Economic Pulse

Author: Chen Guodong / Luo Tonghua (Editor-in-Chief)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-04-01
Features: This series is a compilation of classic works by Taiwanese scholars in the field of Chinese history over the past fifty years, divided into thirteen themes and fourteen volumes, including:
(Historiographical Methods and Historical Interpretation);
(Institutions and the State);
(Politics and Power);
(Thought and Scholarship);
(Social Change);
(Economic Fluctuations);
(Cities and Villages);
(Family and Society);
(Women and Society);
(Lifestyle and Culture);
(Rituals and Religion);
(Life and Medicine);
(Art and Archaeology).
The series is edited by Professor Huang Kuan-chong, Professor Xing Yi-tian of the Academia Sinica's Institute of History and Philology, and Professor Deng Xiaonan of the Center for Medieval Chinese History, Peking University, as the overall editors. Each theme is edited by Taiwanese scholars with deep expertise in the respective field. Each volume begins with an introduction by the overall editor and a preface by the sub-volume editor. The purpose of the prefaces is to provide an overview of the internal and external contexts and the development of Chinese history studies in Taiwan at different stages, as well as to introduce the authors and papers in the current volume. Some prefaces focus on introducing the included papers and authors or the reasons for their selection, while others highlight global trends in historical studies, and some center on the sub-volume editor's perspective on a particular field, each with its own unique features.
After each article, a brief author bio and the original publication details are provided to assist interested readers in further research. The series gathers renowned works by many international scholars. Elderly scholars such as Yan Gengwang, Lao Gan, Fu Lecheng, and Dai Yanhui, contemporary giants in the field like Yu Ying-shih, Xu Zongyuan, Lu Yao-dong, and Mao Han-guang, as well as mid-career scholars with strong Western academic backgrounds such as Chen Neshui, Yan Juan-ying, and Li Zhen-de, are all included. The series represents the representative works of several generations of Taiwanese scholars over half a century, truly a gathering of luminaries and a treasure trove of outstanding works.
The general selection principle for the articles in this series is to prioritize recently published works to showcase the latest trends and achievements. However, each volume has its own distinct focus. Some volumes, such as Lifestyle and Culture, are almost entirely composed of papers from the past decade, while others like Institutions and the State include more works from decades past. This reflects the shifting directions and centers of focus in Chinese history studies in Taiwan. Due to various limitations, exchanges between scholars across the Taiwan Strait, access to information, and the ability to consult relevant papers have faced certain challenges. Domestic scholars and researchers have long called for timely access to the work of Taiwanese scholars in this field, which has been the primary motivation for the publication of this series.
There are significant differences between Taiwan and mainland China in the study of Chinese history. On one hand, Taiwanese scholars are heavily influenced by Western Sinology, but on the other hand, they are deeply familiar with Chinese culture, leading to greater innovation and vitality. In terms of research topics, in addition to traditional subjects, Taiwanese historians have established unique themes such as medical history and body history, which have garnered international attention. The publication of the Collected Works of Taiwanese Scholars on Chinese History should provide domestic historians with new materials, insights, and focal points, and will have a very positive impact on academic exchanges and interactions between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.