Description
Book SynopsisAmong the ancient graves and tombs excavated to date in China, the Mancheng site stands out for its unparalleled complexity and richness.
Modeling Peace interprets Western Han royal burial as a political ideology by closely reading the architecture and funerary content of this site and situating it in the historical context of imperialization.
Trade ReviewModeling Peace is a unique contribution to the study of Western Han royal tombs, and it is especially fruitful in its revolutionary coverage of the Mancheng tombs. -- Xiaolong Wu, author of
Material Culture, Power, and Identity in Ancient ChinaModeling Peace is the first true comprehensive study of the greatest of all unplundered Han royal tombs: the tombs of Liu Sheng and Dou Wan at Mancheng. Innovative, thought-provoking, and sophisticated,
Modeling Peace is a groundbreaking examination of the relationship between the tombs and the political ideology of the occupants, using topological, textual, and stylistic analysis. -- Dame Jessica Rawson, University of Oxford
Shi’s view extends well beyond the two tombs to take in the broader world of second-century BCE China, and even the world well beyond China. This is cultural history writ both small and large, a study that fully embodies the topic under scrutiny. -- Edward L. Shaughnessy, author of
Unearthing the Changes: Recently Discovered Manuscripts of the Yi Jing (I Ching) and Related Texts[This] book will enlighten readers interested not only in Chinese funerary art but also in the ongoing dialogue between art history, material culture studies, and the history of thought. Thanks to Shi’s lucid, vivid writing, its sophisticated argument, which weaves together seemingly arcane material, becomes accessible and enjoyable. * CAA Reviews *
I highly recommend the book not only for archaeologists in the field of Chinese archaeology but also for Sinologists. Shi Jie writes with a clarity that makes this book accessible also for Western researchers interested in royal tombs of Early China. * Monumenta Serica *
Modeling Peace is the first in-depth analysis of the Mancheng tombs in the English language and has much to offer . . . Jie Shi certainly has created a great foundation against which all future research on Western Han royal tombs will be measured. * Journal of Chinese Religions *
Table of ContentsList of maps, figures, and table
Introduction
Part I1. The Embrace of Body and Soul
2. The Union of Husband and Wife
3. Integration of Ethnic Han and Non-Han
Part II4. The Public King
5. The King of Peace
6. The King Under the Gaze
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index
