections of documents. By doing so, researchers can quickly gather data on key events or track how the Qing government responded to foreign powers like the British and Russian empires.
Potential Applications:
