Description
Book SynopsisThis volume begins the historical coverage of The Cambridge History of China with the establishment of the Ch'in empire in 221 BC and ends with the abdication of the last Han emperor in AD 220. Spanning four centuries, this period witnessed major evolutionary changes in almost every aspect of China's development, being particularly notable for the emergence and growth of a centralized administration and imperial government. Leading historians from Asia, Europe, and America have contributed chapters that convey a realistic impression of significant political, economic, intellectual, religious, and social developments, and of the contacts that the Chinese made with other peoples at this time. As the book is intended for the general reader as well as the specialist, technical details are given in both Chinese terms and English equivalents. References lead to primary sources and their translations and to secondary writings in European languages as well as Chinese and Japanese.
Table of ContentsGeneral editors' preface; List of maps and tables; Preface to volume 1; List of abbreviations; Official titles and institutional terms; Han weights and measures; Han emperors; Introduction Michael Loewe; 1. The state and empire of Ch'in Derk Bodde; 2. The former Han dynasty Michael Loewe; 3. Wang Mang, the restoration of the Han dynasty, and later Han Hans Bielenstein; 4. The conduct of government and the issues at stake (AD 57–167) Michael Loewe; 5. The fall of Han B. J. Mansvelt Beck; 6. Han foreign relations Yü Ying-Shih; 7. The structure and practice of government Michael Loewe; 8. The institutions of later Han Hans Bielenstein; 9. Ch'in and Han law A. F. P. Hulsewé; 10. The economic and social history of former Han Nishijima Sadao; 11. The economic and social history of later Han Patricia Ebrey; 12. The religious and intellectual background Michael Loewe; 13. The concept of sovereignty Michael Loewe; 14. The development of the Confucian schools Robert P. Kramers; 15. Confucian, legalist, and Taoist thought in later Han Ch'en Ch'i-Yün; 16. Philosophy and religion from Han to Sui Paul Demiéville; Postscript to chapter 16 Timothy Barrett; Bibliography; Glossary-index.
