Empire at the Margins

Focusing on the Ming (1368-1644) and (especially) the Qing (1364-1912) eras, this book analyzes crucial moments in the formation of cultural, regional, and religious identities. The contributors examine the role of the state in a variety of environments on China''s "peripheries," paying attention to shifts in law, trade, social stratification, and cultural dialogue. They find that local communitie...