Restrict what you want to shrink

Why was China, dominant for so long, eclipsed by the West?

A part can be laid at Zhu Yuanzhang’s feet. As a rebel, he promoted free trade. As an Emperor, he banned foreign trade.

Zhu believed agriculture was the only basis for an economy.

So trade shrank.

This was the Sea Ban, or Haijin (海禁).

He felt it would also neutralize Japanese pirates.

Instead, it turned Chinese fishermen desperate, and they turned into smugglers and pirates.