Description
Book SynopsisThe Six Dynasties Period (220589 CE) is one of the most complex in Chinese history. Written by leading scholars from across the globe, the essays in this volume cover nearly every aspect of the period, including politics, foreign relations, warfare, agriculture, gender, art, philosophy, material culture, local society, and music. While acknowledging the era''s political chaos, these essays indicate that this was a transformative period when Chinese culture was significantly changed and enriched by foreign peoples and ideas. It was also a time when history and literature became recognized as independent subjects and religion was transformed by the domestication of Buddhism and the formation of organized Daoism. Many of the trends that shaped the rest of imperial China''s history have their origins in this era, such as the commercial vibrancy of southern China, the separation of history and literature from classical studies, and the growing importance of women in politics and religion.
Trade Review'In sum, this volume is not just an historical account of the Six Dynasties, but also a veritable encyclopedia of Early Medieval China, come to fruition through a long-standing pursuit to better understand this immensely formative period of Chinese history-a period, which has been long neglected or marginalized by scholars subscribing to the teleological construct of China.' Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer, Monumenta Serica
Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. History: 1. Wei Rafe de Crespigny; 2. Wu Rafe de Crespigny; 3. Shu-Han J. Michael Farmer; 4. Western Jin Damien Chaussende; 5. Eastern Jin Charles Holcombe; 6. The Sixteen Kingdoms Charles Holcombe; 7. Cheng-Han State Terry F. Kleeman; 8. Northern Wei Scott Pearce; 9. Eastern Wei-Northern Qi Albert E. Dien; 10. Western Wei-Northern Zhou Albert E. Dien; 11. The Southern dynasties Andrew Chittick; Part II. Society and Realia: 12. The art of war David A. Graff; 13. Foreign relations Charles Holcombe; 14. The Northern economy Victor Cunrui Xiong; 15. The Southern economy Liu Shufen; 16. Agriculture Francesca Bray; 17. The history of Sogdians in China Rong Xinjiang; 18. Northern material culture Shing Müller; 19. Southern material culture Annette Kieser; 20. Women, families, and gendered society Jen-der Lee; 21. Local society Hou Xudong; Part III. Culture, Religion and Art: 22. Confucian learning and influence Keith N. Knapp; 23. Qingtan and Xuanxue Y. K. Lo; 24. Buddhism John Kieschnick; 25. Daoism Stephen R. Bokenkamp; 26. Popular religion Robert Ford Campany; 27. The world of prose literature Antje Richter; 28. The world of poetry Cynthia Chennault; 29. Art and visual culture Wu Hung; 30. Music Bo Lawergren; Abbreviations of frequently cited primary sources; Bibliography; Glossary-index.
