{"product_id":"a-ming-confucians-world-selections-from-miscellaneous-records-from-the-bean-garden-9780295749938","title":"A Ming Confucian's World: Selections from Miscellaneous Records from the Bean Garden","description":"\u003cp\u003eA forgotten century marks the years between the Ming dynasty's (1368-1644) turbulent founding and its sixteenth-century age of exploration and economic transformation. In this period of social stability, retired scholar-official Lu Rong chronicled his observations of Chinese society in \u003ci\u003eMiscellaneous Records from the Bean Garden\u003c\/i\u003e (Shuyuan zaji). Openly expressing his admirations and frustrations, Lu provides a window into the quotidian that sets \u003ci\u003eBean Garden\u003c\/i\u003e apart from other works of the \u003ci\u003ebiji\u003c\/i\u003e genre of \"informal notes.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMark Halperin organizes a translated selection of Lu's records to create a panorama of Ming life. A man of unusual curiosity, Lu describes multiple social classes, ethnicities, and locales in his accounts of political intrigues, farming techniques, religious practices, etiquette, crime, and family life. Centuries after their composition, Lu's words continue to provide a richly textured portrait of China on the cusp of the early modern era.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe open access publication of this book was made possible by a grant from the James P. Geiss and Margaret Y. Hsu Foundation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eLu Rong\u003c\/b\u003e (1436-1494), a native of Suzhou Prefecture, spent his career in positions at the capital, the northern frontier, and south China. \u003cb\u003eMark Halperin\u003c\/b\u003e is associate professor of East Asian languages and cultures at the University of California, Davis. He is author of \u003ci\u003eOut of the Cloister: Literati Perspectives on Buddhism in Sung China, 960-1279\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"University of Washington Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50387921699090,"sku":"9780295749938","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_58eeb47c-419c-4409-bb0f-aee6f8e67c56.jpg?v=1728883715","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/a-ming-confucians-world-selections-from-miscellaneous-records-from-the-bean-garden-9780295749938","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}