Author : Sarah Schneewind
Release : 2006-09-14
Genre : History
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 344/5 ( reviews)
Book Synopsis A Tale of Two Melons by : Sarah Schneewind
Download or read book A Tale of Two Melons written by Sarah Schneewind. This book was released on 2006-09-14. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A commoner's presentation to the emperor of a lucky omen from his garden, the repercussions for his family, and several retellings of the incident provide the background for an engaging introduction to Ming society, culture, and politics, including discussions of the founding of the Ming dynasty; the character of the first emperor; the role of omens in court politics; how the central and local governments were structured, including the civil service examination system; the power of local elite families; the roles of women; filial piety; and the concept of ling or efficacy in Chinese religion.