The Readability of the Past in Early Chinese Historiography (Harvard East Asian Monographs)

'The past becomes readable when we can tell stories and make arguments about it. When we can tell more than one story or make divergent arguments, the readability of the past then becomes an issue. Therein lies the beginning of history, the sense of inquiry that heightens our awareness of interpretation. How do interpretive structures develop and disintegrate? What are the possibilities and limits of historical knowledge? This book explores these issues through a study of the Zuozhuan, a foundational text in the Chinese tradition, whose rhetorical and analytical self-consciousness reveals much about the contending ways of thought unfolding during the period of the text's formation (ca. 4th c. B.C.E.). But in what sense is this vast collection of narratives and speeches covering the period from 722 to 468 B.C.E. “historical”? If one can speak of an emergent sense of history in this text, Wai-yee Li argues, it lies precisely at the intersection of varying conceptions of interpretation and rhetoric brought to bear on the past, within a larger context of competing solutions to the instability and disintegration represented through the events of the 255 years covered by the Zuozhuan. Even as its accounts of proliferating disorder and disintegration challenge the boundaries of readability, the deliberations on the rules of reading in the Zuozhuan probe the dimensions of historical self-consciousness.' The Past Becomes Readable When We Can Tell Stories And Make Arguments About It. It Is When We Can Tell More Than One Story Or Make Divergent Arguments That The Readability Of The Past Becomes An Issue. Therein Lies The Beginning Of History, The Sense Of Inquiry That Heightens Our Awareness Of The Grounds For Interpretation. How Do Interpretive Structures Develop And Disintegrate? What Are The Possibilities And Limits Of Historical Knowledge, Or The Scope And Meaning Of Skepticism? This Book Explores These Issues Through A Study Of The Zuozhuan, A Foundational Text In The Chinese Tradition, Whose Rhetorical And Analytical Self-consciousness Reveals Much About The Contending Ways Of Thought Unfolding During The Period Of The Text's Formation (ca. 4th. C. Bce). But In What Sense Is This Vast Collection Of Narratives And Speeches Covering The Period From 722 To 468 Bce Historical? If One Can Speak Of An Emergent Sense Of History In This Text, Wai-yee Li Argues, It Lies Precisely At The Intersection Of Varying Conceptions Of Interpretation And Rhetoric Brought To Bear On The Past, Within A Larger Context Of Competing Solutions To The Instability And Disintegration Represented Through The Events Of The 255 Years Covered By The Zuozhuan. Even As Its Accounts Of Proliferating Disorder And Disintegration Challenge The Boundaries Of Readability, The Deliberations On The Rules Of Reading In The Zuozhuan Probe The Dimensions Of Historical Self-consciousness.--jacket. Rhetoric And Power 4 -- Keywords 14 -- Mapping Divergences 24 -- 1 Competing Lessons 29 -- Heterogeneity And Sedimentation In The Zuozhuan 33 -- The Example Of Lord Zhuang Of Zheng 59 -- 2 Signs And Causality 85 -- Signs And Chronology 86 -- Small Beginnings 92 -- Exemplarity 105 -- Music 118 -- Women 147 -- Narratives Of Interpretation 160 -- 3 The Reading Of Signs 172 -- Traces 173 -- Gestures 178 -- Numinous Signs 190 -- Inconstant Spirits And Equivocal Signs 202 -- Divination 209 -- Dreams Of Interpretation 233 -- 4 The Manipulation Of Signs 249 -- Discourse Of Hegemony 254 -- The Counternarrative Of Hegemony 295 -- 5 The Anxiety Of Interpretation 321 -- Visions Of Decline 343 -- Uses Of The Past 371 -- Rules Of Reading 397 -- Afterthoughts: The Capture Of The Lin And The Birth Of Historiography 411. Wai-yee Li. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [425]-436) And Index.