<正>This paper presents an alternative approach to understanding stages of development. Drawing on research in developing and emerging economies—and talcing into account across the history of the cultural exchange in China—Ⅰargue that drivers of economic growth and variety over the past two millenniums in East Asia have embodied territory,technology and taste.Territory reflects the need to cultivate land(as in the original European definition of culture),as well as territorial expansion,sovereignty,and trade.Technological development is central to the transfer of‘useful knowledge’ and the rise of institutions,hence the much discussed contemporary notion of knowledge-based economies.The role of taste as a driver of economic progress is usually linked to the modern period and the rise of consumerism.How then do we reconcile these‘traditional’ engines of the economy with Richard Florida’s modern 3T concept(tolerance,technology and talent),that are said to be necessary in fostering the creative economy? To explain this,I propose five stages of development within the creative economy.