The Election Society and Its End (A Sociological Interpretation of a Historical Period from the Qin and Han Dynasties to the Late Qing Dynasty)

Author: He Huahong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-12-01
Features: In this book, I tentatively propose a basic concept of a "electoral society." This concept is derived from the interpretation of the "hereditary society" concept of the Spring and Autumn period. I propose it to explain the self-contained social structure that ultimately formed in China from the Qin and Han dynasties to the late Qing Dynasty, a "traditional China" distinct from the "classical China" before the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, as well as from today's "modern China." Electoral Society and Its End: A Sociological Interpretation of Chinese History from the Qin and Han to the Late Qing is a work with a broad intellectual horizon, meticulous effort, rich materials, and many original and insightful observations. Particularly noteworthy is the second part, which studies the eight-legged essay—the central component of the ancient Chinese imperial examination system. Through an analysis of the canonical model essays from various dynasties, it reveals the form, content, nature, function, and social significance and impact of the imperial examination system, helping to correct the long-standing biased and simplistic view of it as being merely negative. The third part on the dilemmas of the electoral society and its "end" also offers many profound and innovative arguments.