Ruan Yuan, 1764-1849: The Life and Work of a Major Scholar-Official in Nineteenth-Century China before the Opium War [Hardcover]

Betty Wai (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2006

This study explores the life and work of Ruan Yuan (Juan Yuan 1764-1849), a scholar-official in 19th century China prior to the Opium War, before traditional institutions and values became altered by incursions of forces from the West.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For her biography of Ruan Yuan, Dr Betty Peh-T'i Wei has scoured the world for new materials, visiting a dozen cities and as many libraries on three continents. She has tracked down and talked sometimes in the Yangzhou dialect with Ruan descendants, gaining access to family lore both written and oral. Her book, based on published and archival sources, adds new dimensions to our knowledge of this important figure." Beatrice S. Bartlett, Professor Emeritus, Yale University

About the Author

Betty Peh-T'i Wei is a research historian currently holding honorary appointments at the Institute of Qing History of People's University, Beijing, and the Centre of Asian Studies and the Department of History, the University of Hong Kong. Her research interest is focused on the early nineteenth-century China, Europe, and the United States. Now retired as Head of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, she has remained active in research and writing. Her research on Ruan Yuan has taken her to libraries in Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Hong Kong University Press (August 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9622097855
• ISBN-13: 978-9622097858
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,740,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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