<p>The existence of an intensifying shift in the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) since ∼2000 years ago that differs from the decreasing trend of Northern Hemisphere summer insolation remains controversial. Therefore, we compared and synthesized stalagmite δ¹⁸O records from eastern China to clarify the EASM trend during this period. A total of 30 cave δ¹⁸O records that did not consistently indicate a depleted trend during 2–0 ka. Rather, they included increasing (14 caves), decreasing (8 caves), and non-significant (8 caves) trends. The spatially interpolated trends of cave δ¹⁸O suggested spatial differences among three subregions: North China (NC), decreasing trend (5 caves); Central-East China/Yangtze River Valley (CEC), increasing trend (17 caves); South China (SC), decreasing trend (8 caves). The cave δ¹⁸O evidence supports spatial differences in precipitation in eastern China that have been substantially demonstrated by observations and model simulations. The decreasing δ¹⁸O anomaly from NC and SC was associated with the decreasing sea surface temperature over Pacific Decadal Oscillation region and increasing South Oscillation Index. The increasing CEC δ¹⁸O anomaly was linked to southward Intertropical Convergence Zone shift and decreasing solar irradiance. Consequently, EASM circulation is jointly forced by external and internal factors at various timescales.</p>