The Ancestors' Instructions Must Not Change: Political Discourse and Practice in the Song Period: (14 Brill's Humanities in China Library)

This book offers an account of the development and transformations of the discourse of ancestors’ instructions in the Song period. It explains how rulers selected words and deeds of ancestors in tandem with changes in current affairs, and how they gave them different meanings to create not only an image of the ancestors that were suitable for emulation but also a talisman to safeguard their administration. Using abundant resources, exercising an economy of words and academic rigor, the author digs deep to tease apart the complex and versatile relationship between the meaning and the truth of the Song discourse on ancestors’ instructions.

Table of Contents:
Introduction: Presenting the Issues  1 Regarding Research in Political History: The Song Period as a Case Study  2 Regarding the Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions during the Song Dynasty  3 About This Book 1 The Confluence of Family Instructions and National Instructions: ‘Ancestors’ and ‘Ancestors’ Family Instructions’  1 ‘Paying Respects before State Altars and the Ancestors’ Temple and Maintaining the Upright Model of the Ancestors’: Paying Homage to ‘Ancestors’ during the Han Dynasties  2 ‘Anticipating Careful Adherence to Ancestors’ Instructions’: The Emphasis on ‘Ancestors’ Rules’ during the Tang and Five Dynasties  3 ‘Ancestors’ Guidelines as Instructions for the Family’: ‘Guidelines for Rectifying Households’ and the ‘Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions’ of the Zhao Imperial Family 2 Emerging from the Five Dynasties: Transformations of the Dynastic Ruling Elites in North China during the Tenth Century  1 The Fading of Ethnic Characteristics among the Governing Elites of the Five Dynasties and Early Song  2 Towards Reformulation: The Civil Bureaucratic Elite during the Early to Mid-Tenth Century  3 A Reoriented Establishment: Desiring Martial Officials to Study Books and Employing Intellectuals 3 ‘Comprehensive Order as Precaution against Malfeasance’: Emperors Taizu and Taizong’s Establishment of Laws and Institutions, and the Key Formation of the ‘Ancestors’ Family Instructions’  1 ‘Transforming the Family into a Country’: The Formation of Governing Structures in the Early Years of the Northern Song  2 Adjustments in the Midst of Twists and Turns: The Governing Center during the Early Northern Song  3 ‘Comprehensive Order as a Precaution against Malfeasance’: The Substance of Song ‘Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions’ 4 From ‘Protecting the Ancestors’ Legacy’ to ‘Preserving the Ancestors’ Precedents’: the Transition during Emperor Zhenzong’s Reign  1 ‘The Ancestors’ Regulations Are All Extant’ and ‘Administering by Precedents’  2 The Post-Chanyuan Treaty Era and ‘Establishing Guidance from the Way of the Spirits’  3 Establishing the Principle of ‘Administering by Precedents’ 5 The Formal Presentation of the ‘Imperial Ancestors’ Instructions’: the Early Period of Renzong’s Reign  1 ‘The Ancestors’ Instructions Cannot Be Ruined’  2 Precedents and Books on ‘Precious Lessons’ and ‘Sagely Governance’  3 From ‘Following the Sacred Decrees’ to ‘Sharing Governance of the Realm’ 6 General Overview: The Influence of ‘the Ancestors’ Instructions’ on Song Dynasty Politics - From the Middle of the Northern Song to the Late Southern Song  1 ‘Follow the Model of the Ancestors’ versus ‘Do Not be Bound by Models’: The Dynamic Political Storms of the Middle and Late Northern Song  2 ‘Our Imperial Family Instructions Far Surpass the Han and Tang’: Homage to ‘Ancestors’ Instructions’ during the Southern Song  3 An Appended Discussion of the Interpretations of ‘Ancestors’ Instructions’ and the Image-Building of ‘Ancestors’: From the Middle of the Northern Song to the Late Southern Song Conclusion: A Reevaluation of ‘Ancestors’ Instructions’  1 ‘Ancestors’ Instructions’ and Song Dynasty Politics  2 Between Fact and Fiction: Further Reflections on ‘Speaking’ and ‘Doing’ Afterword Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Deng Xiaonan, M.A. (1985), Peking University, is Professor of history at that university. She has published monographs and more than a hundred articles on Chinese history, including Personnel Administration of Civil Service in Song China (1993, 2021). Wee Kek Koon, M.A., The Chinese University of Hong Kong, B.A. (Hons), National University of Singapore, is a translator and writer who has published English translations of academic and literary works that are written in the Chinese language.