Mao Qiling: A Dissenter of the Classics Mao Qiling (毛奇龄, 1623-1716), a figure largely obscured by the grand narratives of the early Qing dynasty, emerges as a compelling study in intellectual resistance and scholarly devotion. Born in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang province, Mao’s life unfolded during a period of profound political upheaval – the collapse of the Ming Dynasty in 1644 and the subsequent rise of the Manchus to power. Rather than ali…