Explored the consensus in academia on the critical attitudes of Robinson Crusoe and Defoe towards China, pointing out that current research tends to focus more on political and cultural aspects, while neglecting economic perspectives. Emphasizing Defoe's long-term focus on the economy and the reality of early 17th century British trade, it is believed that this will help to comprehensively understand Robinson Crusoe's Chinese imagination.

Chinese porcelain and Defoe's mercantilism

In depth exploration of the connection between the business experience and creation of 17th century British writer Daniel Defoe, particularly his attitude towards Chinese porcelain and its association with mercantilist ideas. In 1689, Defoe founded a pottery factory, and its products were well received by the market, as reflected in his works such as "Robinson Crusoe" and "Captain Singleton" which describe pottery. However, due to competition from imported ceramics, Defoe's factory eventually went bankrupt, deepening his dissatisfaction with ceramic imports.

Robinson Crusoe's Criticism of the Qing Government's Land Economy

Deeply explored Defoe's criticism of China's land economy and its conflict with mercantilism through the role of Robinson Crusoe. Although Robinson acknowledged the uniqueness of Chinese porcelain, he believed that its success stemmed from soil rather than craftsmanship, reflecting Defoe's disdain for China's land economy. Defoe regarded porcelain as a product of the land economy, which contradicts the mercantilist view that trade and manufacturing create wealth. He demonstrated through his works the self-sufficiency of the Qing government and the limitations of foreign trade, which were inconsistent with the mercantilist concept of transoceanic trade.

The Party Struggle and Defoe's Mercantilism

In depth exploration of the economic route dispute in early 18th century England, particularly the opposition between mercantilism and land economy. Defoe strongly criticized the Qing government's land economy, believing that it ran counter to British mercantilism. At the beginning of the 17th century, in the debate over the economic path of Britain, Dutch mercantilism stood in stark contrast to Spain's land economy. Smith and others advocated that Britain should emulate the Netherlands and develop mercantilism, rather than following Spain's land economy. Defoe expressed his disdain for Spanish land economy in The Authentic Englishman.