Brush, Seal and Abacus：Troubled Vitality in Late Ming China’s Economic Heartland, 1500-1644 pdf epub mobi txt 電子書 下載 2025

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圖書標籤:

• 明朝
• 經濟史
• 社會史
• 文化史
• 地方史
• 江南
• 商業
• 手工業
• 人口
• 財政

This book is a study of social and cultural change in the lower Yangzi delta. This region, Ming China’s economic heartland, flourished commercially and culturally during the sixteenth century, and its elites maintained strong political ties with the central government at Beijing. Drawing upon a large body of contemporary writings, the author discusses important socio-economic and cultural trends wherein scholars and scholar-officials entered the marketplace while the merchant class improved its status and importance.

　　For all the benefits they brought about, these developments sowed the seeds of trouble. The author explains how unconstrained profit-seeking eroded the social and moral fabric of society and widened the gap between rich and poor. Toward the end of the sixteenth century, economic conditions worsened. Bitter resentments gave rise to popular riots against predatory great families. Eventually, mass revolts across the empire and Manchu’s invasion dealt a crushing blow to the region’s economy. In the 1630s and 1640s, the region plunged into depression and despair.
 

作者簡介

Jie Zhao

　　Jie Zhao is Associate Professor of History at the University of Southern Maine. Her work on Ming thought and society has appeared in T’oung Pao and Ming Studies.

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The title alone, "Brush, Seal and Abacus: Troubled Vitality in Late Ming China's Economic Heartland, 1500-1644," is a masterclass in intrigue. It’s not just a title; it’s a carefully constructed invitation into a world. The "Brush" speaks to the intellectual and administrative currents of the era, perhaps hinting at the discourse surrounding economic policy or the detailed documentation of trade. The "Seal," undeniably, brings to mind the pervasive influence of imperial authority, the enforcement of regulations, and the very legitimacy of economic ventures. And the "Abacus"? Well, that’s the beating heart of commerce, the tangible manifestation of wealth creation and distribution. But it's the juxtaposition of "Troubled Vitality" that truly sets this book apart in my mind. It suggests a period not of stagnation, but of vibrant, yet perhaps chaotic, growth. I am intensely curious to learn how this "vitality" manifested itself, and more importantly, what were the specific "troubles" that accompanied it. Were these economic challenges internal, stemming from market dynamics, or external, perhaps related to political instability or societal shifts? The phrase "Economic Heartland" further narrows the focus, promising a deep dive into the engine rooms of Ming dynasty prosperity. The period 1500-1644 is a pivotal era, and the prospect of understanding its economic complexities through such evocative imagery is immensely appealing. I'm anticipating a book that moves beyond mere economic history to explore the intricate interplay of social forces, political structures, and individual agency within these dynamic economic centers.

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這本書的書名本身就充滿瞭詩意和曆史的厚重感，“Brush, Seal and Abacus”，這三個詞語瞬間勾勒齣瞭一幅生動的畫麵：文人墨客的筆墨飛揚，官府契約的印章莊重，以及商賈賬房裏撥弄算盤的繁忙。而“Troubled Vitality in Late Ming China’s Economic Heartland, 1500-1644”則為這份畫麵注入瞭一層緊張而又充滿活力的色彩。我之所以被這本書吸引，很大程度上是因為它承諾要深入探討明朝晚期經濟中心的“活力”——這個詞語本身就意味深長，它暗示著一種內在的生命力，一種蓬勃發展的勢頭，但緊隨其後的“Troubled”又立刻澆滅瞭過於樂觀的想象，預示著在這片繁榮之下，潛藏著不為人知的動蕩與挑戰。1500-1644年，這個時間跨度恰好涵蓋瞭明朝由盛轉衰的關鍵時期，經濟的起伏與社會的變遷往往是相互交織，密不可分的。作為一個對中國曆史，尤其是明朝社會經濟史感興趣的讀者，我期待這本書能像一扇窗戶，讓我得以窺見那個時代經濟心髒地帶的真實脈搏，去理解那些在曆史洪流中悄然發生，卻又深刻影響瞭帝國走嚮的經濟力量。這本書的書名，無疑已經成功地激起瞭我強烈的求知欲，讓我迫切地想知道，那所謂的“Troubled Vitality”究竟是如何在明朝晚期的經濟中心奏響一麯跌宕起伏的樂章。

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When I first saw the title "Brush, Seal and Abacus: Troubled Vitality in Late Ming China's Economic Heartland, 1500-1644," my mind immediately conjured up images of bustling marketplaces and intricate bureaucratic processes. The "Brush" could represent the scholarly elite and their intellectual engagement with economic affairs, perhaps even the written contracts and records that underpinned trade. The "Seal" immediately brings to mind the authority of the state, the official decrees that regulated commerce, and the legal binding of transactions – a tangible symbol of power and control. And the "Abacus," of course, is the quintessential tool of trade and finance, instantly evoking the calculations, profits, and the sheer volume of economic activity. What truly piqued my interest, however, is the phrase "Troubled Vitality." This isn't a simple narrative of decline, but rather a suggestion of a dynamic tension, a period where vibrant economic forces were simultaneously grappling with significant challenges. I'm eager to understand what this "troubled vitality" looked like on the ground in the economic heartlands of the late Ming. Was it innovation stifled by tradition? Was it wealth accumulation challenged by corruption? The period from 1500 to 1644 is a critical juncture in Chinese history, and understanding the economic undercurrents during this time of transition is crucial. I hope this book provides a nuanced exploration, moving beyond broad generalizations to reveal the complexities and contradictions that defined the economic life of these crucial regions.

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讀到這本書的書名“Brush, Seal and Abacus：Troubled Vitality in Late Ming China’s Economic Heartland, 1500-1644”，我首先聯想到的是那些描繪明代市井風俗和經濟活動的藝術作品，比如《清明上河圖》的某種延續。書名中的“Brush”（筆）或許代錶著文化與知識的傳播，也可能是官方文書的起草；“Seal”（印章）則象徵著權力、契約與權威的確認，是經濟活動中不可或缺的一環；而“Abacus”（算盤）則是最直接的經濟符號，代錶著商業的繁榮和數字的計算。這些意象的組閤，勾勒齣瞭一個既有理性計算又有官方約束，同時又飽含文化氣息的經濟圖景。而“Troubled Vitality”這個短語，尤其令人玩味。它不是簡單的“衰退”或“危機”，而是“充滿活力的睏境”。這意味著，盡管存在著種種問題，但明代晚期的經濟中心並非一片死寂，反而可能是在壓力下尋求突破，在挑戰中煥發生機。這與許多將明代晚期簡單描繪成走嚮衰亡的論調有所不同，預示著一種更為 nuanced（細緻入微）的視角。我對“Economic Heartland”（經濟中心）的具體指嚮也充滿好奇，它指的是長江三角洲，還是其他哪個區域？書中會如何描繪這些區域在1500-1644年間，在繁榮與動蕩之間掙紮求存的麵貌？這本書的書名，給我一種感覺，它不是一部枯燥的經濟數據堆砌，而是充滿故事性和解讀空間的學術力作。

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這本書的書名——“Brush, Seal and Abacus：Troubled Vitality in Late Ming China’s Economic Heartland, 1500-1644”——讓我立刻産生瞭探索的衝動。它巧妙地將三個看似獨立卻又緊密相連的意象——筆、印章和算盤——串聯起來，暗示著一場關於社會、政治與經濟交織的復雜敘事。我設想，“Brush”可能指嚮瞭士大夫階層對經濟活動的思考與記錄，亦或是商業契約的文字錶述；“Seal”則代錶瞭官方的監管、稅收以及商業活動的閤法性證明，其背後牽涉到權力與利益的博弈；而“Abacus”則是最直觀的經濟活動的載體，標誌著商品流通、金融往來以及財富的積纍。更吸引我的是“Troubled Vitality”這一錶述。這不像那種直白的“衰落史”，而是更富於辯證意味，似乎在說，即便是在睏境之中，明朝晚期的經濟中心依然孕育著生機。我想知道，這種“Troubled Vitality”具體體現在哪些方麵？是農業技術的進步與土地兼並的衝突？是商品經濟的繁榮與政府調控的失靈？是民間資本的活躍與官僚體係的阻礙？1500-1644年，這一百多年的時間段，正是中國曆史上一個充滿戲劇性轉摺的時期，政治上的動蕩、社會結構的變遷，無不與經濟因素息息相關。我期待這本書能夠深入剖析這些錯綜復雜的聯係，揭示在繁榮錶象之下，那些不為人知的經濟運行邏輯與社會潛流。