History of China: From Earliest Times to the Last Emperor
History of China: From Earliest Times to the Last Emperor
内容介绍
History of China: From Earliest Times to the Last Emperor
About The Book
History of China chronicles the evolution of China from the mists of antiquity to the final days of the empire in 1911. The narrative moves from the emergent states of the Zhou Period, through the unification of contending states by Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor, and then to the significant dynasties of the imperial period, a total of over two thousand years of reliably documented history. Among the most significant topics covered are the social, economic and philosophical developments of the Han Dynasty in which a distinctively Chinese civilization emerged; the rise and fall of the Tang dynasty, seen by many as a golden age; and the later years of the empire during which a strongly Chinese Ming dynasty ruled between the two dynasties of the Mongols and the Manchus, bringing into contact the settled agricultural societies of China and the pastoral societies of the steppe. In conclusion we see the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty of the Manchus, its fateful encounter with the West, and its eventual collapse which led to the creation of a Republic.
This is a Chinese account of China, seen from the inside and presenting many of the stories behind historical events that are familiar to Chinese people from their schooldays but are little known even among foreign historians of China. It is a valuable complement to the standard histories of China available in English.
About The Author
Michael Dillon was founding Director of the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Durham, where he taught modern Chinese history. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Asiatic Society and was Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing in 2009. He is the author of China: A Modern History (I.B.Tauris).
Contents
List of Illustrations xii
Name and Date Conventions Used in the Context xxxvii
Introduction xxxix
Chapter 1
Ancient Civilizations: Rule and Politics
(c. 8500-256 BCE)
THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION - Ancient Man in China - The Era of Clan Societies - The Dawn of the Chinese Nation - Three Benevolent Rulers: Yao, Shun and Yu - THE EARLIEST DYNASTIES OF CHINA - Rule of the Xia Dynasty - The Rise and Fall of the Shang Dynasty - The Flourishing of the Western Zhou Dynasty - Decline of the Western Zhou Dynasty - THE SPRING AND AUTUMN PERIOD - Decline of the Royal Family - Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin - Three Successive Hegemonies - Wu and Yue Push for Power - THE SEVEN POWERS OF THE WARRING STATES PERIOD - Seven Powers Locked in Rivalry - Reform Movements in the Seven States - Alliance and Unification
Chapter 2
An Emerging State: Society and Culture
Oracle Bones in Shang Life - The Bronze Age - The Development of Agriculture - Crafts - The Dujiangyan Weirs - The Rise of the City - Literature: Book of Songs and Elegies of the South - Music: Bells and Drums - Astronomy - Medicine
Chapter 3
The Foundations of Philosophy and Schools of Thought
THE CONTENTION OF A HUNDRED SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT - Confucius: Teacher for All Ages - The Legacy and Development of Confucianism - Daoism: Let Things Run Their Course - The Mohist School: Earthly Ascetics - Legalism: Favored by Rulers - Military Strategists: Masters of the Law of War - THE CLASH OF SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
Chapter 4
Unification under the Qin Empire
(221-206 BCE)
RULE OF THE QIN EMPIRE - Qin Shi Huang's Unification of the Country - Centralization of the Qin Empire - A Reign of Tyranny - THE WONDERS OF THE QIN DYNASTY - The Great Wall - Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum - Terracotta Warriors and Horses - THE FALL OF THE QIN DYNASTY - The Peasant Uprising - Conflict between the States of Chu and Han
Chapter 5
The Rise and Fall of the Han Dynasty
(220 BCE-280 CE)
THE RISE OF THE HAN - Rebuilding by the Early Han Dynasty - Emperors Wen and Jing - Emperor Wu of Han - DECLINE OF THE WESTERN HAN DYNASTY - Corruption in the Mid and Late Western Han - The Brief Reign of Wang Mang - REVIVAL OF THE HAN COURT - The Founding of the Eastern Han Dynasty - Power Struggles: Court Women and Eunuchs - The Fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty - FOREIGN RELATIONS DURING THE HAN DYNASTY - Marriage Brings Peace Beyond the Great Wall - Zhang Qian's Journeys to the Western Regions - The Silk Road
Chapter 6
Scientific, Cultural and Philosophical Developments under the Han
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE HAN DYNASTY- The Invention of Paper - Traditional Chinese Medicine - Astronomy and Mathematics - THE STATUS OF IDEAS IN THE HAN DYNASTY - The Rise of Daoism - The Spread of Buddhism in China - Evolution of the Scholarly Class - CULTURE OF THE HAN DYNASTY - First Major Historical Works - Literature and Art
Chapter 7
Disturbance and Stability: From the Three Kingdoms to a Hundred Years of Jin Rule
(220-420 CE)
THE THREE KINGDOMS - The Battle of Guandu - The Battle of Red Cliffs - Emergence of the Three Kingdoms - WESTERN AND EASTERN JIN - Brief Unification during the Jin Dynasty - Rebellion of the Eight Princes - The Hundred-Year Rule of the Eastern Jin
Chapter 8
The Politics and Culture of the Southern and Northern Dynasties
(420-589)
THE SOUTHERN DYNASTIES - Contention of the Sixteen Kingdoms - Rule of the Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen - THE NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY - Rapid Rise of the Northern Wei Dynasty - The Reforms of Emperor Xiaowen - Crumbling of the Northern Wei - The Crushing of Buddhism - CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE SIX DYNASTIES - Literature and Art - The Study of History and Geography - The Natural Sciences - NEW PHILOSOPHICAL EXPLORATIONS - Dark Learning and the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove - The Flourishing of Buddhism - The Development of Daoism
Chapter 9
The Sui Dynasty
(581-618)
The Founding of the Sui Dynasty - The Rule of Emperor Wen - The Fall of the Sui Dynasty - The Grand Canal
Chapter 10
The Golden Era of the Tang Dynasty
THE FOUNDING AND GOVERNMENT OF THE TANG DYNASTY - The Rise of the Tang Family - The Golden Years of Zhenguan - The Usurping Empress - The Golden Era of Kaiyuan - THE TANG EMPIRE - LIFE IN THE TANG WORLD - Agriculture - Trade and Commerce - Key Inventions: Woodblock Printing and Gunpowder - Medicine - Astronomy - TANG CULTURE AND CRAFTS - Poetry - Novels - Calligraphy - Painting - Music and Dance - Crafts
Chapter 11
Decline, Separation and Turbulence:
The Decline of the Tang and Rule of the Song
THE DECLINE OF THE TANG DYNASTY - The An Lushan Rebellion - Efforts to Revive the Tang Empire - Turbulence and Decline - A Splintered Age: Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms - The Rise of the Khitan - THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTIES - The Founding of the Northern Song Dynasty - Reform and Strife in the Mid to Late Northern Song - The Collapse of the Southern Song Dynasty
Chapter 12
Co-existing Regimes: The Song, Liao, Xia, and Jin
Confrontation between Song and Liao - The Rise and Fall of the Western Xia Dynasty - The Rise of the Jin Empire - Confrontation between Southern Song and Jin
Chapter 13
The Enriching Legacy of the Tang and Song Dynasties
A Thriving Economy - Science, Technology, and Culture
Chapter 14
Territorial Expansion and Cultural Flowerings:
The Yuan Dynasty
(1206-1368)
THE FOUNDING OF THE YUAN - Territorial Expansion of the Mongol Empire - Unification War - The Yuan System of Government - YUAN CULTURE AND ECONOMY - The Capital, Dadu - Ethnic Integration - The Economy - Literature and Art of Song and Yuan
Chapter 15
Centralized Monarchy of the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644)
THE FOUNDING OF THE MING - The Fall of the Yuan Dynasty - The Absolute Monarchy of the Ming Dynasty - Turmoil within the Ming Court - THE MING DYNASTY ECONOMY AND FOREIGN POLICY - Thriving Economy and Administration of Its Land - Ming's Foreign Policy - China's Relationship with Its Neighbors - Merchant Guilds and Banking
Chapter 16
Piracy, War and Rebellion: the Decline of the Ming and Rise of the Qing
TURBULENCE AND DECLINE OF THE MING - Ming Costal Defense - Early Colonial Aggression - The Tumu Crisis - Revival E orts in Late Ming - Three Notorious A airs of Court - Eunuch Abuse of Power and the Donglin Movement - END OF THE MING DYNASTY - Waning Military Power - Rebellion of the "Dashing King" - The Doomed Southern Ming Court - The Rise of the Jurchens - Nurhaci: Khan of Heaven's Mandate - Hong Taiji Founds the Qing Empire
Chapter 17
The Qing: Feudalism's Final Bow
(1644-1911)
CONSOLIDATION OF THE QING EMPIRE - Anti-Qing Resistance - Zheng Chenggong's Recovery of Taiwan - Suppression of the Three Feudatories by the Kangxi Emperor - The Recovery of Taiwan - Border Defense against Tsarist Russia - Suppression of the Dzungar Rebellion and Torghut Integration - Suppression of the Uyghur Rebellion and Wars against Foreign Intruders - The Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama - THE FINAL FLOWERING OF CHINESE FEUDAL SOCIETY - The Growing Strength of the Monarchy under the Qing Dynasty - Prosperity of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong Reigns - The Ruling Crisis of the Mid to Late Qing Dynasty
Chapter 18
Learning, Philosophical Thought and Culture under the Ming and Qing
TECHNOLOGY AND THOUGHTS - The Reconstruction of Beijing - Science, Technology, and the Introduction of Western Learning - Neo-Confucianism - A New Stage in Confucianism - LITERATURE AND ART IN THE MING DYNASTY - Vernacular Fiction - Mass-Market Novels - Ming Opera - Calligraphy and Painting - QING CULTURE - Classical Gardens - Government Cultural Projects - A Dream of Red Mansions - The Rising Popularity of Novels - Breakthroughs in Calligraphy and Painting - Beijing Opera
Chapter 19
Wars and Rebellion: The Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion and Foreign Powers
THE OPIUM WARS - China and the West before the First Opium War - The Destruction of Opium in Humen - The First Opium War - The Second Opium War - Empress Dowager Cixi's Rise to Power - The Taiping Rebellion - The End of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom - WAR IN THE LATE QING DYNASTY - Zuo Zongtang's Recovery of Xinjiang - The Sino-French War - The Sino-Japanese War - The Boxer Rebellion and the Allied Forces' Invasion of China
Chapter 20
Western Influences, Reform and Death of the Qing
The Challenge of Western Culture - The Self-Strengthening Movement - The Rise of Capitalism - Ideas of Reform - The Hundred Days' Reform - The Qing Court's Dying Throes - The Rise of the Republic - Conclusion
Index 448
About The Book
History of China chronicles the evolution of China from the mists of antiquity to the final days of the empire in 1911. The narrative moves from the emergent states of the Zhou Period, through the unification of contending states by Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor, and then to the significant dynasties of the imperial period, a total of over two thousand years of reliably documented history. Among the most significant topics covered are the social, economic and philosophical developments of the Han Dynasty in which a distinctively Chinese civilization emerged; the rise and fall of the Tang dynasty, seen by many as a golden age; and the later years of the empire during which a strongly Chinese Ming dynasty ruled between the two dynasties of the Mongols and the Manchus, bringing into contact the settled agricultural societies of China and the pastoral societies of the steppe. In conclusion we see the rise and fall of the Qing Dynasty of the Manchus, its fateful encounter with the West, and its eventual collapse which led to the creation of a Republic.
This is a Chinese account of China, seen from the inside and presenting many of the stories behind historical events that are familiar to Chinese people from their schooldays but are little known even among foreign historians of China. It is a valuable complement to the standard histories of China available in English.
About The Author
Michael Dillon was founding Director of the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Durham, where he taught modern Chinese history. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Royal Asiatic Society and was Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing in 2009. He is the author of China: A Modern History (I.B.Tauris).
Contents
List of Illustrations xii
Name and Date Conventions Used in the Context xxxvii
Introduction xxxix
Chapter 1
Ancient Civilizations: Rule and Politics
(c. 8500-256 BCE)
THE ORIGINS OF CIVILIZATION - Ancient Man in China - The Era of Clan Societies - The Dawn of the Chinese Nation - Three Benevolent Rulers: Yao, Shun and Yu - THE EARLIEST DYNASTIES OF CHINA - Rule of the Xia Dynasty - The Rise and Fall of the Shang Dynasty - The Flourishing of the Western Zhou Dynasty - Decline of the Western Zhou Dynasty - THE SPRING AND AUTUMN PERIOD - Decline of the Royal Family - Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin - Three Successive Hegemonies - Wu and Yue Push for Power - THE SEVEN POWERS OF THE WARRING STATES PERIOD - Seven Powers Locked in Rivalry - Reform Movements in the Seven States - Alliance and Unification
Chapter 2
An Emerging State: Society and Culture
Oracle Bones in Shang Life - The Bronze Age - The Development of Agriculture - Crafts - The Dujiangyan Weirs - The Rise of the City - Literature: Book of Songs and Elegies of the South - Music: Bells and Drums - Astronomy - Medicine
Chapter 3
The Foundations of Philosophy and Schools of Thought
THE CONTENTION OF A HUNDRED SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT - Confucius: Teacher for All Ages - The Legacy and Development of Confucianism - Daoism: Let Things Run Their Course - The Mohist School: Earthly Ascetics - Legalism: Favored by Rulers - Military Strategists: Masters of the Law of War - THE CLASH OF SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
Chapter 4
Unification under the Qin Empire
(221-206 BCE)
RULE OF THE QIN EMPIRE - Qin Shi Huang's Unification of the Country - Centralization of the Qin Empire - A Reign of Tyranny - THE WONDERS OF THE QIN DYNASTY - The Great Wall - Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum - Terracotta Warriors and Horses - THE FALL OF THE QIN DYNASTY - The Peasant Uprising - Conflict between the States of Chu and Han
Chapter 5
The Rise and Fall of the Han Dynasty
(220 BCE-280 CE)
THE RISE OF THE HAN - Rebuilding by the Early Han Dynasty - Emperors Wen and Jing - Emperor Wu of Han - DECLINE OF THE WESTERN HAN DYNASTY - Corruption in the Mid and Late Western Han - The Brief Reign of Wang Mang - REVIVAL OF THE HAN COURT - The Founding of the Eastern Han Dynasty - Power Struggles: Court Women and Eunuchs - The Fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty - FOREIGN RELATIONS DURING THE HAN DYNASTY - Marriage Brings Peace Beyond the Great Wall - Zhang Qian's Journeys to the Western Regions - The Silk Road
Chapter 6
Scientific, Cultural and Philosophical Developments under the Han
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE HAN DYNASTY- The Invention of Paper - Traditional Chinese Medicine - Astronomy and Mathematics - THE STATUS OF IDEAS IN THE HAN DYNASTY - The Rise of Daoism - The Spread of Buddhism in China - Evolution of the Scholarly Class - CULTURE OF THE HAN DYNASTY - First Major Historical Works - Literature and Art
Chapter 7
Disturbance and Stability: From the Three Kingdoms to a Hundred Years of Jin Rule
(220-420 CE)
THE THREE KINGDOMS - The Battle of Guandu - The Battle of Red Cliffs - Emergence of the Three Kingdoms - WESTERN AND EASTERN JIN - Brief Unification during the Jin Dynasty - Rebellion of the Eight Princes - The Hundred-Year Rule of the Eastern Jin
Chapter 8
The Politics and Culture of the Southern and Northern Dynasties
(420-589)
THE SOUTHERN DYNASTIES - Contention of the Sixteen Kingdoms - Rule of the Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen - THE NORTHERN WEI DYNASTY - Rapid Rise of the Northern Wei Dynasty - The Reforms of Emperor Xiaowen - Crumbling of the Northern Wei - The Crushing of Buddhism - CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE SIX DYNASTIES - Literature and Art - The Study of History and Geography - The Natural Sciences - NEW PHILOSOPHICAL EXPLORATIONS - Dark Learning and the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove - The Flourishing of Buddhism - The Development of Daoism
Chapter 9
The Sui Dynasty
(581-618)
The Founding of the Sui Dynasty - The Rule of Emperor Wen - The Fall of the Sui Dynasty - The Grand Canal
Chapter 10
The Golden Era of the Tang Dynasty
THE FOUNDING AND GOVERNMENT OF THE TANG DYNASTY - The Rise of the Tang Family - The Golden Years of Zhenguan - The Usurping Empress - The Golden Era of Kaiyuan - THE TANG EMPIRE - LIFE IN THE TANG WORLD - Agriculture - Trade and Commerce - Key Inventions: Woodblock Printing and Gunpowder - Medicine - Astronomy - TANG CULTURE AND CRAFTS - Poetry - Novels - Calligraphy - Painting - Music and Dance - Crafts
Chapter 11
Decline, Separation and Turbulence:
The Decline of the Tang and Rule of the Song
THE DECLINE OF THE TANG DYNASTY - The An Lushan Rebellion - Efforts to Revive the Tang Empire - Turbulence and Decline - A Splintered Age: Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms - The Rise of the Khitan - THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTIES - The Founding of the Northern Song Dynasty - Reform and Strife in the Mid to Late Northern Song - The Collapse of the Southern Song Dynasty
Chapter 12
Co-existing Regimes: The Song, Liao, Xia, and Jin
Confrontation between Song and Liao - The Rise and Fall of the Western Xia Dynasty - The Rise of the Jin Empire - Confrontation between Southern Song and Jin
Chapter 13
The Enriching Legacy of the Tang and Song Dynasties
A Thriving Economy - Science, Technology, and Culture
Chapter 14
Territorial Expansion and Cultural Flowerings:
The Yuan Dynasty
(1206-1368)
THE FOUNDING OF THE YUAN - Territorial Expansion of the Mongol Empire - Unification War - The Yuan System of Government - YUAN CULTURE AND ECONOMY - The Capital, Dadu - Ethnic Integration - The Economy - Literature and Art of Song and Yuan
Chapter 15
Centralized Monarchy of the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644)
THE FOUNDING OF THE MING - The Fall of the Yuan Dynasty - The Absolute Monarchy of the Ming Dynasty - Turmoil within the Ming Court - THE MING DYNASTY ECONOMY AND FOREIGN POLICY - Thriving Economy and Administration of Its Land - Ming's Foreign Policy - China's Relationship with Its Neighbors - Merchant Guilds and Banking
Chapter 16
Piracy, War and Rebellion: the Decline of the Ming and Rise of the Qing
TURBULENCE AND DECLINE OF THE MING - Ming Costal Defense - Early Colonial Aggression - The Tumu Crisis - Revival E orts in Late Ming - Three Notorious A airs of Court - Eunuch Abuse of Power and the Donglin Movement - END OF THE MING DYNASTY - Waning Military Power - Rebellion of the "Dashing King" - The Doomed Southern Ming Court - The Rise of the Jurchens - Nurhaci: Khan of Heaven's Mandate - Hong Taiji Founds the Qing Empire
Chapter 17
The Qing: Feudalism's Final Bow
(1644-1911)
CONSOLIDATION OF THE QING EMPIRE - Anti-Qing Resistance - Zheng Chenggong's Recovery of Taiwan - Suppression of the Three Feudatories by the Kangxi Emperor - The Recovery of Taiwan - Border Defense against Tsarist Russia - Suppression of the Dzungar Rebellion and Torghut Integration - Suppression of the Uyghur Rebellion and Wars against Foreign Intruders - The Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama - THE FINAL FLOWERING OF CHINESE FEUDAL SOCIETY - The Growing Strength of the Monarchy under the Qing Dynasty - Prosperity of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong Reigns - The Ruling Crisis of the Mid to Late Qing Dynasty
Chapter 18
Learning, Philosophical Thought and Culture under the Ming and Qing
TECHNOLOGY AND THOUGHTS - The Reconstruction of Beijing - Science, Technology, and the Introduction of Western Learning - Neo-Confucianism - A New Stage in Confucianism - LITERATURE AND ART IN THE MING DYNASTY - Vernacular Fiction - Mass-Market Novels - Ming Opera - Calligraphy and Painting - QING CULTURE - Classical Gardens - Government Cultural Projects - A Dream of Red Mansions - The Rising Popularity of Novels - Breakthroughs in Calligraphy and Painting - Beijing Opera
Chapter 19
Wars and Rebellion: The Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion and Foreign Powers
THE OPIUM WARS - China and the West before the First Opium War - The Destruction of Opium in Humen - The First Opium War - The Second Opium War - Empress Dowager Cixi's Rise to Power - The Taiping Rebellion - The End of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom - WAR IN THE LATE QING DYNASTY - Zuo Zongtang's Recovery of Xinjiang - The Sino-French War - The Sino-Japanese War - The Boxer Rebellion and the Allied Forces' Invasion of China
Chapter 20
Western Influences, Reform and Death of the Qing
The Challenge of Western Culture - The Self-Strengthening Movement - The Rise of Capitalism - Ideas of Reform - The Hundred Days' Reform - The Qing Court's Dying Throes - The Rise of the Republic - Conclusion
Index 448
All rights reserved by China Translation Publish House
Add: Floor 6 Wuhua Building, A4 Chegongzhuang Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China. Email: ctph@ctph.com.cn