Branches of Heaven: A History of the Imperial Clan of Sung China (Harvard East Asian Monographs) [Hardcover]

John W. Chaffee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0674080491 | ISBN-13: 978-0674080492

By the end of the Sung dynasty (960-1279), known descendants of the three Chao brothers who had founded the dynasty numbered over 20,000. Unlike the rulers of many other Chinese dynasties, however, the Sung emperors were not plagued by challenges to their rule from their relatives. So successful was Sung policy on the imperial clan that it would serve as a model for the subsequent Ming and Ch'ing dynasties. How the Sung created a social and political asset in the imperial clan while neutralizing it as a potential threat is the story of this book. This study of the imperial clan as an institution analyzes the history, its political tile and the lifestyle of its members, focusing on their residence patterns, marriages and occupations.

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About the Author

John W. Chaffee Pressor and Director of the Asian and Asian American Studies Program in the History Department at State University of New York, Binghamton.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Asia Center (November 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674080491
• ISBN-13: 978-0674080492
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,365,843 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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