Envisioning Eternal Empire

Envisioning Eternal Empire

Author: Yuri Pines

Publisher: University of Hawaii Press

Published: 2009-01-01

Total Pages: 322

ISBN-13: 0824832752

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This ambitious book looks into the reasons for the exceptional durability of the Chinese empire, which lasted for more than two millennia (221 B.C.E.-1911 C.E.). Yuri Pines identifies the roots of the empire's longevity in the activities of thinkers of the Warring States period (453-221 B.C.E.), who, in their search for solutions to an ongoing political crisis, developed ideals, values, and perceptions that would become essential for the future imperial polity. In marked distinction to similar empires worldwide, the Chinese empire was envisioned and to a certain extent "preplanned" long before it came into being. As a result, it was not only a military and administrative construct, but also an intellectual one. Pines makes the argument that it was precisely its ideological appeal that allowed the survival and regeneration of the empire after repeated periods of turmoil. Envisioning Eternal Empire presents a panoptic survey of philosophical and social conflicts in Warring States political culture. By examining the extant corpus of preimperial literature, including transmitted texts and manuscripts uncovered at archaeological sites, Pines locates the common ideas of competing thinkers that underlie their ideological controversies. This bold approach allows him to transcend the once fashionable perspective of competing "schools of thought" and show that beneath the immense pluralism of Warring States thought one may identify common ideological choices that eventually shaped traditional Chinese political culture


Book Synopsis Envisioning Eternal Empire by : Yuri Pines

Download or read book Envisioning Eternal Empire written by Yuri Pines and published by University of Hawaii Press. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This ambitious book looks into the reasons for the exceptional durability of the Chinese empire, which lasted for more than two millennia (221 B.C.E.-1911 C.E.). Yuri Pines identifies the roots of the empire's longevity in the activities of thinkers of the Warring States period (453-221 B.C.E.), who, in their search for solutions to an ongoing political crisis, developed ideals, values, and perceptions that would become essential for the future imperial polity. In marked distinction to similar empires worldwide, the Chinese empire was envisioned and to a certain extent "preplanned" long before it came into being. As a result, it was not only a military and administrative construct, but also an intellectual one. Pines makes the argument that it was precisely its ideological appeal that allowed the survival and regeneration of the empire after repeated periods of turmoil. Envisioning Eternal Empire presents a panoptic survey of philosophical and social conflicts in Warring States political culture. By examining the extant corpus of preimperial literature, including transmitted texts and manuscripts uncovered at archaeological sites, Pines locates the common ideas of competing thinkers that underlie their ideological controversies. This bold approach allows him to transcend the once fashionable perspective of competing "schools of thought" and show that beneath the immense pluralism of Warring States thought one may identify common ideological choices that eventually shaped traditional Chinese political culture

The Everlasting Empire

The Everlasting Empire

Author: Yuri Pines

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2012-05-27

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 0691134952

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Established in 221 BCE, the Chinese empire lasted for 2,132 years before being replaced by the Republic of China in 1912. During its two millennia, the empire endured internal wars, foreign incursions, alien occupations, and devastating rebellions--yet fundamental institutional, sociopolitical, and cultural features of the empire remained intact. The Everlasting Empire traces the roots of the Chinese empire's exceptional longevity and unparalleled political durability, and shows how lessons from the imperial past are relevant for China today. Yuri Pines demonstrates that the empire survived and adjusted to a variety of domestic and external challenges through a peculiar combination of rigid ideological premises and their flexible implementation. The empire's major political actors and neighbors shared its fundamental ideological principles, such as unity under a single monarch--hence, even the empire's strongest domestic and foreign foes adopted the system of imperial rule. Yet details of this rule were constantly negotiated and adjusted. Pines shows how deep tensions between political actors including the emperor, the literati, local elites, and rebellious commoners actually enabled the empire's basic institutional framework to remain critically vital and adaptable to ever-changing sociopolitical circumstances. As contemporary China moves toward a new period of prosperity and power in the twenty-first century, Pines argues that the legacy of the empire may become an increasingly important force in shaping the nation's future trajectory.


Book Synopsis The Everlasting Empire by : Yuri Pines

Download or read book The Everlasting Empire written by Yuri Pines and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2012-05-27 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Established in 221 BCE, the Chinese empire lasted for 2,132 years before being replaced by the Republic of China in 1912. During its two millennia, the empire endured internal wars, foreign incursions, alien occupations, and devastating rebellions--yet fundamental institutional, sociopolitical, and cultural features of the empire remained intact. The Everlasting Empire traces the roots of the Chinese empire's exceptional longevity and unparalleled political durability, and shows how lessons from the imperial past are relevant for China today. Yuri Pines demonstrates that the empire survived and adjusted to a variety of domestic and external challenges through a peculiar combination of rigid ideological premises and their flexible implementation. The empire's major political actors and neighbors shared its fundamental ideological principles, such as unity under a single monarch--hence, even the empire's strongest domestic and foreign foes adopted the system of imperial rule. Yet details of this rule were constantly negotiated and adjusted. Pines shows how deep tensions between political actors including the emperor, the literati, local elites, and rebellious commoners actually enabled the empire's basic institutional framework to remain critically vital and adaptable to ever-changing sociopolitical circumstances. As contemporary China moves toward a new period of prosperity and power in the twenty-first century, Pines argues that the legacy of the empire may become an increasingly important force in shaping the nation's future trajectory.

A Belgian Odyssey

A Belgian Odyssey

Author: Patricia LaPlante

Publisher: First Edition Design Pub.

Published: 2024-03-01

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13: 1506911285

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F I N A L Y! ...she's getting to see the world. A suburban American housewife, Patty LaPlante, finds herself transplanted to a little town in Belgium—a result of her husband's corporate transfer. Her lifelong dream of travel is finally coming to pass, but the adjustment is hard for their three children, who are reluctant to leave everything they know. Given her propensity to attract trouble, her naivete lands Patty into many comic misadventures, such as introducing the Mexican ambassador to a roomful of people by the wrong name, accepting a lift on a lonely road in Spain from a man of dubious repute who thought she was a street-walker, and dealing in diamonds in a shady part of town. As her husband states, “Every time she walks out the door, I wonder if I’ll ever see her again.” But there are poignant and heartrending moments as well. There is the day at the Luxembourg War Memorial Cemetery when she finds herself standing on General George S. Patton's grave, as well as witnessing the gut-wrenching scene that unfolds before her at the infamous Berlin Wall before it fell. At the end of her husband's assignment, however, Patty had grown through her experiences and had become more street smart and world-wise. With the lessons she learned, she knows she can never return to the past, nor remain the person she used to be.


Book Synopsis A Belgian Odyssey by : Patricia LaPlante

Download or read book A Belgian Odyssey written by Patricia LaPlante and published by First Edition Design Pub.. This book was released on 2024-03-01 with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: F I N A L Y! ...she's getting to see the world. A suburban American housewife, Patty LaPlante, finds herself transplanted to a little town in Belgium—a result of her husband's corporate transfer. Her lifelong dream of travel is finally coming to pass, but the adjustment is hard for their three children, who are reluctant to leave everything they know. Given her propensity to attract trouble, her naivete lands Patty into many comic misadventures, such as introducing the Mexican ambassador to a roomful of people by the wrong name, accepting a lift on a lonely road in Spain from a man of dubious repute who thought she was a street-walker, and dealing in diamonds in a shady part of town. As her husband states, “Every time she walks out the door, I wonder if I’ll ever see her again.” But there are poignant and heartrending moments as well. There is the day at the Luxembourg War Memorial Cemetery when she finds herself standing on General George S. Patton's grave, as well as witnessing the gut-wrenching scene that unfolds before her at the infamous Berlin Wall before it fell. At the end of her husband's assignment, however, Patty had grown through her experiences and had become more street smart and world-wise. With the lessons she learned, she knows she can never return to the past, nor remain the person she used to be.

Eternal Empire

Eternal Empire

Author: Alec Nevala-Lee

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9781322817569

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Book Synopsis Eternal Empire by : Alec Nevala-Lee

Download or read book Eternal Empire written by Alec Nevala-Lee and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The East Asian Challenge for Democracy

The East Asian Challenge for Democracy

Author: Daniel A. Bell

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2013-08-12

Total Pages: 417

ISBN-13: 1107038391

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The rise of China, along with problems of governance in democratic countries, has reinvigorated the theory of political meritocracy. But what is the theory of political meritocracy and how can it set standards for evaluating political progress (and regress)? To help answer these questions, this volume gathers a series of commissioned research papers from an interdisciplinary group of leading philosophers, historians and social scientists. The result is the first book in decades to examine the rise (or revival) of political meritocracy and what it will mean for political developments in China and the rest of the world. Despite its limitations, meritocracy has contributed much to human flourishing in East Asia and beyond and will continue to do so in the future. This book is essential reading for those who wish to further the debate and perhaps even help to implement desirable forms of political change.


Book Synopsis The East Asian Challenge for Democracy by : Daniel A. Bell

Download or read book The East Asian Challenge for Democracy written by Daniel A. Bell and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2013-08-12 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The rise of China, along with problems of governance in democratic countries, has reinvigorated the theory of political meritocracy. But what is the theory of political meritocracy and how can it set standards for evaluating political progress (and regress)? To help answer these questions, this volume gathers a series of commissioned research papers from an interdisciplinary group of leading philosophers, historians and social scientists. The result is the first book in decades to examine the rise (or revival) of political meritocracy and what it will mean for political developments in China and the rest of the world. Despite its limitations, meritocracy has contributed much to human flourishing in East Asia and beyond and will continue to do so in the future. This book is essential reading for those who wish to further the debate and perhaps even help to implement desirable forms of political change.

Facing the Monarch

Facing the Monarch

Author: Garret P. S. Olberding

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2020-05-11

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 1684175348

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In the popular consciousness, manipulative speech pervades politicized discourse, and the eloquence of politicians is seen as invariably rooted in cunning and prevarication. Rhetorical flourishes are thus judged corruptive of the substance of political discourse because they lead to distortion and confusion. Yet the papers in Facing the Monarch suggest that separating style from content is practically impossible. Focused on the era between the Spring and Autumn period and the later Han dynasty, this volume examines the dynamic between early Chinese ministers and monarchs at a time when ministers employed manifold innovative rhetorical tactics. The contributors analyze discrete excerpts from classical Chinese works and explore topics of censorship, irony, and dissidence highly relevant for a climate in which ruse and misinformation were the norm. What emerges are original and illuminating perspectives on how the early Chinese political circumstance shaped and phrased—and prohibited—modes of expression.


Book Synopsis Facing the Monarch by : Garret P. S. Olberding

Download or read book Facing the Monarch written by Garret P. S. Olberding and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2020-05-11 with total page 318 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the popular consciousness, manipulative speech pervades politicized discourse, and the eloquence of politicians is seen as invariably rooted in cunning and prevarication. Rhetorical flourishes are thus judged corruptive of the substance of political discourse because they lead to distortion and confusion. Yet the papers in Facing the Monarch suggest that separating style from content is practically impossible. Focused on the era between the Spring and Autumn period and the later Han dynasty, this volume examines the dynamic between early Chinese ministers and monarchs at a time when ministers employed manifold innovative rhetorical tactics. The contributors analyze discrete excerpts from classical Chinese works and explore topics of censorship, irony, and dissidence highly relevant for a climate in which ruse and misinformation were the norm. What emerges are original and illuminating perspectives on how the early Chinese political circumstance shaped and phrased—and prohibited—modes of expression.

Keywords in Chinese Culture

Keywords in Chinese Culture

Author: Li Wai-yee

Publisher: The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press

Published: 2019-12-15

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 9882371191

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Like every major culture, Chinese has its set of keywords: pivotal terms of political, ethical, literary and philosophical discourse. Tracing the origins, development, polysemy, and usages of keywords is one of the best ways to chart cultural and historical changes. This volume analyzes some of these keywords from different disciplinary and temporal perspectives, offering a new integrative study of their semantic richness, development trajectory, and distinct usages in Chinese culture. The authors of the volume explore different keywords and focus on different periods and genres, ranging from philosophical and historical texts of the Warring States period (453-V221 BCE) to late imperial (ca. 6th?V18th centuries CE) literature and philosophy. They are guided by a similar set of questions: What elevates a mere word to the status of keyword? What sort of resonance and reverberations do we expect a keyword to have? How much does the semantic range of a keyword explain its significance? What kinds of arguments does it generate? What are the stories told to illustrate its meanings? What are political and intellectual implications of the keyword's reevaluation? What does it mean to translate a keyword and map its meaning against other languages? Throughout Chinese history, new ideas and new approaches often mean reinterpreting important words; rupture, continuities, and inflection points are inseparable from the linguistic history of specific terms. The premise of this book is that taking the long view and encompassing different disciplines yield new insights and unexpected connections. The authors, who come from the fields of history,


Book Synopsis Keywords in Chinese Culture by : Li Wai-yee

Download or read book Keywords in Chinese Culture written by Li Wai-yee and published by The Chinese University of Hong Kong Press. This book was released on 2019-12-15 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Like every major culture, Chinese has its set of keywords: pivotal terms of political, ethical, literary and philosophical discourse. Tracing the origins, development, polysemy, and usages of keywords is one of the best ways to chart cultural and historical changes. This volume analyzes some of these keywords from different disciplinary and temporal perspectives, offering a new integrative study of their semantic richness, development trajectory, and distinct usages in Chinese culture. The authors of the volume explore different keywords and focus on different periods and genres, ranging from philosophical and historical texts of the Warring States period (453-V221 BCE) to late imperial (ca. 6th?V18th centuries CE) literature and philosophy. They are guided by a similar set of questions: What elevates a mere word to the status of keyword? What sort of resonance and reverberations do we expect a keyword to have? How much does the semantic range of a keyword explain its significance? What kinds of arguments does it generate? What are the stories told to illustrate its meanings? What are political and intellectual implications of the keyword's reevaluation? What does it mean to translate a keyword and map its meaning against other languages? Throughout Chinese history, new ideas and new approaches often mean reinterpreting important words; rupture, continuities, and inflection points are inseparable from the linguistic history of specific terms. The premise of this book is that taking the long view and encompassing different disciplines yield new insights and unexpected connections. The authors, who come from the fields of history,

The Dynastic Centre and the Provinces

The Dynastic Centre and the Provinces

Author:

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2014-04-17

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9004272097

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The dynastic centre and the provinces were linked by agents and ritual occasions. This book includes contributions by specialists examining these connections in late imperial China, early modern Europe, and the Ottoman empire, suggesting important revisions and an agenda for comparison.


Book Synopsis The Dynastic Centre and the Provinces by :

Download or read book The Dynastic Centre and the Provinces written by and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2014-04-17 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dynastic centre and the provinces were linked by agents and ritual occasions. This book includes contributions by specialists examining these connections in late imperial China, early modern Europe, and the Ottoman empire, suggesting important revisions and an agenda for comparison.

Classical Confucian Political Thought

Classical Confucian Political Thought

Author: Loubna El Amine

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2015-09-01

Total Pages: 232

ISBN-13: 0691163049

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The intellectual legacy of Confucianism has loomed large in efforts to understand China's past, present, and future. While Confucian ethics has been thoroughly explored, the question remains: what exactly is Confucian political thought? Classical Confucian Political Thought returns to the classical texts of the Confucian tradition to answer this vital question. Showing how Confucian ethics and politics diverge, Loubna El Amine argues that Confucian political thought is not a direct application of Confucian moral philosophy. Instead, contrary to the conventional view that Confucian rule aims to instill virtue in all members of society, El Amine demonstrates that its main aim is to promote political order. El Amine analyzes key aspects of the Confucian political vision, including the relationship between the ruler and the people, the typology of rulers, and the role of ministers and government officials. She also looks at Confucianism’s account of the mechanisms through which society is to be regulated, from welfare policies to rituals. She explains that the Confucian conception of the political leaves space open for the rule of those who are not virtuous if these rulers establish and maintain political order. She also contends that Confucians defend the duty to take part in government based on the benefits that such participation can bring to society. Classical Confucian Political Thought brings a new understanding to Confucian political theory by illustrating that it is not chiefly idealistic and centered on virtue, but rather realistic and driven by political concerns.


Book Synopsis Classical Confucian Political Thought by : Loubna El Amine

Download or read book Classical Confucian Political Thought written by Loubna El Amine and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2015-09-01 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The intellectual legacy of Confucianism has loomed large in efforts to understand China's past, present, and future. While Confucian ethics has been thoroughly explored, the question remains: what exactly is Confucian political thought? Classical Confucian Political Thought returns to the classical texts of the Confucian tradition to answer this vital question. Showing how Confucian ethics and politics diverge, Loubna El Amine argues that Confucian political thought is not a direct application of Confucian moral philosophy. Instead, contrary to the conventional view that Confucian rule aims to instill virtue in all members of society, El Amine demonstrates that its main aim is to promote political order. El Amine analyzes key aspects of the Confucian political vision, including the relationship between the ruler and the people, the typology of rulers, and the role of ministers and government officials. She also looks at Confucianism’s account of the mechanisms through which society is to be regulated, from welfare policies to rituals. She explains that the Confucian conception of the political leaves space open for the rule of those who are not virtuous if these rulers establish and maintain political order. She also contends that Confucians defend the duty to take part in government based on the benefits that such participation can bring to society. Classical Confucian Political Thought brings a new understanding to Confucian political theory by illustrating that it is not chiefly idealistic and centered on virtue, but rather realistic and driven by political concerns.

Imagining a Postnational World

Imagining a Postnational World

Author: Marc Andre Matten

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2016-11-01

Total Pages: 374

ISBN-13: 9004327150

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This book analyses the historical significance of rivaling concepts of world order in 20th century East Asia. It discusses in detail the relationship of territoriality and political rule, discourses of amity and enmity, and finally the role of hegemoniality in the process of imaging a possible postnational world in twenty-first century East Asia and beyond.


Book Synopsis Imagining a Postnational World by : Marc Andre Matten

Download or read book Imagining a Postnational World written by Marc Andre Matten and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2016-11-01 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book analyses the historical significance of rivaling concepts of world order in 20th century East Asia. It discusses in detail the relationship of territoriality and political rule, discourses of amity and enmity, and finally the role of hegemoniality in the process of imaging a possible postnational world in twenty-first century East Asia and beyond.