Michael Loewe
Publisher:
Brill
Publication Date:
May 2016
Abstract:
Michael Loewe calls on literary and material evidence to examine three problems that arose in administering China’s early empires. Religious rites due to an emperor’s predecessors must both pay the correct services to his ancestors and demonstrate his right to succeed to the throne. In practical terms, tax collectors, merchants, farmers and townsmen required the establishment of a standard set of weights and measures that was universally operative and which they could trust. Those who saw reason to criticise the decisions taken by the emperor and his immediate advisors, whether on grounds of moral principles or political expediency, needed opportunities and the means of expressing their views, whether as remonstrants to the throne, by withdrawal from public life or as authors of private writings.
Table of Contents:
Part 1. The concept of zhaomu and its place in the services to imperial ancestors from Chunqiu times to Qing
The concept and application of zhaomu 昭穆
The two series of imperial cults
Zhaomu from pre-imperial times to eastern Han
Zhaomu from the Three Kingdoms to the close of Qing
The sites for imperial tombs
The Ming Tang 明堂
Appendix to part 1
Part 2. The standardisation of weights and measures; inscriptions on bronze vessels of the Han dynasty and the Jia Liang Hu made for Wang Mang
Sources of information
The standardisation of weights and measures
The evidence of Han Shu
Inscriptions of the Zhan Guo, Qin and Han periods
The Jia Liang Hu 嘉量斛
The Wei Dou vessel
Appendix to part 2
Part 3. Protest and criticism in the Han Empire
Occasions for criticism
Types of argument and the means of taking action
Criticism of an emperor
Criticism of officials
Themes and incidents of criticism
The results of protest
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