The Ambivalence of Creation: Debates Concerning Innovation and Artifice in Early China Hardcover - 2002 - 1st Edition
by Michael J. Puett
From the rear cover
As early as the Warring States period in China (fourth through third centuries b.c.), debates arose concerning how and under what circumstances new institutions could be formed and legitimated. But the debates quickly encompassed more than just legitimation. Larger issues came to the fore: Can a sage innovate? If so, under what conditions? Where did human culture originally come from? Was it created by human sages? Is it therefore an artificial fabrication, or was it based in part on natural patterns? Is it possible for new sages to emerge who could create something better?
This book studies these debates from the Warring States period to the early Han (second century b.c.), analyzing the texts in detail and tracing the historical consequences of the various positions that emerged. It also examines the time's conflicting narratives about the origin of the state and how these narratives and ideas were manipulated for ideological purposes during the formation of the first empires.
While tracing debates over the question of innovation in early China, the author engages such questions as the prevailing notions concerning artifice and creation. This is of special importance because early China is often described as a civilization that assumed continuity between nature and culture, and hence had no notion of culture as a fabrication, no notion that the sages did anything other than imitate the natural world. The author concludes that such views were not assumptions at all. The ideas that human culture is merely part of the natural world, and that true sages never created anything but instead replicated natural patterns arose at a certain moment, then came to prominence only at the end of a lengthy debate.
From the jacket flap
As early as the Warring States period in China (fourth through third centuries b.c.), debates arose concerning how and under what circumstances new institutions could be formed and legitimated. But the debates quickly encompassed more than just legitimation. Larger issues came to the fore: Can a sage innovate? If so, under what conditions? Where did human culture originally come from? Was it created by human sages? Is it therefore an artificial fabrication, or was it based in part on natural patterns? Is it possible for new sages to emerge who could create something better?
This book studies these debates from the Warring States period to the early Han (second century b.c.), analyzing the texts in detail and tracing the historical consequences of the various positions that emerged. It also examines the time's conflicting narratives about the origin of the state and how these narratives and ideas were manipulated for ideological purposes during the formation of the first empires.
While tracing debates over the question of innovation in early China, the author engages such questions as the prevailing notions concerning artifice and creation. This is of special importance because early China is often described as a civilization that assumed continuity between nature and culture, and hence had no notion of culture as a fabrication, no notion that the sages did anything other than imitate the natural world. The author concludes that such views were not assumptions at all. The ideas that human culture is merely part of the natural world, and that true sages never created anything but instead replicated natural patterns arose at a certain moment, then came to prominence only at the end of a lengthy debate.
Details
- Title The Ambivalence of Creation: Debates Concerning Innovation and Artifice in Early China
- Author Michael J. Puett
- Binding Hardcover
- Edition number 1st
- Edition 1
- Pages 311
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA
- Date 2002-08-01
- ISBN 9780804736237 / 0804736235
- Weight 1.22 lbs (0.55 kg)
- Dimensions 9.34 x 6.4 x 0.86 in (23.72 x 16.26 x 2.18 cm)
-
Themes
- Chronological Period: Ancient (To 499 A.D.)
- Cultural Region: Asian - Chinese
- Library of Congress subjects China - Civilization
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 00049290
- Dewey Decimal Code 951
Media reviews
Citations
- Reference and Research Bk News, 02/01/2002, Page 37
More Copies for Sale
The Ambivalence of Creation: Debates Concerning Innovation and Artifice in Early China
by Puett, Michael J.
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780804736237 / 0804736235
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Forest Grove, Oregon, United States
- Item Price
-
$22.67FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Ambivalence of Creation: Debates Concerning Innovation and Artifice in Early China
by Michael J. Puett
- New
- Hardcover
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780804736237 / 0804736235
- Quantity Available
- 10
- Seller
-
Southport, Merseyside, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
$112.72$12.61 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Ambivalence of Creation Debates Concerning Innovation and Artifice in Early China
by Michael J. Puett
- New
- Hardcover
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780804736237 / 0804736235
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
$120.14$12.67 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Ambivalence of Creation: Debates Concerning Innovation and Artifice in Early China
by Puett, Michael J
- New
- Hardcover
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780804736237 / 0804736235
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
San Diego, California, United States
- Item Price
-
$110.42$5.45 shipping to USA