Chaffee's account of the activities of clan members in the maritime
economy and society of thirteenth-century Ch uan-chou is perhaps
the richest part of his narrative. He skillfully weaves together
social, economic, political, and cultural history in this last
section of the book and achieves a compelling depth here that may
be possible because of fortuitously preserved sources...Chaffee has
ventured into an area of investigation that has social as well as
political ramifications, expanding our knowledge of family in the
Sung while providing insight into the inner workings of the
imperial government and meaning of emperorship.--Linda Walton
"American Historical Review "
Chaffee's thoroughly researched and in-depth study of the history
of the Sung imperial clan is much more than a chronological account
of 300 years of emperors, though it is that too...Here Chaffee
illustrates how the Chao family of Sung emperors incorporated the
entire imperial clan into the political mainstream, though within
carefully delineated parameters. The result was an exceptionally
loyal army of supporters that enabled both the Northern and
Southern Sung dynasties to avoid political challenges common to
most monarchies. Although the Sung was unique in this, the practice
influenced both Ming and Ch'ing ruling houses. Extensive footnotes
and a detailed genealogical list showing the exact relationship of
some 700 Chao family members make this an exceptionally useful
resource for understanding the unique makeup of the Sung royal
family.--A. Wittenborn "Choice "
In his "Branches of Heaven", the first monograph in any language on
the uppermost layer of the [Sung Chinese] elite, [Chaffee] makes
another substantive contribution to institutional and social
history...This study walks us through three hundred years that
witnessed thirteen generations of growth and the eventual demise of
the lineage of Chao K'uang-yin (T'ai-tsu), a military official who
had seized power from the Later Chou and founded the Sung dynasty
in 960...This fascinating window into one lineage has much to offer
not only to social history but also to historiography...Chaffee is
a master of details and technical information. He has meticulously
coded and reconstructed the lives of some six hundred clansmen
during the course of three hundred challenging years of Sung
rule...Chaffee's solid scholarship will blaze the trail for other
studies of imperial lineages within and beyond Chinese social
history.--Jennifer W. Jay"Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies"
(06/01/2001)
In his "Branches of Heaven," the first monograph in any language on
the uppermost layer of the [Sung Chinese] elite, [Chaffee] makes
another substantive contribution to institutional and social
history...This study walks us through three hundred years that
witnessed thirteen generations of growth and the eventual demise of
the lineage of Chao K'uang-yin (T'ai-tsu), a military official who
had seized power from the Later Chou and founded the Sung dynasty
in 960...This fascinating window into one lineage has much to offer
not only to social history but also to historiography...Chaffee is
a master of details and technical information. He has meticulously
coded and reconstructed the lives of some six hundred clansmen
during the course of three hundred challenging years of Sung
rule...Chaffee's solid scholarship will blaze the trail for other
studies of imperial lineages within and beyond Chinese social
history. -- Jennifer W. Jay "Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies"
(06/01/2001)
In his "Branches of Heaven, the first monograph in any language on
the uppermost layer of the [Sung Chinese] elite, [Chaffee] makes
another substantive contribution to institutional and social
history...This study walks us through three hundred years that
witnessed thirteen generations of growth and the eventual demise of
the lineage of Chao K'uang-yin (T'ai-tsu), a military official who
had seized power from the Later Chou and founded the Sung dynasty
in 960...This fascinating window into one lineage has much to offer
not only to social history but also to historiography...Chaffee is
a master of details and technical information. He has meticulously
coded and reconstructed the lives of some six hundred clansmen
during the course of three hundred challenging years of Sung
rule...Chaffee's solid scholarship will blaze the trail for other
studies of imperial lineages within and beyond Chinese social
history.
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