E-grāmata: Local Stories and National History of China I: Social Changes in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Hanjiang River [Taylor & Francis e-book]

"This two-volume set examines the social history of the Hanjiang River region of southern China from the Song Dynasty to modern times, shedding light on the complex relationship between local societies and state power in traditional China. Through a careful analysis of social change over the centuries, the study shows how religious beliefs, administrative systems, cultural etiquette and ethnic interactions in the middle and lower reaches of the Hanjiang River shaped regional development. Local communities in the region navigated periods of social upheaval, dynastic change and economic transformation with remarkable adaptability. The two volumes show how the people of the Hanjiang River region skilfully combined local traditions with state resources as they integrated into the unified dynastic state - undergoing successive waves of orthodoxy, militarization, commercialization and internationalization. Their experiences offer a microcosmic view of China's broader historical development. This set is an invaluable resource for scholars and students of pre-modern and modern Chinese social history and historical anthropology"-- Provided by publisher.

This book is the first of a two-volume set examining the social history of the Hanjiang River region of southern China. It studies the complex social fabric of the region from the Song Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, focusing on religious practices, ethnic relations, and social change.

The first part presents the region’s geography and history, and sets out the methods for studying its social history. The second part of this book is about the formation of social order between the Song and mid-Ming dynasties. It explores religious beliefs, coastal defense systems, and the governance of ethnic groups. The final part analyzes the relationship between “bandits” and “people” in the mid-Ming and early Qing periods, using local literature, religious practices, and settlement patterns. This analysis reveals how rural militarization and dynastic influence shaped territorial society in the late Ming and early Qing.

This title is an essential resource for scholars and students of pre-modern Chinese social history, historical anthropology, religious studies, maritime history, and ethnic relations.

This book is the first of a two-volume set examining the social history of the Hanjiang River region of southern China. It studies the complex social fabric of the region from the Song Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty, focusing on religious practices, ethnic relations and social change.