Publisher Description

In the eighth century, Wu Jing selected exchanges between Emperor Taizong and his ministers that he deemed key to good governance. This collection of dialogues has been used for the education of emperors, political elites and general readers ever since, and is a standard reference work in East Asian political thought. Consisting of ten volumes, subdivided into forty topics, The Essentials of Governance addresses core themes of Chinese thinking about the politics of power, from the body politic, presenting and receiving criticism, recruitment, the education of the imperial clan, political virtues and vices, to cultural policy, agriculture, law, taxation, border policy, and how to avoid disaster and dynastic fall. Presented with introductory commentary that offers insights into its historical context and global reception, this accessible and reliable translation brings together ten scholars of Chinese intellectual history to offer a nuanced edition that preserves the organisation, tone and flow of the original.

Author Biography

Hilde De Weerdt is Professor of Chinese History at Leiden University. She has authored and edited books on Chinese political culture and intellectual history including Competition over Content: Negotiating Standards for the Civil Service Examinations in Imperial China (1127–1276) (2007), Information, Territory, and Networks: The Crisis and Maintenance of Empire in Song China (2015), Political Communication in Chinese and European History, 800–1600 (2020), and Knowledge and Text Production in an Age of Print – China, Tenth-Fourteenth Centuries (2014). Glen Dudbridge (1938–2017) was Shaw Professor of Chinese at the University of Oxford from 1989–2005, Honorary Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences from 1996, and President of the European Association for Chinese Studies from 1998 to 2002. A pioneering scholar of traditional Chinese literature, he published works on The Hsi-yu chi, the legend of Miao-shan and the tale of Li Wa including Books, Tales and Vernacular Culture: Selected Papers on China (2005) and A Portrait of Five Dynasties China: From the Memoirs of Wang Renyu 880–956 (2013). Gabe van Beijeren is Lecturer at the Leiden Institute for Area Studies at Leiden University where he teaches courses in Classical Chinese and on Chinese history, philosophy and religion. His research focuses on Tang history, in particular the structuring of Tang historical texts as narratives and the rhetorical effects of narratives.

Table of Contents

List of Maps; Notes on Contributors; List of Dynasties; Introduction: The Essentials of Governance from the Reign of Constancy Revealed in Context Hilde De Weerdt and David McMullen; Presentation of The Essentials of Governance from the Reign of Constancy Revealed Hilde De Weerdt; Preface to The Essentials of Governance from the Reign of Constancy Revealed Hilde De Weerdt; Volume I; 1. The Way of the Sovereign Jack W. Chen; 2. The Organization of Governance Jack W. Chen; Volume II; 3. Employing the Wise Hilde De Weerdt; 4. Seeking Criticism Hilde De Weerdt; 5. Accepting Criticism Hilde De Weerdt; Volume III; 6. Lessons from the Past for Sovereign and Officials Chu Mingkin; 7. On Selecting Officials Oliver Moor; 8. On Enfieffment David McMullen; Volume IV; 9. On Determining the Roles of the Crown Prince and the Princes David McMullen; 10. On Respecting Tutors David McMullen; 11. Instructing and Warning the Crown Prince and the Princes David McMullen; 12. Reproving the Crown Prince David McMullen; Volume V; 13. On Humaneness and Righteousness Anthony DeBlasi; 14. On Loyalty and Righteousness Anthony DeBlasi; 15. On Filial Piety and Friendship Anthony DeBlasi; 16. On Impartiality Anthony DeBlasi; 17. On Sincerity and Trustworthiness Anthony DeBlasi; Volume VI; 18. On Frugality and Moderation Gabe van Beijeren; 19. On Modesty and Deference Gabe van Beijeren; 20. On Being Humane and Compassionate Gabe van Beijeren; 21. Caution in One's Preferences Anna M. Shields; 22. Caution in Speech Anna M. Shields; 23. Obstructing Slander and Sycophancy Anna M. Shields; 24. On Regretting One's Faults Anna M. Shields; 25. On Profligacy and Recklessness Jack W. Chen; 26. On Greed and Baseness Jack W. Chen; Volume VII; 27. Honoring Classicist Scholarship Chu Mingkin; 28. On Literature and History Chu Mingkin; 29. On Rites and Music Chu Mingkin; Volume VIII; 30. Dedication to Agriculture Tineke D'Haeseleer; 31. On Punishment and Law Tineke D'Haeseleer; 32. On Amnesties Tineke D'Haeseleer; 33. On Tribute Presentations Oliver Moor; 34. Recognizing the Rise and Fall of Dynasties Hilde De Weerdt; Volume IX; 35. Debates about Punitive Expeditions Tineke D'Haeseleer; 36. Debates about Pacifying the Borders Tineke D'Haeseleer; Volume X; 37. On Tours Oliver Moor; 38. On Hunting Oliver Moor; 39. On Auspicious and Inauspicious Signs Gabe van Beijeren; 40. On Remaining Vigilant until the End Gabe van Beijeren; Dramatis Personae; Further Reading.

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Wu Jing's eighth-century collection of dialogues between Emperor Taizong and his officials is a seminal work in East Asian literature.

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Wu Jing's eighth-century collection of dialogues between Emperor Taizong and his officials is a seminal work in East Asian literature.

Description for Bookstore

Wu Jing's eighth-century collection of dialogues between Emperor Taizong and his officials is a seminal work in Chinese literature addressing core themes of East Asian thinking about the politics of power. This accessible translation will be indispensable for students of East Asian and international political thought.

Description for Library

Wu Jing's eighth-century collection of dialogues between Emperor Taizong and his officials is a seminal work in Chinese literature addressing core themes of East Asian thinking about the politics of power. This accessible translation will be indispensable for students of East Asian and international political thought.

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