The Qing dynasty (1636–1912)—a crucial bridge between “traditional” and “modern” China—was remarkable for its expansiveness and cultural sophistication. This engaging and insightful history of Qing political, social, and cultural life traces the complex interaction between the Inner Asian traditions of the Manchus, who conquered China in 1644, and indigenous Chinese cultural traditions. Noted historian Richard J. Smith argues that the pragmatic Qing emperors presented a “Chinese” face to their subjects who lived south of the Great Wall and other ethnic faces (particularly Manchu, Mongolian, Central Asian, and Tibetan) to subjects in other parts of their vast multicultural empire. They were attracted by many aspects of Chinese culture, but far from being completely “sinicized” as many scholars argue, they were also proud of their own cultural traditions and interested in other cultures as well.Setting Qing dynasty culture in historical and global perspective, Smith shows how the Chinese of the era viewed the world; how their outlook was expressed in their institutions, material culture, and customs; and how China’s preoccupation with order, unity, and harmony contributed to the civilization’s remarkable cohesiveness and continuity. Nuanced and wide-ranging, his authoritative book provides an essential introduction to late imperial Chinese culture and society.
"1120985493"
The Qing Dynasty and Traditional Chinese Culture
The Qing dynasty (1636–1912)—a crucial bridge between “traditional” and “modern” China—was remarkable for its expansiveness and cultural sophistication. This engaging and insightful history of Qing political, social, and cultural life traces the complex interaction between the Inner Asian traditions of the Manchus, who conquered China in 1644, and indigenous Chinese cultural traditions. Noted historian Richard J. Smith argues that the pragmatic Qing emperors presented a “Chinese” face to their subjects who lived south of the Great Wall and other ethnic faces (particularly Manchu, Mongolian, Central Asian, and Tibetan) to subjects in other parts of their vast multicultural empire. They were attracted by many aspects of Chinese culture, but far from being completely “sinicized” as many scholars argue, they were also proud of their own cultural traditions and interested in other cultures as well.Setting Qing dynasty culture in historical and global perspective, Smith shows how the Chinese of the era viewed the world; how their outlook was expressed in their institutions, material culture, and customs; and how China’s preoccupation with order, unity, and harmony contributed to the civilization’s remarkable cohesiveness and continuity. Nuanced and wide-ranging, his authoritative book provides an essential introduction to late imperial Chinese culture and society.
The Qing dynasty (1636–1912)—a crucial bridge between “traditional” and “modern” China—was remarkable for its expansiveness and cultural sophistication. This engaging and insightful history of Qing political, social, and cultural life traces the complex interaction between the Inner Asian traditions of the Manchus, who conquered China in 1644, and indigenous Chinese cultural traditions. Noted historian Richard J. Smith argues that the pragmatic Qing emperors presented a “Chinese” face to their subjects who lived south of the Great Wall and other ethnic faces (particularly Manchu, Mongolian, Central Asian, and Tibetan) to subjects in other parts of their vast multicultural empire. They were attracted by many aspects of Chinese culture, but far from being completely “sinicized” as many scholars argue, they were also proud of their own cultural traditions and interested in other cultures as well.Setting Qing dynasty culture in historical and global perspective, Smith shows how the Chinese of the era viewed the world; how their outlook was expressed in their institutions, material culture, and customs; and how China’s preoccupation with order, unity, and harmony contributed to the civilization’s remarkable cohesiveness and continuity. Nuanced and wide-ranging, his authoritative book provides an essential introduction to late imperial Chinese culture and society.
Richard J. Smith is George and Nancy Rupp Professor of Humanities, Professor of History, and James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Scholar at Rice University.
Table of Contents
PREFACEINTRODUCTIONCHAPTER 1: THE MING DYNASTY LEGACY The Founding of the MingThe Evolution of Ming Institutions Ming CultureCHAPTER 2: CONQUEST AND CONSOLIDATIONThe Fall of the Ming and the Rise of the Qing The Qing Empire: A Brief OverviewCHAPTER 3: THE QING POLITICAL ORDERImperial Rule and Metropolitan OfficesAdministrative Integration and Its LimitsCHAPTER 4: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONSSocial Classes and ConflictsForms of Chinese Socioeconomic OrganizationCHAPTER 5: LANGUAGE AND SYMBOLIC REFERENCE Languages of the QingThe Relationship between Language and CultureCHAPTER 6: THOUGHTThe World of IdeasThe Confucian Moral OrderDaoist Flight and FancyCHAPTER 7: RELIGIONState SacrificesBuddhism and Religious DaoismPopular ReligionCHAPTER 8: ARTS AND CRAFTSAttitudes Toward ArtCraft ProductionsPainting and CalligraphyCHAPTER 9: LITERATURECategories of Classical LiteratureVernacular LiteratureCHAPTER 10: SOCIAL LIFEEarly Life-Cycle RitualMarriage and BeyondAmusementsCHAPTER 11: THE LATE QING AND BEYOND, 1860–2014Reform, Revolution, and China’s Inherited CultureAPPENDICESAppendix A: A Note on Chinese NamesAppendix B: Weights and Measures, Exchange Rates and CostsAppendix C: Regional Differences and Provincial StereotypesAppendix D: Glossary of Some Philosophical ConceptsAppendix E: Tables of Contents of Selected Editions of the Wanbao quanshu (1612, 1636, 1758 and 1828)Appendix F: Some English-Language Writings on Honglou meng (Dream of the Red Chamber) Appendix G: The Three Character ClassicNOTESBIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX
