{"title":"Series: Tang Center Series in Early China","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTang Center Series in Early China\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a profound exploration of ancient Chinese thought, culture, and history. Readers will find works that delve into foundational philosophies and historical contexts, illuminating the rich intellectual traditions that shaped early China. This series appeals to those intrigued by the crossroads of \u003cem\u003ePhilosophy \u0026amp; Psychology\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e scholarship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEngaging with this collection, readers can expect thoughtfully researched perspectives that connect classical ideas with broader themes in culture and society. The series provides a nuanced understanding suited to enthusiasts and scholars seeking to deepen their knowledge of China’s early intellectual landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"spring-and-autumn-historiography-by-newell-ann-van-auken-9780231206501","title":"Spring and Autumn Historiography","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Spring and Autumn\u003c\/em\u003e is an annals text composed of brief records covering the period 722–479 BCE, written from the perspective of the ancient Chinese state of Lu. Traditionally ascribed to Confucius, it is said that he embedded his evaluations of events within the text. However, the formulaic and impersonal records do not resemble the repository of moral judgments that they are alleged to be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDriven by her discovery that \u003cem\u003eThe Spring and Autumn\u003c\/em\u003e is governed by a system of rules, Newell Ann Van Auken argues that Lu record-keepers—not a later editor—produced the formally regular core of the text. She demonstrates that \u003cem\u003eThe Spring and Autumn\u003c\/em\u003e employs formulaic phrasing and selective omission to encode the priorities of Lu and to communicate the relative importance of individuals, states, and events. Many of its records are derived from diplomatic announcements received in Lu from regional states and the Zhou court.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Spring and Autumn\u003c\/em\u003e is fundamentally a document designed to enhance the prestige of Lu, revealing a deep concern with relative rank and displaying an idealized hierarchy that positions the state of Lu and its rulers at the apex. By establishing \u003cem\u003eThe Spring and Autumn\u003c\/em\u003e as a genuine Bronze Age record, this book transforms our understanding of its significance and purpose. It also offers new approaches to the study of ancient annals in early China and elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47000752226540,"sku":"9780231206501","price":123.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8121713482270.jpg?v=1763302062"},{"product_id":"kingly-splendor-by-allison-r-miller-9780231196604","title":"Kingly Splendor","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Western Han dynasty (202 BCE–9 CE) was a foundational period for the artistic culture of ancient China, a fact particularly visible in the era's funerary art. Iconic forms of Chinese art such as dazzling suits of jade, cavernous, rock-cut mountain tombs, fancifully ornate wall paintings, and armies of miniature terracotta warriors were prepared for the tombs of the elite during this period. Many of the finest objects of the Western Han have been excavated from the tombs of kings, who administered local provinces on behalf of the emperors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAllison R. Miller paints a new picture of elite art production by revealing the contributions of the kings to Western Han artistic culture. She demonstrates that the kings were not mere imitators of the imperial court but rather innovators, employing local materials and workshops and experimenting with new techniques to challenge the artistic hegemony of the imperial house. Tombs and funerary art, Miller contends, functioned as an important vehicle of political expression as kings strove to persuade the population and other elites of their legitimacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThrough case studies of five genres of royal art, Miller argues that the political structure of the early Western Han, with the emperor as one ruler among peers, benefited artistic production and innovation. \u003cem\u003eKingly Splendor\u003c\/em\u003e brings together close readings of funerary art and architecture with nuanced analyses of political and institutional dynamics to provide an interdisciplinary revisionist history of the early Western Han.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47471060091116,"sku":"9780231196604","price":123.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9780231196604-kingly-splendor.jpg?v=1775231727"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/series-tang-center-series-in-early-china.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}