The Cambridge History of China: Volume 1, The Ch'in and Han Empires, 221 BC–AD 220

This volume begins the historical coverage of The Cambridge History of China with the Ch'in and Han empires.

Denis Twitchett (Edited by), Michael Loewe (Edited by)

9780521243278, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 December 1986

1024 pages, 17 maps 18 tables
23.2 x 16.5 x 6.1 cm, 1.53 kg

This volume begins the historical coverage of The Cambridge History of China with the establishment of the Ch'in empire in 221 BC and ends with the abdication of the last Han emperor in AD 220. Spanning four centuries, this period witnessed major evolutionary changes in almost every aspect of China's development, being particularly notable for the emergence and growth of a centralized administration and imperial government. Leading historians from Asia, Europe, and America have contributed chapters that convey a realistic impression of significant political, economic, intellectual, religious, and social developments, and of the contacts that the Chinese made with other peoples at this time. As the book is intended for the general reader as well as the specialist, technical details are given in both Chinese terms and English equivalents. References lead to primary sources and their translations and to secondary writings in European languages as well as Chinese and Japanese.

General editors' preface
List of maps and tables
Preface to volume 1
List of abbreviations
Official titles and institutional terms
Han weights and measures
Han emperors
Introduction Michael Loewe
1. The state and empire of Ch'in Derk Bodde
2. The former Han dynasty Michael Loewe
3. Wang Mang, the restoration of the Han dynasty, and later Han Hans Bielenstein
4. The conduct of government and the issues at stake (AD 57–167) Michael Loewe
5. The fall of Han B. J. Mansvelt Beck
6. Han foreign relations Yü Ying-Shih
7. The structure and practice of government Michael Loewe
8. The institutions of later Han Hans Bielenstein
9. Ch'in and Han law A. F. P. Hulsewé
10. The economic and social history of former Han Nishijima Sadao
11. The economic and social history of later Han Patricia Ebrey
12. The religious and intellectual background Michael Loewe
13. The concept of sovereignty Michael Loewe
14. The development of the Confucian schools Robert P. Kramers
15. Confucian, legalist, and Taoist thought in later Han Ch'en Ch'i-Yün
16. Philosophy and religion from Han to Sui Paul Demiéville
Postscript to chapter 16 Timothy Barrett
Bibliography
Glossary-index.

Subject Areas: Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], Asian history [HBJF]