By Bao Weimin
Translated by Wang Zhitian

Routledge
ISBN: 978-1-032-66693-8 and 978-1-032-66692-1

This fascinating two-volume work explores urban life in China during the Song Dynasty, offering insights into the appearance of its cities, how they were governed, and what everyday life was like for the people who lived and worked in them.

The fundamental task of historiography is to meticulously reconstruct historical facts in a specific and detailed manner. At times, such reconstruction may not specifically target the areas that have not been previously studied by predecessors. In the well-established field of urban history during the Tang and Song Dynasties, identifying “blank spots” can be challenging without the application of new and appropriate perspectives. Simultaneously, it is also worthwhile to make efforts to re-examine the old studies of out predecessors. The greater the body of research, the more established the theories developed by earlier studies, which also encompass the documentation of historical events.

Books such as this demonstrate how much medievalists can learn by exploring the history of medieval China. The first volume begins by examining the development of urban areas, followed by their governance and the organisation of city markets. The second volume delves further into everyday life, with chapters covering topics such as taxation, construction and urban culture. Although the focus is primarily on the Song Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty and other periods are also examined.

Those interested in medieval China will find much to appreciate in these volumes, as will readers studying urban history more generally. Medieval scholars may find it particularly worthwhile to explore these Chinese cities and consider how they compare with the European and other medieval urban centres they are more accustomed to studying.

Bao Weimin is a Professor of History at Renmin University of China, specialising in Song Dynasty history and Chinese economic history.

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