Urban Life and Intellectual Crisis in Middle-Period China, 800-1100 delves into a fascinating period in Chinese history.The book explores the dramatic rise of urban centers during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and the intellectual anxieties that emerged alongside this rapid urbanization. By analyzing literary works, philosophical treatises, and historical accounts, the book examines how scholars grappled with the social and cultural transformations sweeping across China’s bustling cities.
Recommended for:
Scholars and students of Chinese history, particularly those interested in:
- Urban History: The book provides a detailed analysis of the growth and development of Chinese cities during the Song Dynasty.
- Intellectual History: It explores the philosophical and literary responses to urbanization, revealing anxieties and critiques alongside adaptations and new perspectives.
- Song Dynasty: The book offers a focused analysis of a crucial period in Chinese history, marked by significant cultural and social changes.
- The Interplay of Culture and Society: It examines how urbanization shaped ideas and values, and in turn, how intellectuals influenced urban life.
You will:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the rapid urban expansion that characterized the Song Dynasty in China.
- Explore how scholars and literati perceived and responded to the bustling city life, including its sights, sounds, and social complexities.
- Analyze the anxieties expressed in literary works about the potential downsides of urbanization, such as moral decay and alienation.
- Decipher the evolving philosophical debates regarding the ideal relationship between the individual and the urban environment.
- Understand how intellectuals attempted to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the new urban landscape.
- Appreciate the multifaceted nature of urban life in Song Dynasty China, encompassing both excitement and unease for the intellectual class.
- Develop a critical perspective on how historical narratives are constructed by analyzing the writings of literati and scholars.
Urban Life and Intellectual Crisis in Middle-Period China, 800-1100 offers a unique perspective on the Song Dynasty by weaving together social history, intellectual history, and literary analysis. It provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between urbanization and intellectual thought in a pivotal period of Chinese history
Citation and Licensing
Christian de Pee. AUP. (2022). Urban Life and Intellectual Crisis in Middle-Period China, 800-1100. https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789048554331/urban-life-and-intellectual-crisis-in-middle-period-china-800-1100
This ebook is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The full licence terms are available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
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