Showing papers in "Journal of The Economic and Social History of The Orient in 1984"

Abstract: Written with an elegant and flowing narrative, the essential virtue of Jacques Gernet's classic book is to see the history of Chinese civilization as a whole. Yet within the synthesis of the trends - social, political, religious, scientific, artistic that make up China's past and present, the author never loses sight of the telling detail which brings history to life. A History of Chinese Civilization is illustrated with a wide range of photographs, many maps, line drawings and tables. A detailed chronological table and full bibliography complement the text.

Abstract: In both research and teaching it has been my experience that viewing Asia's major civilizations, i.e., China, Japan, and India, from the perspective of Asia's smaller nations is useful and meaningful. I have found that in such a way it is possible to counterbalance the often idealistic self-image presented by Asia's major cultures, allowing me to go beyond the normal historical records of these civilizations that examine their societies from the top down, e. g. , moving beyond the often self-serving views by the society's elite of their culture and