POLITICAL FRONTIERS, ETHNIC BOUNDARIES AND HUMAN GEOGRAPHIES IN CHINESE HISTORY; ED. BY NICOLA DI COSMO

The question of boundaries - physical or political - has become fertile ground in the analysis of Chinese history and society. These essays cover the early decades of the Zhou dynasty to the early centuries after the Manchu conquest. Boundaries - Demarcating Physical Space, Enclosing Political Entities, And Distinguishing Social Or Ethnic Groups - Constitute An Essential Aspect Of Historical Investigation. Obscured By The Influence Upon Scholars Of A Myth Of Unitarian Historical And Cultural Development, Not Until Recently Have Questions Pertaining To Boundaries Come To Represent A Fertile Ground In The Analysis Of Chinese History And Society. In Addition To History, The Disciplines Represented In This Book Include Anthropology (particularly Ethnography), Religion, Art History, And Literary Studies. Each Of The Authors Focuses On A Distinct Period, Beginning With The Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100 B.c.e.) And Ending With The Early Centuries After The Manchu Conquest (c. 1800 C.e.) Resulting In A Chronological Sweep Of Nearly Three Millennia.--jacket. Toward A Social Geography Of The Zhouyuan During The Western Zhou Dynasty: The Jing And Zhong Lineages Of Fufeng County / Edward L. Shaughnesssy -- Mapping A Spiritual Landscape: Representation Of Terrestrial Space In The Shanhaijing / Vera Dorofeeva-lichtmann -- Ethnicity And Identity: Northern Nomads As Buddhist Art Patrons During The Period Of Northern And Southern Dynasties / Dorothy C. Wong -- Deep Eyes And High Noses: Physiognomy And The Depiction Of Barbarians In Tang China / Marc Samuel Abramson -- Raiding And Frontier Society In The Five Dynasties / Naomi Standen -- Felt Yurts Neatly Arrayed, Large Tends Huddle Close: Visualizing The Frontier In The Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) / Irene S. Leung -- The Invention Of The Northern Song / Don J. Wyatt -- The Mu'ege Kingdom: A Brief History Of A Frontier Empire In Southwest China / John E. Herman -- Traveler's Vocation: Xu Xiake And His Excursion To The Southwestern Frontier / Andrea Riemenschnitter -- Changing Spaces Of Empire In Eighteenth-century Qing China / Joanna Waley-cohen -- Kirghiz Nomads On The Qing Frontier: Tribute, Trade, Or Gift Exchange? / Nicola De Cosmo -- Envisioning New Borders For The Old China In Late Qing Fiction And Local Drama / Daphne Pi-wei Lei. Edited By Nicola Di Cosmo And Don J. Wyatt. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Boundaries - demanding physical space, enclosing political entities, and distinguishing social or ethnic groups - constitute an essential aspect of historical investigation. It is especially with regard to disciplinary pluralism and historical breadth that this book most clearly departs and distinguishes itself from other works on Chinese boundaries and ethnicity. In addition to history, the disciplines represented in this book include anthropology (particularly ethnography), religion, art history, and literary studies. Each of the authors focuses on a distinct period, beginning with the Zhou dynasty (c. 1100 BCE) and ending with the early centuries after the Manchu conquest (c. CE 1800) - resulting in a chronological sweep of nearly three millennia. In mapping these families, it will be helpful first to discuss in brief what we know of families during the Western Zhou dynasty.