A Ming Society: T'ai-ho County, Kiangsi, in the Fourteenth to Seventeenth Centuries

John Dardess' book "The Ming Dynasty in Tai-Hau County" provides a detailed social history of T ai-ho county during the Ming dynasty, focusing on the careers of native sons and their relationship to Ming imperial politics. It uses previously unexplored primary sources to explore the rise and development of the county, including kinship, family lineage, landscape, agriculture, and economy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

John Dardess has chosen a region of immense political and intellectual significance, yet one that local history has largely neglected in his comprehensive social history of Tai-ho County during the Ming dynasty. Instead of conducting a broad, sweeping survey of the region, he delves into the careers of numerous native sons and their connections to Ming imperial politics. By utilizing previously unexplored primary sources, Dardess intricately details the rise and development of Tai-ho village kinship, family lineage, landscape, agriculture, and economy. He also follows the trajectory of its literati as they ascend to prominent positions in the imperial government. This focused examination of the history of one county spanning nearly three centuries provides a remarkably robust and immediate understanding of how Ming society evolved and functioned over time.

This book is a valuable addition to UC Press' Voices Revived program, which celebrates the University of California Press' commitment to discovering and nurturing the most brilliant minds and providing them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a lasting impact. The program leverages a backlist dating back to 1893, utilizing print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again. This particular title was originally published in 1996.

Weight: 499g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520323025