Medieval Chinese Oliogarchy

Most modern scholars recognize that there were great differences between China's ruling elite in the middle and late traditional period; many have called the period up through the T'ang dynasty aristocratic, in contrast to the more meritocratic and socially mobile age that followed. But until now there has been no serious effort to discover how the social elite was defined in medieval times, and who belonged to it. David Johnson discusses in detail medieval definitions of the social elite, and, with the help of several manuscripts of the ninth century, identifies the families that belonged to that class.

List of contents

Introduction, Chapter I. Defining the Medieval Ruling Class: The Shih, Chapter II. Office and Status, Chapter III. Defining the Medieval Ruling Class: The Great Clans, Chapter IV. T'ang Genealogical Writings and Changes in the Status System, Chapter V. T'ang Lists of Great Families Discovered at Tun-huang, Location of Choronyms in T'ang Clan Lists (Map) Chapter VI. The Medieval Chinese Clan, Chapter VII. The Medieval Chinese Oligarchy

About the author

David G. Johnson, assistant professor of Chinese history at Columbia University, specializes in the social history of China between the Northern and Southern dynasties and the Sung. He is also director of Columbia's new undergraduate program in East Asian Studies.

Summary

Most modern scholars recognize that there were great differences between China's ruling elite in the middle and late traditional period; but until now there has been no serious effort to discover how the social elite was defined in medieval times.

Product details

• Authors: David C Johnson
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.10.2022
• EAN: 9780367167288
• ISBN: 978-0-367-16728-8
• No. of pages: 296
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; China, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Asian, Medieval History, Asian History, Social classes, C 500 CE To C 1000 CE, 9th century, c 800 to c 899