Cambridge History of China - Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) (Volume 1)

Author: Mou Fuli
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1992-02-01
Features: This is the Chinese translation of Volume 7 of The Cambridge History of China. Written by experts on Ming Dynasty history from abroad, it incorporates research findings from China, Japan, and the West, and also conducts creative explorations on certain issues. It primarily discusses the political history of the Ming Dynasty, analyzing it in the context of social, economic, and cultural backgrounds. Volume 8 of The Cambridge History of China provides detailed discussions on the institutions, international relations, social and economic history, intellectual history, and the history of thought and religion of the Ming Dynasty.
Over 20 years ago, when planning The Cambridge History of China, it was naturally intended to begin with the earliest periods of Chinese history. However, the proposal to publish this series was made many years ago, during which time a wealth of archaeological discoveries, which began in the 1920s and have gained momentum since the early 1970s, have significantly changed our knowledge of Chinese prehistory and most of the millennium before 1000 BCE. This continuous influx of new data has repeatedly reshaped our understanding of early history, yet no universally accepted synthesis of this new evidence with traditional written records has been reached. Despite repeated attempts to plan and publish one or more volumes summarizing our current understanding of early China, it has proven impossible to do so thus far. It is likely that another decade will be needed to demonstrate the feasibility of producing a comprehensive synthesis of these new discoveries that will stand the test of time.
Therefore, we reluctantly begin the narrative of The Cambridge History of China with the establishment of the earliest imperial regimes—the Qin and Han Dynasties. We are aware that this leaves at least a millennium of recorded history to be addressed elsewhere and at a later time. We also recognize that the events and developments of the first millennium BCE laid the foundation for the Chinese society, its thought, and its institutions that we are about to describe. The institutions, literary and artistic developments, social structures, and systems of thought and belief of the Qin and Han Dynasties are deeply rooted in the past, and without a substantial understanding of earlier history, they cannot be fully comprehended.
As the modern world becomes increasingly interconnected, it has become even more necessary to understand it historically, and the work of historians has become more complex. With the explosion of primary sources and the expansion of knowledge, arguments and theories also influence one another. Although simply summarizing what is already known has become an daunting task, the factual basis for historical thinking has become increasingly important.
In recent years, Western scholars have made fuller use of the rich traditional scholarship on history from China and Japan, not only greatly enhancing our detailed understanding of past events and institutions but also deepening our critical awareness of traditional historical writing. Moreover, the current generation of Western scholars of Chinese history, while continuing to rely on the solid foundation of research being rapidly developed in Europe, Japan, and China, can also draw on new perspectives, methods, and recent findings from the social sciences in the study of history. Recent historical events have raised questions about many older views while highlighting new issues. Under the influence of these various factors, the dramatic transformation of Western approaches to Chinese studies is gaining momentum.
When The Cambridge History of China was first planned in 1966, the goal was to provide Western readers with a standard and valuable work: at that time, it was projected to be six volumes. Since then, the emergence of recognized research findings, the application of new methods, and the expansion of scholarship into new fields have further advanced the study of Chinese history. This development is evidenced by the fact that The Cambridge History of China has now been expanded to a planned 15 volumes, though many topics—such as the history of art and literature, various aspects of the economy and technology, and all rich materials on local history—have had to be omitted. Over the past decade, our understanding of China's past has made significant progress, which will continue and accelerate. The efforts of Western historians in this important and complex discipline have proven justified, as their own people need to know more and deeper about China. Chinese history belongs to all of humanity, not only because it is just and necessary but also because it is a subject of great interest.