Contents and Abstracts

[Theories and Thoughts]

Title： Understanding Ming Qing China through The Needham Question： Reflections on The Grand

Titration： Science and Society in East and West………………………………………………………/3

Author： Zhao Yifeng， Professor， Faculty for the Study of Asian Civilizations， Northeast Normal University，

Changchun， Jilin， China， 130024.

Abstract： Joseph Needhams The Grand Titration： Science and Society in East and West provides so far the

most systematic answer to the Needham Question， which would contribute significantly to understand the situation and potential of the Ming Qing science and technology， as well as the entire Chinese civilization. This article， first of all， points out that to understand this book， one needs to pay attention to Needhams methodology， including cautious progressive point of view， anti-Euro-centralism， rejection of the five-stage evolution theory， and structural and civilizational perspectives. Secondly， this article summed up Needhams explanations into three arguments， namely， Asian bureaucracy was the key institutional obstruction responsible for Chinas failure of seeing a scientific and technological revolution； there was a profound gap between ancient and modern sciences； the differences on law of nature and world view between China and the West paved the different roads for Chinese and Western sciences. Further， the article commented Needhams arguments based upon the authors own researches in Ming Qing history including pointing out some vague and questionable points of view by Needham.

Key words： Joseph Needham； The Needham Question； Ming Qing China； Chinese and Western science

Title： Methodological Significance of Li Zhenhongs Theses of “Qin to Qing Imperial Autocratic

Society”………………………………………………………………………………………………/22

Author： Wang Yanhui， Professor， School of History and Culture， Northeast Normal University， Changchun，

Jilin， 130024， China.

Abstract： Recently， scholars have published different opinions on the general nature of the imperial

Chinese society from Qin to Qing. Among those， Professor Li Zhenhongs series of articles holding that the Chinese society from Qin to Qing should be considered as a typical “imperial autocratic society” deserves serious attention. Taken political structural of state as the key concept， Li employed both theoretical and empirical methods to develop his theses. Li holds that in dealing with significant historical issues， one must first of all conduct a methodological retrospection； a generalization of the nature of a society must be based upon the ground of solid empirical studies； all types of historical studies take systematical and integrative way of thinking.endprint

Key words： Li Zhenhong； Imperial Autocratic Society； empirical studies； systematical thinking

[Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations]

Title： A Chinese Translation of the “Tiglath-pileser Harem Edicts” with Commentaries……………/32

Author： Fu Shiqiang， Ph.D. Candidate， Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations， Northeast Normal

University， Changchun， Jilin， 130024， China.

Abstract： “Tiglath-pileser Harem Edicts”， which were issued by Middle Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser，

were primarily concerned with forbidding royal court attendants and servants， who were uncastrated， from entering into palace， and prohibiting royal eunuchs， court attendants and servants as well as water sprinklers from interacting with palace women. These edicts made rules about activities and behavior of the palace personnel， inflicted punishment for those who breached these rules. These documents arent only important materials for the study of the Middle Assyrian palatial system， its bureaucracy and its laws， but also show us the royal womens role at that time.

Key words： Middle Assyrian Period； Tiglath-pileser； harem edicts

Title： Isaurians in the Late Antiquity and Their Identity………………………………………………/38

Author： Liu Yangang， Lecturer， Department of History， East China Normal University， Shanghai， China.

Abstract： Isaurians were typical internal barbarians in classical times. Their interactions with surrounding

civilized areas covered two millennia. New patterns emerged in the conflicts and communication between the Isaurians and the later Roman Empire from the fourth century AD. Finally， the Isaurians became more civilized and integrated into the Roman society. Eventually， they took a very important part in the rebuilding of Byzantine Empire. The history and behavioral model of the Isaurians highlights the dilemma of traditional theoretical paradigms about barbarians.

Key words： Late Antiquity； Isaurians； internal barbarians； Ammianus Marcellinus

Title： Solon and the Athenian Institution of the State Funeral Rites……………………………………/52

Author： Yan Shaoxiang， Professor， School of History， Capital Normal University， Beijing， 100048， China.

Abstract： There is evidence among the classical writers to certify the beginning of the Athenian institution

of the state funeral rites. One traces it to the time of Solon and the other to the Persian Wars. The present evidence refers to Solon because the view is consistent with Solonian political position and we have the evidence which is contained in Herodotus and Thucydides. However， the developed institution of the state funeral rites that were performed at the Cerameikos and a general gave a speech resulted from a long development. It probably came into the final form when Athens became the hegemony after the Persian Wars.endprint

Key words： State Funeral Rites； Solon； historical evolution

[Byzantine and the European Middle Ages]

Title： The Divergences of the Image of Constantine the Great in Byzantine Sources from the Fifth to

Sixth Century………………………………………………………………………………………/57

Author： Wu Peng， Associate Professor， Faculty of History， Nankai University， Tianjin， 300350， China.

Abstract： Constantin the Great， the first emperor of the Byzantine Empire showed a perfect personal image

in the works of Eusebius Pamphilus. In the 5-6th century in the Byzantine sources， however， his image demonstrated significant divergences. The differences were closely related to the transformation of

the Byzantine Empire and the Mediterranean world at that time， embodied in the three major issues，

namely， Christianization； autocracy and the eastward shift of the center of the Empire. The writers of the same historical facts made different value judgments based upon their own positions and personal inclinations.

Key words： The fifth to sixth Century； Byzantine Sources； Constantine the Great； Divergences of Image

[History of Pre-Qin China]

Title： A Study of the Compilation of Zuozhuan based upon the Text of Xinian……………….………/67

Author： Zhang Chi， Ph.D. Candidate， Center for Excavated Texts Research and Protection， Tsinghua University，

Beijing， 100084， China.

Abstract： The comparison of Xinian（《系年》）and Zuozhuan（《左傳》）indicates that the compiler of

Zuozhuan mainly employed two methods. First of all， materials were reorganized to fit the narrative framework of the Spring and Autumn Annals. Secondly， the materials were supplemented and modified to imitate the values of the Spring and Autumn Annals. There doesnt exist a unitary inheritance relationship between Xinian and Zuozhuan. The unearthed enormous materials in recent years suggest that during the period when Xinian and Zuozhuan were compiled there were a large amount of other historical records available which is however disappeared in the present days. The formation of Xinian and Zuozhuan could be a result of the circulation of these records. The connection of Xinian and Zuozhuan is similar to a resource sharing relationship.

Key words： Xinian； Zuozhuan； compilation

[Imperial China]

Title： A Textual Study of the Prisoner Soldiers and the Exiled Personnel Soldiers of the Qin and Han

Dynasties…………………………………………………………………………………….………/76endprint

Author： Sun Zhimin， Ph. D. Candidate， School of history and culture， Northeast Normal University， Jilin，

Changchun， 130024， China.

Abstract： In the Qin and Han military conscription practices， the government might send some prisoners to

serve in the army， or force certain categories of people to serve in the army. The historical records mentioned the two types of personnel in different ways. The former was called chixingshi （弛刑士） or shixingshi （施刑士）， while the later was called zhetu （謫徒） or zhezu （謫卒），etc.. Sending prisoners to serve in army was normally based on an imperial edict which represented a change of punishment， while sending other categories of people to serve in army was commonly a punishment to those people， such as fugitives， convicted former officials， bandits or thieves， as well as merchants and discriminated people. The practice of sending prisoners to army was a way of commutation， while forcing other people to serve the army was a practice of despotic rule.

Key words： Qing-Han period； soldier conscription； military system； judicial system

Title： A Story of Taxes and Corvée： The Experience and Memory of a Songjiang Xiucai during the

Ming Qing Transitional Years………………………………………………………………………/83

Author： Feng Xianliang， Professor， Department of history， Fudan University， Shanghai， 200433， China.

Abstract： The years from Ming to Qing saw complicated social changes and diversity. In Songjiang

Prefecture， previously powerful gentrys domination of local society along with the establishment of

the new dynastic control. Cao Jiaju （曹家駒）， a lowest official degree xiucai （秀才） holder who

had become involved in local governmental financial administration in the late Ming dynasty wrote a memoir in his late years entitled Shuomeng （《說夢》，talking about dreams）. This memoir provides us with clear insights into the dramatic changes of local politics， the complex operation of taxation system， and the influence of the personnel mechanism behind. Cao Jiajus experience reflects many

ordinary scholars fate in this era. In addition， Caos personal participation in the local taxation reform enabled him to discuss the subject of state and society from a rather broad perspective. Shuomeng is a valuable material for the study of local power structural transformation and practices， as well as the

complexity of the Ming Qing historical inheritance.

Key words：Late Ming； early Qing； Songjiang Prefecture； xiucai； taxes and corvéeendprint

Title： Sob in Corner： Economic Dilemma of Taizhou in Late Ming Dynasty and the Local Response

…………………………………………………………………..…………………………………/102

Author： Li Xiaoqing， Ph.D. Candidate， School of History and Culture， Northeast Normal University，

Changchun， Jilin， China， 130024.

Abstract： The decline of the economy of Taizhou （泰州） in the late Ming dynasty was largely a result of

the governmental policies concerning the Yellow River， Huaihe （淮河）River， and the Grand Canal. The needs of protecting the Grand Canal transportation as a priority led to frequent occupation and block of the Huaihe River waterway to the ocean， which consequently resulted in floods over the Huaiyang （淮揚） transportation roads， the royal tombs， and the counties along Xiahe （下河）River. The Ming Government eventually chose Xiahe River as the flood-relief area to protect the royal tombs. This brought about frequent water disasters in Taizhou （泰州） area and destroyed the originally excellent farming condition and the whole economy of Taizhou. The local gentry of Taizhou who had little influence to the state strategy appealed for taxation exemption without success. The Taizhou experience reveals that the so called local autonomy and initiatives were very weak as far as an interest contradiction with the state occurred. This case reminds us that the imperial power penetrated deeply into local society in late imperial China and it is necessary for researchers to take full account of the present of state power even in the studies of local history.

Key words： Late Ming； Taizhou； economic dilemma； Yellow River； Grand Canal； local response

[Eastern Asian History and Culture]

Title： Choson Official Historical Writing about the Yuan Eastern Expeditions against Japan in

Koryo-sa……………………………………………………………………………………………/111

Author： Sun Weiguo， Professor， School of History， Nankai University， Tianjin， 300350， China.

Abstract： After a failure of compiling an official annalistic history of Koryo， the Choson government in

King Se-chong period eventually accomplished the compilation of a 139 volume Jizhuan （紀傳） style Koryo history. Entitled Koryo-sa， this work was considered a major effort to shape the legitimacy of the Choson dynasty. Concerning the Yuan eastern expeditions against Japan， this book emphasized the self-determination of Koryo and its skillful dealings with the Yuan， recorded Koryos supply of food and labors during the war in details， and mentioned all people of Koryo background serving in the Yuan government as traitors. By the Annals of King Zhong-lie and the Biography of Kim Fang-qin， Koryo-sa portrayed two Koryo generals as the heroes of the war， while the self-willed Mongolian commanders and the storms were told the factors responsible for the failure of the expeditions. Since this kind of description is obviously biased when the Chinese and Japanese historical books are equally examined， it is suggested that researchers need to take a broader perspective instead of a one nation point of view in the study of East Asian history.

Key words： Koryo-sa； Kublai Khan； Eastern expeditions； King Zhonglie； Kim Fangqing

English Contents and Abstracts………….……………………………………………………………………/123

Comprehensive Table of Contents of 2017…….……………………….…………………….………………/127

Editors Notes…………………….…….……………….…………………….….….………………/cover page 2

Call for Papers…………….…………..….……………………………………….…..……….……/cover page 3endprint