A Tale Of Two Melons: Emperor And Subject In Ming China Emperor And Subject In Ming China

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. Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Map 11 Introduction 11 Chapter I On a Lacquer Tray 26 Chapter II What the Emperor Said 39 Chapter III Up from the Garden 52 Chapter IV The Zhang Family 62 Chapter V The Smile of the God 83 Chapter VI Retelling the Melon Story 95 Conclusion Movement and Exchange in the Ming Empire 116 In Praise of Auspicious Melons 119 Major Dynastic Periods of Chinese History 122 Reign Periods of the Ming Dynasty 123 Chronology of Main Events 124 The Zhang Family 125 The Zhang Family Tree 126 Types of Documents 127 Notes 131 Works Cited 155 On A Lacquer Tray -- What The Emperor Said -- Up From The Garden -- The Zhang Family -- The Smile Of The God -- Retelling The Melon Story -- Conclusion: Movement And Exchange In The Ming Empire -- In Praise Of Auspicious Melons / By Ming Taizu. Sarah Schneewind. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 130-141).