{"product_id":"medieval-chinese-society-and-the-local-community-scholarly","title":"Medieval Chinese Society and the Local Community - Scholarly","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Medieval Chinese Society and the Local Community the bottom line is clear: this is a focused scholarly work for readers who want a careful rethinking of medieval Chinese social structures. Tanigawa Michio applies the kyodotaia communitarian framework to question long-standing periodization and stagnation narratives, making the book most valuable for historians, graduate students, and informed general readers who appreciate dense, theory-driven analysis rather than a surface survey of events.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommunitarian framework:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tanigawa foregrounds kyodotaia to explain how ethical and social cohesion at the local level shaped societal continuity, offering a new lens on medieval Chinese social life.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistoriographical critique:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book challenges postwar Japanese Marxist interpretations and reassesses the causes of perceived stagnation, prompting readers to reconsider conventional periodization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCoverage across eras:\u003c\/strong\u003e The study spans the Six Dynasties through the Sui and Tang eras, demonstrating continuity and change across those formative periods.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTheoretical depth:\u003c\/strong\u003e The author blends social theory with primary-focused interpretation, useful for scholars exploring methodology as well as content.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocused argumentation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rather than a broad textbook, the volume maintains a concentrated thesis about local communities that supports careful, evidence-based conclusions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is aimed at historians of China, advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and readers interested in historiography and social theory. Anyone researching medieval Chinese society or comparative medievalities will find the kyodotaia argument and the critique of Marxist periodization particularly stimulating.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is less suitable for casual readers seeking an introductory narrative history or for those wanting richly illustrated popular histories; the text is argument-driven and assumes some prior knowledge of Chinese historical periods and scholarly debates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffers a distinctive and well-argued \u003cstrong\u003ecommunitarian interpretation\u003c\/strong\u003e that challenges standard narratives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a sustained critique of dominant historiographical frameworks, useful for students learning scholarly debate.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareful coverage of the Six Dynasties, Sui, and Tang periods supports comparative readings across eras.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe book's focus on theory and periodization makes it less accessible to readers without background in Chinese history or historiography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMedieval Chinese Society and the Local Community\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTanigawa Michio\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContributor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProf. Dr. Joshua A. Fogel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeriods Covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSix Dynasties, Sui, Tang\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMain Concepts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKyodotaia communitarian framework; periodization; stagnation debate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended Audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHistorians, graduate students, advanced readers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMedieval Chinese Society and the Local Community is a valuable, argument-driven work for specialists and advanced students who want a rigorous reassessment of medieval Chinese social structures. Its communitarian thesis and historiographical critique make it a worthwhile purchase for research and graduate seminars, though casual readers may prefer a broader introductory text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book cover political history as well as social life?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe emphasis is on social structures and local community ethics across the Six Dynasties to Tang, with political developments discussed where they illuminate social cohesion and periodization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs prior knowledge of Chinese history required?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSome familiarity with the major periods and basic terms is helpful, as the book engages directly with scholarly debates rather than offering a basic primer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho contributed to the edition?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eProf. Dr. Joshua A. Fogel is listed as a contributor alongside Tanigawa Michio, indicating scholarly input and context in this volume.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tanigawa Michio, Prof. Dr. Joshua A. Fogel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48765885710555,"sku":"0520362004","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71jg3MdrjIL._SL1500_e1ea1c38-3994-4b8d-afdd-9e5704988078.jpg?v=1778577991","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/medieval-chinese-society-and-the-local-community-scholarly","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}