Many illuminative ideologists including Gu yanwu, Wang fuzhi and Tang zhen thought all that the depravity of custom and civilizing were the significant causes of the Ming Dynasty to be conquered.

• 顾炎武、王夫之和唐甄等明清之际的启蒙思想家深刻反思和总结明亡的惨痛教训，认为明代、特别是明末风俗和教化衰坏和士习窳败是其中的重要原因。