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Military Culture in Imperial China
This volume explores the relationship between culture and the military in Chinese society from early China to the Qing empire, with contributions by eminent scholars aiming to reexamine the relationship between military matters and law, government, historiography, art, philosophy, literature, and politics.
The book critically investigates the perception that, due to the influence of Confucianism, Chinese culture has systematically devalued military matters. There was nothing inherently pacifist about the Chinese governments’ views of war, and pragmatic approaches―even aggressive and expansionist projects―often prevailed.
Though it has changed in form, a military elite has existed in China from the beginning of its history, and military service included a large proportion of the population at any given time. Popular literature praised the martial ethos of fighting men. Civil officials attended constantly to military matters on the administrative and financial ends. The seven military classics produced in antiquity continued to be read even into the modern period.
These original essays explore the ways in which intellectual, civilian, and literary elements helped shape the nature of military institutions, theory, and the culture of war. This important contribution bridges two literatures, military and cultural, that seldom appear together in the study of China, and deepens our understanding of war and society in Chinese history.
The book critically investigates the perception that, due to the influence of Confucianism, Chinese culture has systematically devalued military matters. There was nothing inherently pacifist about the Chinese governments’ views of war, and pragmatic approaches―even aggressive and expansionist projects―often prevailed.
Though it has changed in form, a military elite has existed in China from the beginning of its history, and military service included a large proportion of the population at any given time. Popular literature praised the martial ethos of fighting men. Civil officials attended constantly to military matters on the administrative and financial ends. The seven military classics produced in antiquity continued to be read even into the modern period.
These original essays explore the ways in which intellectual, civilian, and literary elements helped shape the nature of military institutions, theory, and the culture of war. This important contribution bridges two literatures, military and cultural, that seldom appear together in the study of China, and deepens our understanding of war and society in Chinese history.
456 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 14, 2018
I actually went looking for this book after reading Nicola Di Cosmo's other book Ancient China and Its Enemies. I was a bit surprised at first to find that the book is actually a collection of essays, but after reading through some of them I realized that having multiple perspectives was a great addition to this work. The book is probably the best survey work on Chinese military history that I have encountered. It is certainly a fantastic introductory work, with plenty of good citations for further reading. I enjoyed the book and feel like I walked away some new perspectives. Overall, I recommend this book.
December 23, 2013
Perhaps a companion to Di Cosmo's edited Warfare in Inner Asian History. This too is aspects and specific instances of the culture of war -- in China this time. Fascinating essays. Law and the Military, on punitive war; Martial Prognostication, on superstitions; Tang (mis)Representations of Battle, written for court consumption; and a brilliant one on psychology of war in the Song Dynasty (known for its civilian ethos) by Don J. Wyatt, with three portraits of real but not-so-famous men, to explore attitudes.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews