The Inscription of Things: Writing and Materiality in Early Modern China

Early modern Chinese writers used inkstones to carve lines of verse onto cups, ladles, animal horns, seashells, walking sticks, boxes, fans, daggers, teapots, and musical instruments, which relate to the objects on which they are written in complex ways. Thomas Kelly argues that inscribing an object became a means for authors to grapple with the materiality and technologies of writing, shedding new light on cultures of writing in early modern China.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Early modern Chinese writers expanded their artistic horizons beyond brushes and ink, venturing into diverse mediums such as cups, ladles, animal horns, seashells, walking sticks, boxes, fans, daggers, teapots, and musical instruments. They etched poetic lines onto these objects, creating intricate compositions in verse or epigrammatic prose. Calligraphers even left messages on the tools commonly used for writing on paper, further blurring the boundaries between literature and material culture.

In his groundbreaking work, "The Inscription of Things," Thomas Kelly delves into the intricate relationship between Chinese literature and material culture. By examining inscribed objects from the late Ming and early to mid-Qing dynasties, Kelly explores how the literary qualities of inscriptions intertwine with the visual and physical properties of the objects that bear them. He argues that inscribing an object became a means for authors to grapple with the materiality and technologies of writing, particularly in the face of profound social upheavals like market volatility and dynastic transitions.

Through his meticulous analysis, Kelly sheds new light on cultures of writing in early modern China. He broadens our understanding of the links between the literary and the material, challenging traditional notions of literature as solely textual and material as solely physical. By examining the inscriptions on these objects, Kelly reveals how writers used them to reflect on their investments in and dependence on the permanence of the written word, creating a rich tapestry of literary and material expressions.

This innovative approach to the study of Chinese literature offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between culture, society, and the written word. It demonstrates the ways in which early modern Chinese writers and artists used material culture to express their ideas, emotions, and experiences, and how these objects themselves became vessels of literary meaning. "The Inscription of Things" is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of Chinese studies, and it will inspire scholars and researchers for years to come.

Weight: 542g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231209632