Description
Book SynopsisThis book examines egalitarian social ideals and institutions that arose in preindustrial China and England, and in the process, uncovers China's forgotten role in the history of social justice debate and legislation during the eighteenth century. Drawing on a wide range of visual and documentary evidence, the author shows that many prominent individuals in both England and China adopted comparable strategies as a logical response to excesses of privilege and arbitrary power, with educated but non-noble persons taking advantage of print culture, a more literate population, an expanded art market, public spaces and other familiar early modern' developments to interrogate the system of inherited privilege and promote a more meritocratic society. This shared experience created common ground for transformative exchange between the two great traditions during the eighteenth century. By providing a more global account of what we call Western values, the book shows that early modern China
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"Powers has written an extraordinary meditation on the labyrinths of thought, both European and Chinese, that have brought us to our present place in history. The great strength of the book lies in demonstrating that the history of liberty is not a closed Western project, but an aspect of human experience that can be calmly and logically approached as much from China as from anywhere else." - Timothy Brook, The University of British Columbia, Canada.
Table of ContentsPreface
Glossary
1. Introduction
2. Cultural Politics
3. Political Authority
4. The Polity
5. The People: China
6. The People: England
7. Equality: China
8. Equality: England
9. Speech: China
10. Speech: England
11. Envisioning Speech
12. A Common Struggle
Selected Bibliography
Index
