Time, Temporality, and Imperial Transition: East Asia from Ming to Qing (Asian Interactions and Comparisons, 8)

Time is basic to human consciousness and action, yet paradoxically historians rarely ask how it is understood, manipulated, recorded, or lived. Cataclysmic events in particular disrupt and realign the dynamics of temporality among people. For historians, the temporal effects of such events on large polities such as empires--the power projections of which always involve the dictation of time--are especially significant. This important and intriguing volume is an investigation of precisely such temporal effects, focusing on the northern and eastern regions of the Asian subcontinent in the seventeenth century, when the polity at the core of East Asian civilization, Ming dynasty China, collapsed and was replaced by the Manchu-ruled Qing dynasty. Contributors: Mark C. Elliott, Roger Des Forges, JaHyun Kim Haboush, Johan Elverskog, Eugenio Menegon, Zhao Shiyu. Time Is Basic To Human Consciousness And Action, Yet Paradoxically Historians Rarely Ask How Time Is Understood, Manipulated, Recorded, Or Lived. Cataclysmic Events In Particular Disrupt And Realign The Dynamics Of Temporality Among People. For Historians, These Temporal Effects Are Especially Significant On Large Polities Such As Empires - The Power Projections Of Which Always Involve The Dictation Of Time. This Volume Is An Investigation Of Precisely Such Temporal Effects, Focusing On The Northern And Eastern Regions Of The Asian Subcontinent In The Seventeenth Century, When The Polity At The Core Of East Asian Civilization, Ming-dynasty China, Collapsed And Was Replaced By The Manchu-ruled Qing Dynasty. The Consequences Of This Change Were Far-reaching For The Temporal Sensibility And Historical Outlook Of Not Only The Chinese And Manchus, But Also Peoples Directly Affected By Their Respective Fortunes: The Koreans And The Mongols. At The Same Time, To The Southeast In China, European Missionaries Were Groping For Compromises Between The Temporal Demands Of The Confucian And Catholic Worlds. Time, Temporality, And Imperial Transition Not Only Expands Our Knowledge Of A Turning Point In Asian History, But Also Suggests How A New Perspective On The Dynamics Of Social Time In Universal Time Can Heighten Our Understanding Of The Human Condition Past And Present.--book Jacket. I. Manchu And Han Historical Consciousness In Flux -- Whose Empire Shall It Be? Manchu Figurations Of Historical Process In The Early Seventeenth Century / Mark C. Elliott -- Toward Another Tang Or Zhou? Views From The Central Plain In The Shunzhi Reign / Roger Des Forges -- Ii. Temporalities Of National Subjugation And Resistance -- Contesting Chinese Time, Nationalizing Temporal Space: Temporal Inscription In Late Chosŏn Korea / Jahyun Kim Haboush -- Mongol Time Enters A Qing World / Johan Elverskog -- Iii. Alterities In Folk Culture And The Symbolics Of Calendar Time -- The Teachings Of The Lord Of Heaven In Fujian: Between Two Worlds And Two Times / Eugenio Menegon -- Birthday Of The Sun: Historical Memory In Southeastern Coastal China Of The Chongzhen Emperor's Death / Zhao Shiyu And Du Zhengzhen, Trans. Lynn A. Struve. Edited By Lynn A. Struve. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.