The Age of Confucian Rule: The Song Transformation of China (History of Imperial China)

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.

I asked my father-in-law, editor of a popular Chinese magazine in the '80s (and a well read person), 'What is your favorite dynasty?' He seemed somewhat uncomfortable with my question, perhaps due to some aspect of his prior learning on the subject. Then he unequivocally endorsed the Song. 'Why'? I said, in my broken Chinese and with the halting help of Google translate.His answer was unclear due to my lack of language skills, but it had to do with the great advances in culture that occurred before the Mongol conquest of Kublai Khan in the 1250's. Science, technology, art and philosophy all had flourished. 'Neo-Confucianism?' I ventured. No, he said, that wasn't a popular subject during his period of education. I then surmised it didn't hurt that the later Southern Song were centered in Hangzhou, place of his birth, and the largest city on earth in the 13th century.Dieter Kuhn's 'Age of Confucian Rule' is number 4 of 6 volumes in Harvard's recent History of Imperial China series. The series is available as a nicely made set of illustrated books (if you prefer your reading in analog) or in electronic versions (mysteriously stripped of their illustrations). That is all except for this volume, which has no e-book equivalent, for reasons unknown. Kuhn is something of an exception as well, a Chinese history professor at Wurzberg University, presumably writing in German and providing his own English translation. This extra measure of labor may speak to his pre-eminence on the subject.The book follows the now well tread way of the series, combining a 99 page chronological survey with an additional 8 topical chapters on literature, education, religion, art and architecture, industry and economy, and finally family life. Kuhn is a good writer, and his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is well conveyed, if somewhat encyclopedic in style. If you pair this work with Jacques Gernet's classic 'Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion' you can't go wrong on most things Song.

Good

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 Turmoil2. Model Rulers3. Reforming into Collapse4. The Song in the South5. Three Doctrines6. Education and Examination7. Life Cycle Rituals8. Exploring the World Within and Without9. Transforming the Capitals10. A Changing World of Production11. Money and Taxes12. Private Lives in the Public SphereConclusionChapter 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.

I haven't read this book yet - I've been to busy buying books to keep up with reading them, but given the Harvard University Press I expect the book will be good.

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.

Nice

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.

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.

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.