Description
Book Synopsis* A history from the origins of the Manchus to the murder of the former last Manchu emperor by the guards of the people who ruled China from 1685 to 1912 * Explains how the Manchus achieved their empire and what the consequences were for themselves and their subjects.
Trade Review"Pamela Crossley's
The Manchus is the book that those interested in China's last dynasty have always needed. Through her clear, erudite, and succinct presentation, we are led to understand the origins of Manchu social organization, the formation of a Manchu ethnicity, and the implementation of a specifically Manchu view of universal empire. We also see the loss of purpose and erosion of self-confidence that led to the dynasty's collapse in 1912."
Jonathan Spence, Yale University Table of ContentsList of Plates.
List of Maps.
Preface.
1. The Paradox of the Manchus.
2. Shamans and "Clans": The Origins of the Manchus.
3. The Enigma of Nurgachi.
4. The Qing Expansion.
5. The Guided Age of Qianlong.
6. The Lingering Death of the Empire.
7. Epilogue: The Manchus in the Twentieth Century.
Appendix I. Reign Periods of the Aisin Gioro Rulers.
Appendix II. Cherished Soldiers.
Appendix III. A Glossary of Names and Terms.
Notes.
Bibliography.
Index
