{"product_id":"cosmology-and-political-culture-in-early-china-paperback-9780521027496","title":"Cosmology and Political Culture in Early China (Paperback \/ softback) 9780521027496","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eCosmology and Political Culture in Early China\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis book traces the central role played by cosmology in the formation of China's early empires.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eAihe Wang (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521027496, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 2 November 2006\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e256 pages, 15 b\/w illus.  2 maps  10 tables\u003cbr\u003e22.8 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.387 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"This is an excellent book, valuable for its deft use of previous scholarship to describe the interaction of politics and religion.  Cosmology and Political Culture in Early China succeeds both as an attack on essentialism and as a description of relationships between political ideals and cosmologies in pre-imperial and early imperial times.  It clearly conveys its central message that Chinese cosmology changed over time in conjunction with political changes...Wang provides the most elegant and accurate descriptions that have yet been offered in English of certain fundamental structures.  For this reason alone this book should receive wide circulation.\"   Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThis radical reinterpretation of the formative stages of Chinese culture and history traces the central role played by cosmology in the formation of China's early empires. It crosses the disciplines of history, social anthropology, archaeology and philosophy to illustrate how cosmological systems, particularly the Five Elements, shaped political culture. By focusing on dynamic change in early cosmology, the book undermines the notion that Chinese cosmology was homogeneous and unchanging. By arguing that cosmology was intrinsic to power relations, it also challenges prevailing theories of political and intellectual history.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eList of illustrations\u003cbr\u003e List of tables\u003cbr\u003e Acknowledgements\u003cbr\u003e 1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 2. Sifang and the center: the cosmology of the ruling clan\u003cbr\u003e 3. Wuxing: cosmology in historical transition\u003cbr\u003e 4. Moralizing cosmology and transforming imperial sovereignty\u003cbr\u003e 5. Contesting emperorship: the center of the cosmos and pivot of power\u003cbr\u003e Conclusion: cosmology and power reconsidered\u003cbr\u003e List of abbreviations\u003cbr\u003e Works cited\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Anthropology [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Anthropology\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Anthropology%20%5BJHM%5D%22\"\u003eJHM\u003c\/a\u003e], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Ancient history: to c 500 CE\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Ancient%20history:%20to%20c%20500%20CE%20%5BHBLA%5D%22\"\u003eHBLA\u003c\/a\u003e], Asian history [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Asian history\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Asian%20history%20%5BHBJF%5D%22\"\u003eHBJF\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45913089179928,"sku":"9780521027496","price":41.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521027496i_559399db-c8b7-46bd-8508-5ad2a3eb5167.jpg?v=1694964755","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/cosmology-and-political-culture-in-early-china-paperback-9780521027496","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}