Discover Another China: A Historical Examination of the Underworld, the Court, and the Fate of the People

Author: Wang XueTai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: This book is a selection of the author's scattered essays over the years, edited into three parts:
Palace: Intellectuals in the Game of Imperial Power
This section primarily discusses the relationship between the emperor (imperial power) and scholars. Under the shadow of imperial power, certain wisdom of Chinese intellectuals was intentionally or unintentionally overlooked. In fact, early Confucianism spoke of the "revolution of Tang and Wu," the "acceptance of mandate and the execution of killers," and even fantasized about unifying the will of the people with the Mandate of Heaven. This was something that Dong Zhongshu, Cheng and Zhu, and others dared not imagine. However, mechanisms to prevent and limit imperial power ultimately failed to develop. With the unification of political authority (zhiting) and moral authority (daotong), traditional Chinese politics sank into a state of despair until the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, when a sliver of hope emerged. Qing Dynasty Confucian scholars grew increasingly decadent, losing their former grandeur, as people said, "Neo-Confucians were fond of beauty, while Han scholars were greedy for wealth."
Jianghu: Survival, Struggle, and Ideals in the Hidden Society
This section can be seen as a supplement to the book Nomad Culture and Chinese Society. Nomads aspired to be like Wei Xiaobao—surrounded by beautiful wives, wealthy beyond measure, and possessing the dignity of an emperor. This was their longing. Struggling in the Jianghu, wandering through valleys and ditches, was the reality. Of course, there were also those who rebelled. Throughout Chinese history, peasant uprisings and wars were largely led by nomads.
The Fate of the People: A Tradition of Disdain for Human Life
Cherishing life is a theme of modern society, but in the long river of history, the lives of the people were valued no more than ants. Confucianism speaks of "benevolence" (ren), "gentleness, kindness, politeness, frugality, and humility," and has theories of cherishing life. Yet, people often experienced tyranny and cruel punishments. Tyranny and cruelty bred violent masses, creating a relay of violence and a cycle of history. Thus came the alternation of order and chaos, the inevitable reunification after division, and the inevitable division after reunification. To break free from this vicious cycle, we must reflect deeply on culture and institutions.
This book is a selection of the author's scattered essays over the years, divided into three parts: Palace: Intellectuals in the Game of Imperial Power, Jianghu: Survival, Struggle, and Ideals in the Hidden Society, and The Fate of the People: A Tradition of Disdain for Human Life.