The Cambridge History of China, Volume 6: Alien Regimes and Border States, 907-1368

Cambridge History of China #8

by Denis C. Twitchett (Editor), Herbert W. Franke (Editor)

This volume deals with four non-Chinese regimes: the Khitan dynasty of Liao; the Tangut state of Hsi Hsia; the Jurchen empire of Chin; and the Mongolian Yuan dynasty that eventually engulfed the whole of China. It investigates the historical background from which these regimes emerged and shows how each in its own way set up viable institutions for the control of a multi-racial, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural population. It discusses these problems not just as a long negative episode in China's history, but shows the ingenuity and adaptability of these states, and their success in achieving political and social stability. The volume presents the fullest chronological account of the period, in which political, institutional, social, and economic changes are integrated as far as possible, and sees the period against a broad background of international relations in Northern and Central Asia.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction

896 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Denis Crispin Twitchett was a British Sinologist and scholar who specialized in Chinese history and greatly expanded the role of Chinese studies in Western intellectual circles.

Reviews

[Bryn Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Textbook. And worthy to be. It's just great, on every society.

[Zeitgeist · Rating 5 out of 5]

第一本剑桥历史的大部头，最喜欢金和元的部分，非中央王朝视角叙述非常发人深省，女真汉化后的金国也是和南宋并列的“中国”，拥有正统地位，而蒙元并非只是局限于中国的一个大一统王朝而已，它更是作为蒙古帝国世界附属的一部分。辽史中最有意思的是辽在唐亡宋兴（五代十国时期）之间的半个多世纪的国际关系中扮演着决定性的角色，而并非是在北宋建立后才突然在北方出现的契丹族政权。西夏或许资料不多，所以没多少亮点。——2020年9月13日 17：30阅完更新