In this Book
- From Warhorses to Ploughshares: The Later Tang Reign of Emperor Mingzong
- Book
- 2014
- Published by: Hong Kong University Press, HKU
summary
Mingzong (r. 926–933) was the most illustrious emperor of the Five Dynasties, and one of the most admired of China’s middle period, the Tang to Song. A warrior of Shatuo-Turk ancestry, he ascended the throne of the Later Tang on the heels of a mutiny against his adopted brother, thus sparing his dynasty an early death. Mingzong’s brief reign came to be heralded by historians as the “Small Repose”—a happy convergence of peace and prosperity. He marshaled a cluster of eminently able courtiers, men who balanced Confucian charity against the military discipline demanded in a time of transition. These years were marked by trade with bordering states, frenzied diplomatic activity, and a succession of defections from states to the north. Mingzong wisely eschewed military conflict, except as a last resort. Conservative in moral and legal matters, he introduced radical economic reforms that included deregulation of traditional monopolies and timely changes to the tributary system. Drawing extensively on primary sources, including Mingzong’s spirited correspondence with his officials, this political and cultural biography brings to life a charismatic emperor who was held up as a model ruler by succeeding generations.
Table of Contents
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- Acknowledgments
- pp. ix-x
- 1. People and Places
- pp. 1-32
- 2. Royal Passage
- pp. 33-62
- 6. Volatile Periphery
- pp. 155-176
- Sources Cited
- pp. 193-198
Additional Information
ISBN
9789888313167
Related ISBN(s)
9789888208104
MARC Record
OCLC
900223845
Pages
236
Launched on MUSE
2015-01-15
Language
English
Open Access
No