Cosmology and Political Culture in Early China

Download or read book Cosmology and Political Culture in Early China written by Aihe Wang and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2000-05-08 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book offers a radical reinterpretation of the formative stages of Chinese culture and history, tracing the central role played by cosmology in the formation of China's early empires. It crosses the disciplines of history, social anthropology, archaeology, and philosophy to illustrate how cosmological systems, particularly the Five Elements, shaped political culture. By focusing on dynamic change in early cosmology, the book undermines the notion that Chinese cosmology was homogenous and unchanging. By arguing that cosmology was intrinsic to power relations, it also challenges prevailing theories of political and intellectual history.