| Preface to the Second Edition |
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xi | (2) |
| Preface to the First Edition |
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xiii | (2) |
| Contents According to Topics |
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xv | (4) |
| A Note on the Selection and Translation of Sources |
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xix | (1) |
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xx | |
| I. THE CLASSICAL PERIOD |
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1 | (46) |
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1. Late Shang Divination Records. The questions and answers inscribed on oracle bones used to communicate with divine powers |
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3 | (3) |
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2. The Metal Bound Box. A scene in which the Duke of Zhou offers his life to the ancestors in place of his nephew the king, from the Book of Documents |
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6 | (2) |
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3. Hexagrams in the Book of Changes. Two passages from an ancient diviners' manual |
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8 | (3) |
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4. Songs and Poems. Songs of courtship, feasting, and war, from the Book of Songs |
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11 | (3) |
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5. The Battle Between Jin and Chu. Description of the strategies, jockeying for position, and boasting of a major battle, from the Zuo zhuan |
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14 | (3) |
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6. Confucian Teachings. Passages from the Analects, Mencius, and Xunzi |
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17 | (10) |
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7. Daoist Teachings. Passages from the Laozi and Zhuangzi |
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27 | (5) |
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8. Legalist Teachings. Passages from the Book of Lord Shang and Han Feizi |
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32 | (6) |
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9. Two Avengers. From the Intrigues of the Warring States |
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38 | (4) |
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10. Social Rituals. The procedures to be followed when an inferior visits a superior and vice-versa, from the Book of Etiquette and Ritual |
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42 | (5) |
| II. THE QIN AND HAN DYNASTIES |
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47 | (40) |
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11. Penal Servitude in Qin Law. From excavated wooden-strip documents |
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51 | (3) |
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12. The World Beyond China. From Sima Qian's Historical Records |
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54 | (3) |
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13. Heaven, Earth, and Man. From the writings of Dong Zhongshu |
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57 | (3) |
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14. The Debate on Salt and Iron. A court debate between the Legalist prime minister and the Confucian scholars about the role of the government in economic matters |
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60 | (4) |
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15. The Classic of Filial Piety. A popular primer that glorifies the virtue of filial devotion |
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64 | (5) |
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16. Wang Fu on Friendship and Getting Ahead. A second-century man's cynical view of how men get ahead |
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69 | (3) |
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17. Women's Virtues and Vices. An exemplary biography of a model woman, the lament of a man whose wife was far from model, and a woman's admonitions to girls on how to behave |
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72 | (5) |
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18. Yin and Yang in Medical Theory. The theory behind traditional medicine, from the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine |
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77 | (3) |
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19. Local Cults. Three stone inscriptions describing shrines erected to honor various deities |
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80 | (3) |
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20. Uprisings. Accounts of two religious leaders and the uprisings they staged |
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83 | (4) |
| III. THE ERA OF DIVISION AND THE TANG DYNASTY |
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87 | (50) |
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21. Ge Hong's Autobiography. By a fourth-century scholar and reluctant official |
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91 | (6) |
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22. Buddhist Doctrines and Practices. Wei Shou's summary of Buddhist doctrines, hagiographic accounts of two monks, and documents found at Dunhuang showing Buddhist belief in practice |
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97 | (8) |
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23. Tales of Ghosts and Demons. Three tales from a fourth-century collection |
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105 | (4) |
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24. Cultural Differences Between the North and the South. Two views of the distinctions that developed during a period of political separation and non-Han domination in the North |
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109 | (3) |
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25. Emperor Taizong on Effective Government. A summary of political theory, written by the second Tang emperor for his sons |
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112 | (4) |
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26. The Tang Legal Code. Sections from the laws on theft and robbery and those on land and taxes |
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116 | (4) |
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27. The Errors of Geomancy. An official's complaints about the profusion of theories |
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120 | (3) |
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28. The Dancing Horses of Xuanzong's Court. Unusual and exotic entertainment |
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123 | (2) |
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29. Family Business. Documents from Dunhuang on the sale of slaves, division of property, and household registration |
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125 | (3) |
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30. The Examination System. Humorous and semihumorous anecodotes about men's efforts to pass the civil service examinations |
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128 | (4) |
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31. A Pilgrim's Visit to the Five Terraces Mountains. From the diary of a Japanese monk who made a pilgrimage to one of the sacred sites of Buddhism |
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132 | (5) |
| IV. THE SONG AND YUAN DYNASTIES |
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137 | (66) |
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32. The Tanguts and Their Relations with the Han Chinese. Some Tangut maxims, a Tangut ruler's letter to the Song emperor, and the preface to a Chinese-Tangut glossary |
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139 | (3) |
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33. Book of Rewards and Punishments. A moral tract associated with popular Daoism |
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142 | (4) |
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34. Precepts of the Perfect Truth Daoist Sect. Principles of a Daoist monastic sect |
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146 | (5) |
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35. Wang Anshi, Sima Guang, and Emperor Shenzong. A court debate between the leading activist and his conservative opponent and letters they wrote each other outlining their differences |
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151 | (4) |
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36. Rules for the Fan Lineage's Charitable Estate. The rules by which a charitable trust was to be run for the benefit of the members of the lineage |
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155 | (2) |
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37. Ancestral Rites. From a ritual manual giving the procedures to be followed |
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157 | (7) |
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38. Women and the Problems They Create. Three folktale-like stories of unusual women and a sympathetic view of women's problems |
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164 | (5) |
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39. Longing to Recover the North. Poems by six twelfth-century writers expressing their anguish at the loss of China's heartland |
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169 | (3) |
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40. Zhu Xi's Conversations with His Disciples. Conversations between a leading neo-Confucian philosopher and his students |
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172 | (6) |
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41. The Attractions of the Capital. A description of economic activity, entertainment, and amenities in the city of Hangzhou |
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178 | (8) |
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42. The Mutual Responsibility System. One magistrate's instructions on how these units were to operate |
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186 | (2) |
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43. On Farming. How to plant, weed, care for tools, budget time, and so on |
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188 | (4) |
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44. A Mongol Governor. The biography of a Mongol who spent decades putting down rebellions and securing Mongol rule |
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192 | (3) |
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45. A Schedule for Learning. Neo-Confucian rules and advice for teachers and students |
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195 | (4) |
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46. A Scholar-Painter's Diary. Two weeks of social and intellectual activity |
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199 | (4) |
| V. THE MING DYNASTY |
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203 | (64) |
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47. Proclamations of the Hongwu Emperor. A despot's complaints about how difficult it was to get his subjects to act properly |
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205 | (3) |
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48. The Dragon Boat Race. A description of the festival as performed in one place in Hunan |
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208 | (3) |
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49. Village Ordinances. Sample ordinances a village could adopt |
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211 | (2) |
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50. Commercial Activities. Sample contracts, an essay on merchants, and a biography of an admired one |
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213 | (8) |
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51. What the Weaver Said. An artisan's view of his work |
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221 | (2) |
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52. Tenants. Two contracts specifying the responsibilities of quasi-hereditary tenant-servants on one estate and reports of riots by tenants |
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223 | (3) |
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53. Shi Jin the Nine-Dragoned. Episode from a novel describing the background of one outlaw |
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226 | (12) |
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54. Family Instructions. Advice and rules found in a lineage genealogy |
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238 | (7) |
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55. Concubines. How concubines were bought, the reminiscences of a man for a beloved concubine, and an episode from a novel depicting the ploys of a malicious concubine |
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245 | (8) |
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56. Widows Loyal Unto Death. Accounts from a local history glorifying women who showed loyalty to their dead husbands by killing themselves |
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253 | (3) |
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57. Two Philosophers. Letters and conversations of two important thinkers, Wang Yangming and Li Zhi |
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256 | (7) |
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58. A Censor Accuses a Eunuch. A memorial to the emperor accusing the eunuch Wei Zhongxian of usurping his authority and acting tyrannically |
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263 | (4) |
| VI. THE QING DYNASTY |
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267 | (64) |
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59. The Yangzhou Massacre. One family's experiences, recounted in a diary |
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271 | (9) |
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60. Proverbs About Heaven. Standard sayings |
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280 | (2) |
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61. Taxes and Labor Service. A description of the forms in which taxes and service were assessed in one country |
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282 | (5) |
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62. Permanent Property. The advice a man gave his sons concerning the importance of owning land and how to manage it |
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287 | (5) |
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63. Lan Dingyuan's Casebook. Two examples of how an energetic Magistrate solved administrative and legal cases |
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292 | (5) |
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64. Exhortations on Ceremony and Deference. A lecture delivered by an official in the hope of teaching villagers good behavior |
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297 | (4) |
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65. Village Organization. Two records of village affairs, one about a water-use agreement, the other the creation of a fair |
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301 | (3) |
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66. The Village Headman and the New Teacher. Episode from a novel about how a teacher was hired |
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304 | (5) |
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67. Boat People. A local history's account of a minority group |
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309 | (2) |
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68. Placards Posted in Guangzhou. Official orders to admit foreigners to the city after the Opium War and protests from local residents |
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311 | (2) |
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69. Infant Protection Society. An account of one man's efforts to stem infanticide |
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313 | (5) |
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70. Mid-Century Rebels. Confessions, proclamations, petitions, and descriptions of a number of different rebel groups |
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318 | (5) |
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71. The Conditions and Activities of Workers. A stone inscription recording official disapproval of organizing by workers and an official report of working conditions in a water-logged mine |
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323 | (3) |
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72. Genealogy Rules. The rules one lineage used in compiling its genealogy |
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326 | (5) |
| VII. THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY |
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331 | (76) |
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73. Liang Qichao on His Trip to America. Comments on the amazing sights in New York, and reflections on Chinese social organization |
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335 | (6) |
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74. Ridding China of Bad Customs. Proposals for ways to end footbinding, suppress opium addiction, and free young girl bondservants |
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341 | (7) |
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75. Rural Education. Recollections of a teacher introducing science to a rural school |
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348 | (6) |
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76. My Old Home. A story showing problems of communication between upper and lower class men |
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354 | (6) |
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77. The Spirit of the May Fourth Movement. Recollections of a woman who had been in middle school at the time |
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360 | (4) |
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78. The Haifeng Peasant Association. How one man tried to organize peasants |
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364 | (9) |
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79. The Dog-Meat General. An account of one of the more incompetent and brutal warlords |
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373 | (5) |
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80. The General Strike. A magazine account of a strike in Shanghai in 1928 |
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378 | (7) |
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81. Funeral Processions. A description of two funeral processions with a list of the equipment used and the cost |
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385 | (6) |
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82. My Children. An essay by a man with five children |
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391 | (5) |
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83. The Life of Beggars. An account of the Social organization of beggars and their various techniques of earning a living |
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396 | (5) |
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84. Generalissimo Jiang on National Identity. Two speeches, early and late in the War Against Japan, on China's relations with other countries and the relations of the various nationalities within China |
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401 | (6) |
| VIII. THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC |
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407 | (98) |
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85. The Communist Party. A speech by Liu Shaoqi on party organization and discipline |
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411 | (5) |
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86. Land Reform. An episode from a novel showing peasants learning "to stand up" |
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416 | (6) |
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87. Hu Feng and Mao Zedong. Letters of a leading intellectual which Mao published with his own commentary on how they demonstrated his counterrevolutionary tendencies |
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422 | (7) |
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88. A New Young Man Arrives at the Organization Department. An episode from a story of the conflict between an idealistic young party member and the entrenched power structure |
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429 | (6) |
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89. Peng Dehuai's Critique of the Great Leap Forward. Peng's letter to Mao offering measured criticism of his policies |
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435 | (5) |
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90. Developing Agricultural Production. A newspaper account of efforts to inspire members of a production brigade to work harder |
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440 | (2) |
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91. Lei Feng, Chairman Mao's Good Fighter. Inspirational anecdotes about a model worker and soldier, devoted to aiding the people |
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442 | (5) |
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92. Housing in Shanghai. A newspaper article describing the effects of state control of housing |
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447 | (2) |
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93. Red Guards. Red Guards' accounts of their activities during the Cultural Revolution |
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449 | (9) |
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94. Victims. A short story written after the fall of the "Gang of Four," showing some of the negative effects on both the older and younger generations of the Cultural Revolution |
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458 | (12) |
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95. The Changing Course of Courtship. Four documents that show the changing circumstances in which young people have looked for spouses |
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470 | (8) |
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96. The One-Child Family. One province' regulations for fostering the one-child family and a magazine article on the pressure young mothers have experienced because of this policy |
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478 | (4) |
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97. Economic Liberalization and New Problems for Women. Newspaper and magazine articles protesting some of the ways new policies have had adverse effects on women's employment or welfare |
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482 | (6) |
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98. Peasants in the Cities. An interview and a newspaper article concerning the rural residents who flocked to the cities in the 1980s |
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488 | (8) |
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99. Posters Calling for Democracy. Posters from the 1989 Democracy Protests |
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496 | (5) |
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100. Defending China's Socialist Democracy. A newspaper article refuting the views of those who believe that the West is more democratic than China |
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501 | (4) |
| Glossary |
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505 | (4) |
| Suggestions for Further Reading |
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509 | (6) |
| Original Sources |
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515 | (5) |
| Index |
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520 | |
Other versions by this Author
