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 -- 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 -- 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 -- 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
Summary
"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"--Provided by publisher
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes
Online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on May 26, 2016)
