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Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven

Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven

By Robinson, David M.

Published by University of Hawaii Press

English 298 pages 2001 ISBN 9780824861544
Estimated reading time: 5 h 28 min
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About this book

On a spring afternoon in 1509 a local bandit found himself in the emperor's private quarters deep within the Forbidden City and in the presence of the Son of Heaven himself. This bizarre meeting was the doing of the eunuch Zhang Zhong, the emperor's personal servant and companion. In time court intrigue between competing palace eunuchs would lead to the death of this bandit-turned-rebel, setting off a massive uprising that resulted in China's largest rebellion of the sixteenth century. To understand how this extraordinary meeting came about requires a consideration of the economy of violence during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Here, for the first time in any language, is a detailed look at the role of illicit violence during the Ming. Drawing on court annals, imperial law codes, administrative regulations, private writings, and local gazetteers, David Robinson recreates in vivid detail a world where heavily armed highwaymen and bandits raided the boulevards in and around the Ming capital, Beijing. He then convincingly traces the roots of this systemic mayhem to economic, ethnic, social, and institutional factors at work in local society.

Availability

Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven is available as PDF at 13 online bookshops. Bookshops carrying it include Association of University Presses - Tienda FILUNI, Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam.

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English
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Frequently asked questions

In what formats is Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven available?
Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven is available as PDF at 13 online bookshops.
Where can I buy Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven?
You can buy Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven at Association of University Presses - Tienda FILUNI, Bajalibros Argentina, Bajalibros Latam. Compare every option in the list on this page.
How long does it take to read Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven?
At an average reading pace, Bandits, Eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven takes about 5 h 28 min to read (298 pages).

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