Abstract: Sea and Empire: The Ming and Qing Dynasties is one of the popular Chinese history books published by Kodansha of Japan. Based on maritime history, it explores the historical development of China in the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1911). There is some writing about Yunnan in the book that mainly analyzes the geopolitical characteristics of Yunnan from the Yuan to Ming Dynasties (1271-1644), the connection between the Lanyu Case and Yunnan in the early Ming Dynasty, Han migration from the heartland to populate Yunnan, implementation of the chieftain system and other governance measures in Yunnan. Equal attention is given to frontier governance in Yunnan in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) with focus on suppression of the rebellion of the three vassal states during the reign of Emperor Kangxi, the reform of replacing local chieftains with officials appointed by the central government during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng, and governance of Yunnan by Chen Hongmou (1696-1771). Ueda Nobu wrote the historical characteristics of Yunnan and related historical events with a grand vision, not without novel views even though some of the views are one-sided and thus worth rethinking.

Key words: Sea and Empire: The Ming and Qing Dynasties, Ueda Nobu, Yunnan