Dunhuang's Loans: Material Life and Society in China's Medieval Era

Author: (French) Tong Pi / Yu Xin / Chen Jianwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Tong Pi (éric Trombert) is a member of the UMR8583 research group jointly established by the école Pratique des Hautes études (EPHE) and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and also serves as a research supervisor at the 4th Department of EPHE and the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Polytechnic University. Originally specializing in Dunhuang socio-economic documents, particularly loan contracts and monastic account books, Mr. Tong Pi's work presented in this book is his representative research. Published in 1995 by the Institute of Sinology at the Collège de France, it received high praise from the French sinological community. The book is divided into four chapters, each consisting of three parts: the selection of materials and research methods, the formal evolution and structure and classification of contracts, and the introduction of original materials; Chapter 2 focuses on grain loans during the period of Tibetan occupation, including the study of three representative manuscripts, the agricultural life of Dunhuang as reflected in loan contracts, and certain aspects of Dunhuang society as shown by grain loans; Chapter 3 examines textile loans in the 10th century; and Chapter 4 explores the evolution of loan conditions between the 9th and 10th centuries. The book also includes 18 analytical charts of loan contracts, a comparative table of loan contract numbering, and other relevant reference materials.