Imperial China

A wide-ranging and accessble introduction to more than 2000 years of history in Imperial China.

Map

A Timeline of the Dynasties of Imperial China

Introduction

Before the Imperial Age

Imperial China

Master Kong, the Ru, and Confucius

Language

Conclusion

1 Foundations

The Imperial State

Law and Morality in Reality

Conclusion

2 Dynasties

Similarities

Differences

The Other Dynasties

Conclusion

3 Borders

Geography

Macroregions

Localities

Conclusion



4 War and the Military

Military Technology, Society, and Politics

Organization

Guns

Military Thought

Conclusion



5 Discovery

The Four Great Inventions

Other Technology

Contact and Exploration

Conclusion



6 Religions

Popular Religion

Ruism (Confucianism)

Buddhism

Daoism

Conclusion

7 The Imperial Economy

The State

Money

Markets

Conclusion



8 The Arts: Literature, Calligraphy, Painting, and Architecture

Literature

Poetry

Prose

Calligraphy

Painting

Architecture

Conclusion



9 Popular Arts and Culture

Decorative Arts

Gardens

Public Performance and Theatre

Popular Literature

Conclusion



10 Constructing China Through History

Sima Qian (c. 145/135– c. 86 BCE) and The Records of the Grand Historian

Ban Gu (32– 92) and The History of the Han (Hanshu)

History Writing in the Tang Dynasty

History Writing in the Song Dynasty

Conclusion

11 The End of Imperial China?

Imperial History

Diversity

Unity

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

Further Reading

Index