In explaining the rise of modern Europe,the term “state capacity” seems to be more objective and deEurocentric than “rationality,” “scientism,” and “institutionalism” According to modern European experiences,the process of constructing the “state capacity” accompanies with the increase of social wealth,rationality,and the degree of social openness,and,in the meantime,the economic factorsfiscal,trading,and financial—also remain harmonious and consistentWhen we examine the transformations of the Ming,the Qing,and modern China based on the abovementioned modern European experiences,contradictions riseThe separate fiscal,trading,and financial factors in a traditional Chinese society are explainable in their due sociopolitical contextThe “state capacity” thus becomes another Eurocentric concept we should be aware of in studying economic history.