Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty

Häftad, Engelska, 1995

Av Shih-shan Henry Tsai, Shih-Shan Henry Tsai

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This book is the first on Chinese eunuchs in English and presents a comprehensive picture of the role that they played in the Ming dynasty, 1368-1644. Extracted from a wide range of primary and secondary source material, the author provides significant and interesting information about court politics, espionage and internal security, military and foreign affairs, tax and tribute collection, the operation of imperial monopolies, judiciary review, the layout of the palace complex, the Grand Canal, and much more.The eunuchs are shown to be not just a minor adjunct to a government of civil servants and military officers, but a fully developed third branch of the Ming administration that participated in all of the most essential matters of the dynasty. The veil of condemnation and jealousy imposed on eunuchs by the compilers of official history is pulled away to reveal a richly textured tapestry. Eunuchs are portrayed in a balanced manner that gives due consideration to able and faithful service along with the inept, the lurid, and the iniquitous.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum1995-11-16
Mått152 x 229 x 25 mm
Vikt426 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
SerieSUNY series in Chinese Local Studies
Antal sidor290
FörlagState University of New York Press
ISBN9780791426883

Tillhör följande kategorier

Asiens historia inom Historia och arkeologi

Maps and FiguresAcknowledgementsSuccessive Reigns of the Ming Emperors (1368-1644)I. Introduction The Scholar and the EunuchNew Thematic ApproachesII. The Demand and Supply of Ming Eunuchs Historic OriginsForeign Supply of EunuchsDomestic Supply of EunuchsMore Supply Than DemandThe Problem of Excessive CastratiIII. Institutionalization of the Eunuch Agencies Early Eunuch EstablishmentsEunuchs' New HavenEunuch Agencies Inside the Imperial CityEunuch Agencies Outside the Capital CityIV. Eunuchs and the Ming Military System Eunuchs as Military CommandersThe Eunuch BattalionsThe Nanjing Grand CommandantEunuch Commanders and Ming BureaucracyEunuchs and Teas-Horse TradeV. Eunuchs and the Ming Intelligence-Gathering Apparatuses The Eastern DepotSuccesive Directors of the Eastern DepotThe Western DepotVI. Eunuchs and Ming Diplomacy Ming Tributary SystemThe Mongols and the TibetansEunuch Missions to Central AsiaMing Eunuchs and Chinese-Korean RelationsVII. Eunuchs and Ming Maritime Activities Eunuchs and the Ming Maritime TradeTrade with Japan and the Ryukyu IslandsTrade with Southeast AsiaZheng He's Seven NavigationsVIII. Eunuchs' Involvement in the Ming Economy Managing the Imperial PlantationsEunuchs as Tax CollectorsEunuchs' Role in the Ming Salt MonopolyEunuchs and Ming MiningEunuchs as Purchasing Agents and Manufacturing ManagersIX. Miscellaneous Duties of the Ming Eunuchs Eunuchs and Imperial SealsEunuchs and Ming Flood-Control ProjectsEunuchs and Ming Judiciary ReviewsX. ConclusionAppendix 1: Eunuch Agencies and Their Duties in Ming DynastyAppendix 2: Glossary of Chinese CharactersNotesBibliographyIndex

"This book is a detailed and intellectually sophisticated study of Ming eunuchs that illuminates the entire history of the Ming. The author is aware of the systematic anti-eunuch prejudice of the sources (all composed by civil officials), and has adopted a critical stance throughout. This has permitted him to assess objectively the achievements of the eunuchs and to let them 'speak for themselves' to the extent that the sources permit." — Edward L. Dreyer, University of Miami