Peking Gazette in Late Imperial China: State News and Political Authority

The Qing dynasty (1644–1911) in China saw a partnership between the court and commercial publishing enterprises that enabled the publication of gazettes in various formats, providing vital information about the Qing state and its activities. The Peking Gazette was a cornerstone of this information policy, offering a glimpse into the state's inner workings while also serving as a carefully curated form of public relations. Emily Mokros' research into the gazette's evolution over two centuries is essential reading for understanding the relationship between media, information, and state power.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2021
Publisher: University of Washington Press

The Qing dynasty (1644–1911) in China witnessed a remarkable level of access to political information, despite the strict control and censorship measures often associated with modern Chinese regimes. A unique partnership between the court and the vibrant commercial publishing enterprises of late imperial China allowed for the publication of gazettes in various print and manuscript formats. These official gazettes provided essential information about the Qing state and its activities, disseminating state news across a vast empire and beyond. Among these gazettes, the Peking Gazette stood out as a genre that gained global prominence throughout the dynasty. This illuminating study offers a comprehensive history of the Peking Gazette, highlighting its significance as a cornerstone of a Qing information policy that paradoxically sought both transparency and secrecy. Gazettes offered readers a glimpse into the inner workings of the state, while also serving as a carefully curated form of public relations. Historian Emily Mokros draws from international archives to reconstruct who read the gazette and how they used it to navigate their interactions with the Chinese state. Her research into the Peking Gazette's evolution over more than two centuries is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the relationship between media, information, and state power.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295748795