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The Age of Confucian Rule: The Song Transformation of China (History of Imperial China) Hardcover – March 16, 2009

by Dieter Kuhn (Author), Timothy Brook (Editor)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 65 ratings
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Just over a thousand years ago, the Song dynasty emerged as the most advanced civilization on earth. Within two centuries, China was home to nearly half of all humankind. In this concise history, we learn why the inventiveness of this era has been favorably compared with the European Renaissance, which in many ways the Song transformation surpassed.

With the chaotic dissolution of the Tang dynasty, the old aristocratic families vanished. A new class of scholar-officials―products of a meritocratic examination system―took up the task of reshaping Chinese tradition by adapting the precepts of Confucianism to a rapidly changing world. Through fiscal reforms, these elites liberalized the economy, eased the tax burden, and put paper money into circulation. Their redesigned capitals buzzed with traders, while the education system offered advancement to talented men of modest means. Their rationalist approach led to inventions in printing, shipbuilding, weaving, ceramics manufacture, mining, and agriculture. With a realist’s eye, they studied the natural world and applied their observations in art and science. And with the souls of diplomats, they chose peace over war with the aggressors on their borders. Yet persistent military threats from these nomadic tribes―which the Chinese scorned as their cultural inferiors―redefined China’s understanding of its place in the world and solidified a sense of what it meant to be Chinese.

The Age of Confucian Rule is an essential introduction to this transformative era. “A scholar should congratulate himself that he has been born in such a time” (Zhao Ruyu, 1194).

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  1. Book 4 of 6
    History of imperial China
  2. Print length
    368 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University Press
  5. Publication date
    March 16, 2009
  6. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0674031466
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0674031463
  9. See all details
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4.6 out of 5 stars
65 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and well-written. They appreciate the comprehensive yet concise coverage of a variety of aspects. The knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject are well conveyed, though somewhat encyclopedic. The book provides an interesting historical overview and then progresses thematically.

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5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and well-written. They appreciate its comprehensive yet concise coverage of various aspects, with top scholars in their fields. Overall, readers expect the book to be good.

"...It's comprehensive yet concise. The book begins with a historical overview and then proceeds thematically. The chapters are: 1...." Read more

"...in the series of six I have read, and they all are extremely well written by top scholars in their fields at the heights of their careers (I imagine)..." Read more

"I was pleased by this very readable survey, covering a variety of aspects of one of China's most important periods...." Read more

"...Kuhn is a good writer, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is well conveyed, if somewhat encyclopedic in style...." Read more

4 customers mention "Knowledge"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a nice overview of Song dynasty literature, scroll paintings, and scientific developments. They appreciate the author's knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject. The book is described as interesting and easy to read, though somewhat encyclopedic.

"...The book begins with a historical overview and then proceeds thematically. The chapters are: 1. A Time of Turmoil 2...." Read more

"...Dense with information, yet easy to read and interesting. Perhaps an orienting chapter focusing on the timelines of rulers would help...." Read more

"...Kuhn is a good writer, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is well conveyed, if somewhat encyclopedic in style...." Read more

"Good account of Song Dynasty China..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Eleanor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Overview of the Song Dynasty
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very nice overview of the Song dynasty. It's comprehensive yet concise. The book begins with a historical overview and then proceeds thematically. The chapters are:

    1. A Time of Turmoil
    2. Model Rulers
    3. Reforming into Collapse
    4. The Song in the South
    5. Three Doctrines
    6. Education and Examination
    7. Life Cycle Rituals
    8. Exploring the World Within and Without
    9. Transforming the Capitals
    10. A Changing World of Production
    11. Money and Taxes
    12. Private Lives in the Public Sphere
    Conclusion

    Chapter 7 has an interesting discussion of the education of women and women's property rights. Chapter 8 has a nice overview of Song dynasty literature, scroll paintings and scientific developments. The book has black and white photos of scroll paintings, diagrams of Buddhist temples, and makes good use of maps. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it highly.
    32 people found this helpful
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  • Richard Hulbert
    5.0 out of 5 stars good
    Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2022
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    Good
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  • Howard Schulman
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection of essays on the Song Dynasty
    Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Although I thought the book was excellent, I have to admit, that I got a little confused early on because I was not prepared for hearing simultaneously about 3-4 different empires mostly at the same time, Tangut, Jurchen, Khitan, Song and each's emperors….and then the Northern Song gets invaded and moves to the South. I am sure if I re-read the first few chapters that would make more sense.

    Nevertheless, the books in this series focus on themes throughout the dynasty, and not emperors, and I subsequently picked up. Thankfully, the first 3 pages in the reference section are lists of Emperors of each the dynasties from each of the territories, with dates of rule, and birth and death dates of the Emperors.

    As someone who is learning Chinese, as I imagine many people reading this book would be, it was a little irritating that the Chinese characters for the Emperors and other Chinese terms was not given, nor was the pinyin. On the other hand, it was educational looking up the characters and what they and the radical components meant, and writing them down for reference in the back inner page.

    Also, although the book is titled "The Age of Confucian Rule", the book minimally focused directly on Confucian writings and thought…thankfully. If anything, the book shined in trying to relay what it was like living during the Northern and then Southern Song Dynasties, with each chapter focusing on a different aspect, like money, the Capitals, the economy, education, home life.

    I actually re-read a different book in this series on the Qing Dynasty and got a tremendous amount out of it the second time as well. I'm sure I could do the same with this book. This is the fourth book in the series of six I have read, and they all are extremely well written by top scholars in their fields at the heights of their careers (I imagine). Dense with information, yet easy to read and interesting.

    Perhaps an orienting chapter focusing on the timelines of rulers would help. I also would have appreciated color pictures. Just so you don't get the wrong impression, I am going to give this book a solid 4 stars based on the quality of what is presented, and not down-grade it based on the shortcomings described above.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jesse C. Severe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good account of Song Dynasty China
    Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2013
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    I was pleased by this very readable survey, covering a variety of aspects of one of China's most important periods. The political history is covered first in less than a hundred pages, leaving the author to fill in sections on Chinese religion, economy, private life, and other aspects. Well-footnoted secondary work.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • MzUk
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2019
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    Nice
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  • Babak Makkinejad
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Survey
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2021
    This is an excellent historical survey of the Soong/Song/Sung dynasty in its political, cultural, philosophical, social, and economic developments. It is very densely written, with ample references to primary and secondary sources. The text assumes familiarity with Chinese culture and history; this is not an introductory work, you need the context of China to inform your mind as you read this book.

    Yes, the book is not detailed and leaves many areas lightly covered, such as the court intrigues, the reasons for the insufficiency of Song military powers, the developments of commerce and finance. A more complete book probably would be 3000 pages as opposed to 300. I am unaware of any other book on the Soong dynasty in the English language that covers the same subjects at the level of a survey. Nor do I know of a more thorough treatment by any other author in a single book.

    40 years ago, studying the Soong dynasty with Professor McGrath, and noting all the new and wonderful developments of that period, I had asked: "Who was causing all those developments? What was the force behind them?" This book partially answers that by pointing to the dedicated men of integrity who constituted the Confucian scholars social class which operated the Soong empire as one major cause of the Sung flowering.

    For contemporary Chinese thinkers, the Song remain the perennially poignant dynasty; "Would not the (Southern) Soong have developed Science 300 years earlier than Western Europeans had Mongols not destroyed them?" And in that manner, avoided the 100 years of humiliation at the hands of Europeans, Americans, and Japanese?

    For Chinese (and Koreans) Soong are China.
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  • W. Cheung
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly comprehensive
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2013
    This short (around 300 pages) book covers every aspect of the Song Dynasty, including a recapitulation of the eras just before it, namely the Tang and the so-called Fiver Dynasties. It also contains a very clear description of the northern Turkic states, i.e. the Liao, Xi Xia and Jin, which ruled half of China together with the Song during this period of history. On top of an extremely well written account of the political and diplomatic situations and predicaments of the Song, the book also analyses its technological advances, monetary policies, religious practices, meritocratic aspiration, and a very vibrant urban life. Fine and technical details are provided for the interested reader. Numerous primary sources are quoted helpfully. Five stars.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • kkbs
    4.0 out of 5 stars When Confucanism ruled
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This fourth volume of HUP's History of Imperial China focuses on the Song Dynasty between the 10th and the 13th century, a period during which Confucianism (re-)gained its role as a government doctrine in China. Contrasting its European contemporary societies, this also implied government by officials, who were primarily chosen because of (certain) merits, versus feudal governments chosing their officials through parentage.
    The book outlines the many technological and commercial developments in China during this period, as money paper (including inflation) was introduced, trade was boosted and the infrastructure was improved. On the other hand, the Song Dynasty was constantly fighting against its Northern neighbours, the Khitan Liao and the Jurchen Jin dynasties, while the latter even pushed the Song out of their Chinese heartland and established a border along the Huai River in 1126. Nevertheless, until the Mongol invasion in 1279 the Southern Song recovered and established a different China, focussing much more on the South and its traditions.
    In his set up of the book, the author Dieter Kuhn follows the example of the previous three volumes, written by Mark E. Lewis, starting with a rather short summary (90 pages) of the political history, followed by chapters on religion and philosophy, the system of recruiting officials, arts and science, the capitals, and economy and government finances.
    The main text of roughly 280 pages is accompanied by maps (there could be more) and explanatory images, and followed by dynastic tables of the Song and their counter-dynasties in the North, as well as a 30 pages bibiography.
    Again this volume is written well and gives an interesting overview of the period. Recommendable for all interested in Chinese history.
    Report
  • kkbs
    4.0 out of 5 stars When Confucianism ruled
    Reviewed in Germany on April 27, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    This fourth volume of HUP's History of Imperial China focuses on the Song Dynasty between the 10th and the 13th century, a period during which Confucianism (re-)gained its role as a government doctrine in China. Contrasting its European contemporary societies, this also implied government by officials, who were primarily chosen because of (certain) merits, versus feudal governments chosing their officials through parentage.
    The book outlines the many technological and commercial developments in China during this period, as money paper (including inflation) was introduced, trade was boosted and the infrastructure was improved. On the other hand, the Song Dynasty was constantly fighting against its Northern neighbours, the Khitan Liao and the Jurchen Jin dynasties, while the latter even pushed the Song out of their Chinese heartland and established a border along the Huai River in 1126. Nevertheless, until the Mongol invasion in 1279 the Southern Song recovered and established a different China, focussing much more on the South and its traditions.
    In his set up of the book, the author Dieter Kuhn follows the example of the previous three volumes, written by Mark E. Lewis, starting with a rather short summary (90 pages) of the political history, followed by chapters on religion and philosophy, the system of recruiting officials, arts and science, the capitals, and economy and government finances.
    The main text of roughly 280 pages is accompanied by maps (there could be more) and explanatory images, and followed by dynastic tables of the Song and their counter-dynasties in the North, as well as a 30 pages bibiography.
    Again this volume is written well and gives an interesting overview of the period. Recommendable for all interested in Chinese history.
    Report
  • Daniel Garcia
    3.0 out of 5 stars Collection of Essays
    Reviewed in Germany on February 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is a collection of essays on the political, economic and cultural history of the Song Dinasty. One advantage of the format is that each chapter reads on its own. The drawback, which to me is more substantial, is that it fails to penetrate certain aspects from a holistic perspective. In any case, it is a good read for anyone interested in an introduction to the most successful period of the Chinese Empire.
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