The Ladder of Success in Imperial China : Aspects of Social Mobility, 1368-1911

Presents the first in a series of works in social sciences to increase the understanding of East Asia over a period of five hundred years. Looks to uncover social realities including family-status registration in Ming times and the academic system among others, based on local histories and local materials. Foreword Preface to the Second Printing Preface to the First Printing Contents Tables I. Social Ideology and Social Stratification II. The Fluidity of the Status System III. Upward Mobility: Entry into Officialdom IV. Downward Mobility V. Factors Affecting Social Mobility VI. Regional Differences in Socioacademic Success and Mobility VII. Recapitulation and Conclusion Appendix: Selected Cases of Social Mobility Notes Glossary Bibliography Index