Introduction, 1. Zhu Di's march to power in a Chinggisid world; 2. Search for control; 3. Mongol nobles at the Ming court; 4. Tumu crisis in a Eurasion context: struggle for the Chinggisid mantle; 5. Tumu crisis (II) allies and commensurability; Conclusion.
Explores the Ming Dynasty's foreign relations with neighboring sovereigns, placing China in a wider global context.
David M. Robinson is Professor in Asian Studies and Professor of History at Colgate University, New York.
'Far from rejecting all things foreign, the early Ming emperors -
each in his own way - continued both relations with Mongol
successor regimes near and far, and the splendid and personal
Mongol-style rule and diplomacy. Robinson sheds new light on
the Ming court, the Yongle emperor, and the Tu Mu incident.' Sarah
Schneewind, University of California, San Diego
'David Robinson brilliantly explores the entanglements of dynastic
succession in the aftermath of the demise of the Mongol Yuan
dynasty. The book provides expert guidance and utterly novel
insights as it unravels the intricacies of court and international
politics. Drastically refashioning the common image of a dynasty
that resurrected Chinese civilization after an age of foreign rule
and barbarism, Robinson shows the early Ming emperors as savvy
politicians who valued and used the Mongols, their erstwhile
rulers, as allies and subjects. The striking originality of
Robinson's interpretation of early Ming emperorship, and the
exacting depth of its research, make this book a true gem of
historical scholarship.' Nicola Di Cosmo, Institute for Advanced
Study, New Jersey
'David Robinson's fascinating new book locates the Ming dynasty
firmly in its full Eurasian context. Focusing on the early Ming
relations with the Mongols - their subjects, rivals and allies - he
illuminates both the early Ming emperors - their policies,
personalities and concepts of rulership - and the post-Chinggisid
world within which they operated. Meticulously researched, and
stressing the Ming's Inner Asian identity, the book offers a new
interpretation of China's place in the early modern world. A must
for anyone interested in Late Imperial China, the legacy of the
Mongol Empire, and early modern history.' Michal Biran, Hebrew
University of Jerusalem
'… the book is a significant addition to the study of Chinese
history as well as Mongolian history, and indeed Central Eurasian
and World History … it is accessible to non-specialists … this
study serves as a useful model for similar studies on other empires
in world history.' Timothy May, Journal of Chinese Military
History
'Robinson's new book breaks away from the old Ming-Mongol binaries
prevalent in historical sources and historiography. this book makes
significant scholarly contributions by telling a new story about
Ming rulership and by opening up new possibilities in research on
Eurasian connectivity and comparative empires.' Ying Zhang, China
and Asia
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