To Rule All under Heaven
A History of Classical China, from Confucius to the First Emperor
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Product details:
- Publisher OUP USA
- Date of Publication 5 May 2026
- ISBN 9780197667484
- Binding Hardback
- No. of pages584 pages
- Size 237x169x40 mm
- Weight 1002 g
- Language English 794
Categories
Short description:
To Rule All Under Heaven offers an illuminating history of the Warring States period (481-221 BCE), a foundational era of Chinese civilization. It begins in the life of Confucius and extends to the reign of the First Emperor, who founded an empire that would become one of the longest-enduring political systems in human history. Andrew Seth Meyer recounts a detailed history that is replete with dramatic stories and characters and shows how a radically new social order was formed through war, diplomacy, commerce, philosophy, literature, science, and artistic expression.
MoreLong description:
The first ever comprehensive history in English of China's Warring States period, an era that saw epic battles, the birth of profound philosophies, groundbreaking innovations, and shaped much of East Asian culture as we know it today
In 481 BCE, ancient China was on the cusp of one of the most profound revolutions any society has ever undergone, one that would set the course of world history for the following two millennia and a half. The ruling order that had been set up by the Zhou kings almost six centuries before was disintegrating. While the Zhou realm was populous, wealthy, and blessed with a sophisticated and already ancient culture, the basic institutions that structured social and spiritual life were in radical decay. The world was literally falling apart.
The following two-hundred and sixty years saw the largest civilization on earth reinvent and recreate itself. Through war, diplomacy, debate, commerce, philosophy, literature, science, and artistic expression, the people of the Warring States gave birth to a radically new social order. The era saw the emergence of Confucianism and Daoism, the composition of seminal texts such as The Art of War by Master Sun and the Book of Changes, and the codification of Chinese script into its current form. It also saw the initial building of the Great Wall and the canal system that would become the Grand Canal, as well as the invention of the crossbow--which would not be invented in Europe for another 1,500 years--and the origin of acupuncture and feng shui.
This dynamic period coincided with the lives of global figures such as the Buddha, Socrates, and the prophet Ezra, beginning during Confucius's lifetime and culminating with the reign of the First Emperor, whose tomb is famously guarded by the terra cotta soldiers. The Persian Wars and the conquests of Alexander the Great are well known to people in Europe and America; however, far fewer English-language books have attempted to cover this same and equally important period in East Asia. To Rule All under Heaven corrects this imbalance by recounting a detailed history that is replete with dramatic stories and characters. The result is a thorough and entertaining account of one of the most fertile and significant periods in world history.
This is a masterful analysis of one of the most transformative periods of Chinese history. Not only is Andrew Meyer an excellent narrator, but very few can tell a story as he does with so much insight into the social and economic conditions and institutional changes of the time, often decoded through very sensitive reading of key historical events. This strength alone makes the book a suitable introduction to early Chinese civilization. In a very impressive way, Meyer offers the most detailed account of Warring States history ever in the English language, one that is rich in thoughtful interpretations of historic dynamics, helped also by analogies from Western culture. A very commendable contribution indeed!
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter One: Lords and Master
Chapter Two: Song of the South
Chapter Three: The Partition
Chapter Four: "Heaven's Whim" Versus "Heaven's Will"
Chapter Five: The Prince
Chapter Six: Wanderers
Chapter Seven:The Altars of the Soil and Grain are Closer than Kin
Chapter Eight: The West's Awake
Chapter Nine: The Marquis Who Would Be King
Chapter Ten: We Kings
Chapter Eleven: Better to Give
Chapter Twelve: The Harder They Fall
Chapter Thirteen: The Duel
Chapter Fourteen: Gilded Age
Chapter Fifteen: Unification
Epilogue
