Structures of Governance in Song Dynasty China, 960–1279 CE

A groundbreaking revisionist history of the workings of governance in Imperial China centered on the Song Dynasty (960-1279 BCE).

Charles Hartman (Author)

9781009235594, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 November 2024

468 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.4 cm, 0.671 kg

'… this book's contribution is obvious: in response to the academy's excessive focus on scholar-official politics, the author presents a new interpretive tool to think with - the 'technocratic- Confucian continuum' - for reconceiving the structures of governance in Song China. Although the content may not yet fully correspond to this theme, it still provides important inspiration, lets us be fully aware of the different political groups active behind the system, and provides us with valuable insights in terms of methodology.' Christopher T. Keaveney, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies

Charles Hartman presents an ambitious analysis of the workings of governance in Imperial China centered on the Song Dynasty (960–1279). Here he develops a new model for thinking about the deeper structures of governance in Song and pre-imperial China – the 'technocratic–Confucian continuum' – which challenges the prevailing perception of Confucian political dominance and offers a vehicle for expanding the definition and scope of Song political culture to embrace all its actors. Building on his acclaimed work The Making of Song Dynasty History: Sources and Narratives, 960–1279 CE (2021), this richly detailed exploration of the Song court is of significance beyond the immediate period of study both in rethinking the nature of monarchy in China and in examining the constructive possibility of political dissent.

List of Figures and Tables
Preface
A Note on the Text
Introduction
Part I: Dual Faces of the Song State
Part II: The Technocratic and Confucian Models of Governance
Part III: Interactions
Appendix
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Confucianism [HRKN1], Asian history [HBJF], General & world history [HBG]