The Promise and Peril of Things: Literature and Material Culture in Late Imperial China

Wai-yee Li's book "The Promise and Peril of Things" explores the complexities of Ming and Qing China's relationship with things, examining how aesthetic claims and political power intersect, the objective and subjective dimensions of value, and the ambiguities of material culture. It reconsiders major works and offers new insights into literary and aesthetic sensibilities and the intersections of material culture with literature, intellectual history, and art history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Our relationship with things is a complex tapestry woven with paradoxes. People assign value to objects in deeply personal and idiosyncratic ways, often rooted in specific cultural and historical contexts. Yet, the question remains: how do things become meaningful? How do our connections with the world of things shape who we are? In the vibrant realms of Ming and Qing China, a profound inquiry into the nature of things and their contradictions flourished. This exploration, far from being a mere reflection of status anxiety or class conflict, revealed a profound depth and complexity that defied simple categorization.

Wai-yee Li embarks on a captivating journey to unravel the intricate threads of pleasure and danger within the literature and thought of late imperial China. Through her meticulous analysis, she delves into the intricate intersections of aesthetic claims and political power, exploring the objective and subjective dimensions of value. Li poses thought-provoking questions about what determines authenticity and aesthetic appeal, challenging the very foundations of material culture.

In her exploration, Li employs a rich tapestry of examples, spanning the late sixteenth to the mid-eighteenth centuries. She skillfully weaves together a narrative that reveals the multifaceted nature of relations with things. She unveils how these relations can both encode and resist social change, political crisis, and personal loss. Through her meticulous research, Li offers fresh insights into Ming and Qing literary and aesthetic sensibilities, as well as the profound intersections of material culture with literature, intellectual history, and art history.

The Promise and Peril of Things is a groundbreaking work that reconsiders major works such as "The Plum in the Golden Vase," "The Story of the Stone," Li Yus writings, and Wu Weiyes poetry and drama. It also delves into a host of less familiar texts, shedding light on the rich tapestry of Ming and Qing cultural heritage. This book offers readers a unique perspective on the complexities of material culture and its profound impact on the lives of individuals and societies. It is a testament to the enduring power of literature and thought to illuminate the mysteries of the world around us.

Weight: 570g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231201032