Brush, Seal and Abacus Troubled Vitality in Late Ming China’s Economic Heartland, 1500–1644 / Jie Zhao.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zhao, Jie, 1954- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

China--History--Ming dynasty, 1368-1644.

China.

Yangtze River Delta (China)--Politics and government--1368-1644.

Yangtze River Delta (China).

Yangtze River Delta (China)--Economic conditions--To 1644.

Yangtze River Delta (China)--Social conditions--960-1644,.

Intellectuals--China--Yangtze River Delta--History--16th century.

Intellectuals.

Scholars--China--Yangtze River Delta--History--16th century.

Scholars.

Merchants--China--Yangtze River Delta--History--16th century.

Merchants.

Economic history.

Social conditions.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 PDF (xv, 267 pages) :) illustrations (some color), maps

Edition:

1st ed.

Manufacture:

Baltimore, Md. : Project MUSE, 2018

Place of Publication:

Baltimore, Maryland : Project Muse, 2018

Summary:

This book is a study of the social and cultural change in Ming China's lower Yangzi delta region from about 1500 to 1644. It takes three social groups--literati, scholar-officials, and merchants--as the framework for discussing the political, socio-economic, and cultural forces that coalesced and reinforced one another to influence and facilitate the region's change. A still wider perspective reveals how the region's political ties with the state and commercial links with external markets impacted the region for better and for worse. The book also discusses the literati's reflection and discourse, which their participation in the change generated, on the issues of morality, money, politics, and disorder. The book evokes the richly textured social and cultural life of Ming China's heartland in an age of commercial and cultural vigor, which then descended into distress and despair. For scholars and for others conversant with Chinese history, and Ming history in particular, the extensive use of literati sources and the references to contemporary scholarship will be of interest.

Contents:

Brush and abacus : scholars and merchants seek profit and place

Seal and abacus : officials and their agents catch the fever

Tonic or toxic? Scholars contest the implications of profit

A roiling cauldron : imperial misrule and factionalism fan the flames

Seething protest : great families provoke public outbursts

On a sinking ship : gentry reformers respond to crises.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [245]-260) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789882377127

9882377122

OCLC:

1037752818