Evaluation of Peter the Great's reform activities in the articles of Chinese historians of the 1980s and the 1990s

The article aims to study the views of Chinese historians of the 1980s and the 1990s on Peter the Great’s reform activities, as well as to identify their value judgments regarding the areas that were affected by the reforms. The research topic is relevant due to the surge of interest in the personality of Peter the Great and his methods of modernizing Russia, which emerged immediately after China began implementing its reform and opening-up policy. The pursuit of this policy encouraged Chinese historians to study Petrine Russia, because under Peter the Great the country managed to overcome its backwardness and became one of the leading European powers. The author of this article classified the available articles of Chinese historians and analyzed their perception of the measures taken by Peter the Great to improve the established way of life in Russia. The overwhelming majority of these measures are assessed positively with critical remarks on certain aspects. The personality of Peter the Great is seen by the Chinese researchers as complex, multifaceted and at the same time majestic. He is credited with the transformation and further rise of Russia.