Writing and authority in early China
by Mark Edward Lewis
This book traces the evolving uses of writing to command assent and obedience in early China, an evolution that culminated in the establishment of a textual canon as the foundation of imperial authority. Its central theme is the emergence of this body of writings as the textual double of the state, and of the text-based sage as the double of the ruler.
The book examines the full range of writings employed in early China, such as divinatory records, written communications with ancestors, government documents, the collective writings of philosophical and textual traditions, speeches attributed to historical figures, chronicles, verse anthologies, commentaries, and encyclopedic compendia.
Lewis shows how these writings served to administer populations, control officials, form new social groups, invent new models of authority, and create an artificial language whose master generated power and whose graphs became potent objects.
Check nearby libraries
Buy this book
Previews available in: English
Subjects
Chinese literature, History and criticism, Political aspects, Political aspects of Chinese literature, Theory, Philosophy, chinese, Chinese literature, history and criticism, Littérature chinoise, Histoire et critique, Théorie, Aspect politique, LITERARY CRITICISM, Asian, GeneralTimes
To 221 B.C.Showing 1 featured edition. View all 1 editions?
| Edition | Availability |
|---|---|
1
Writing and authority in early China
1999, State University of New York Press
in English
079144113X 9780791441138
|
aaaa
Libraries near you:
WorldCat
|
Book Details
Edition Notes
Includes bibliographical references (p. 497-526) and index.
Classifications
The Physical Object
ID Numbers
Community Reviews (0)
Feedback?
| July 16, 2024 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
| January 7, 2023 | Edited by MARC Bot | import existing book |
| January 27, 2022 | Edited by ImportBot | import existing book |
| December 4, 2010 | Edited by Open Library Bot | Added subjects from MARC records. |
| December 9, 2009 | Created by WorkBot | add works page |