Popular Culture in Late Imperial China

Popular Culture in Late Imperial China explores the vibrant and diverse non-elite Chinese culture of the late imperial period, challenging the overemphasis on elite narratives. It examines how popular culture was produced, consumed, and transmitted across social strata, revealing a cultural landscape that was both diverse and integrated. The essays cover topics such as local drama, sectarian religious practices, and the interplay between oral and written traditions, and explore how popular culture intersected with state ideologies and policies. This book is an essential resource for understanding the cultural richness of late imperial China and the social forces that shaped its historical trajectory.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 471 pages
Publication date: 25 February 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Popular Culture in Late Imperial China is a groundbreaking collection of essays that challenges the overemphasis on elite narratives in Chinese historical studies and highlights the importance of exploring the values, ideas, and cultural expressions of the broader populace during the late imperial period. Spanning roughly from 1550 to 1920, the book draws on a wide range of texts, including scriptures, plays, almanacs, novels, and oral traditions, to investigate how popular culture was produced, consumed, and transmitted across social strata. Through this lens, the book reveals a cultural landscape that was both deeply diverse and intricately integrated, reflecting shared values and beliefs despite differences in class, region, and literacy.

One of the key themes explored in the book is the role of popular culture in shaping social and political identities. The contributors argue that popular culture played a crucial role in creating a sense of community and belonging among the non-elite, particularly during times of social upheaval and political instability. For example, local drama was a popular form of entertainment that often addressed social and political issues, providing a platform for marginalized voices to express their grievances and aspirations. Sectarian religious practices, such as Taoism and Buddhism, also played a significant role in shaping the cultural landscape, with their rituals and beliefs providing a sense of meaning and purpose for many individuals.

Another important theme explored in the book is the interplay between oral and written traditions. The contributors argue that oral traditions were often more accessible and influential than written texts, particularly in rural areas where literacy rates were low. Oral traditions were used to transmit cultural knowledge, values, and beliefs from generation to generation, and they played a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape. However, the book also notes that the introduction of written texts in the late imperial period had a significant impact on popular culture, as it allowed for the preservation and dissemination of cultural knowledge and the creation of new literary genres.

Popular culture also intersected with state ideologies and policies in various ways. Some essays detail the state's role in promoting or suppressing certain religious and cultural practices, such as the promotion of Confucianism and the suppression of Buddhism. The state also used popular culture to reinforce its authority and control over the populace, through the use of propaganda and censorship.

Despite the diversity and complexity of popular culture in late imperial China, the book also notes that there were significant challenges to its production and dissemination. For example, the rise of industrialization and urbanization led to the displacement of many traditional cultural practices, and the introduction of Western cultural influences also had a significant impact on popular culture. However, the book also argues that popular culture remained a vital source of cultural identity and resilience for the non-elite, and that it played a crucial role in shaping the cultural landscape of late imperial China.

In conclusion, Popular Culture in Late Imperial China is a groundbreaking collection of essays that challenges the overemphasis on elite narratives in Chinese historical studies and highlights the importance of exploring the values, ideas, and cultural expressions of the broader populace during the late imperial period. The book draws on a wide range of texts to investigate how popular culture was produced, consumed, and transmitted across social strata, and it reveals a cultural landscape that was both deeply diverse and intricately integrated, reflecting shared values and beliefs despite differences in class, region, and literacy. The book is an essential resource for understanding the cultural richness of late imperial China and the social forces that shaped its historical trajectory.

Weight: 706g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520340114