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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Auspicious and Delicious,
By Ving (New York) - See all my reviews
This review is from: A Tale of Two Melons: Emperor And Subject in Ming China (Paperback)
This terrific short volume focuses on a trivial incident recorded in Chinese imperial records--the delivery of an auspicious melon plant to the founder of the Ming dynasty. Sarah Schneewind scrutinizes the various tellings and retellings of this story and uses it to shed light on the politics and ideologies of the era. The tale of the two melons proves to be a an excellent vehicle for examining conflicts between the the new emperor and his mandarin advisors, and the relationship between imperial center and the provinces. In the course of her examination, Schneewind explicates classical ideas about the mandate of heaven and the Confucian social order, making it an excellent entry for a novice into pre-modern Chinese history. The book unfolds artfully; each chapter provides a new lens for understanding the tale. Schneewind transforms a footnote into a thoughtful historical reflection.
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A Tale of Two Melons: Emperor And Subject in Ming China by Sarah Schneewind (Hardcover - September 30, 2006)
$32.95
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