This volume comprises twelve papers written by Chinese scholars on various aspects of the history of ancient Chinese economic thought. The contributions are preceded by an introduction which gives an overview of the development of the subject of history of economic thought in China, and which also provides an historical context to the individuals who constitute the major "schools" of ancient Chinese economic thought. The authors of the papers are leading scholars who have dominated this research area since the founding of New China in 1949, while the broad range of topics covered by the contributions includes questions of methodology, detailed and sometimes controversial interpretations of texts and "schools", and the international influence and modern relevance of ancient Chinese thought. A recurrent theme is that ancient Chinese thought has at least as much to offer to the historian as ancient Western thought. As the first such volume of papers to be translated into English, this collection provides a unique opportunity for non-Chinese readers to sample the way in which Chinese historians of economics have attempted to understand their own intellectual heritage. This book will be relevant to scholars interested in the history of economic thought, economic history and Chinese studies.

A deeply researched and thought-provoking set of essays on a sorely-neglected topic in Chinese economic, intellectual, and political history.

This book contains original essays on various aspect of the Han’s political economy and its legacy, written by leading Chinese and Western scholars whose collective expertise spans Economic History, History of Economic Thought and Sinology.

This book explores the vital role of merchants within early modern China. Unlike European merchants, their Sino-colleagues have long been regarded as certain social pariahs after pre-Qin period, despite the fortune they made. The key mission of this monograph is to investigate whether the standing of merchants in the Ming Empire has been improved compared with their predecessors. Generally, their status is reflected in state-merchant relationship and their role in the market, which can be found in miscellaneous economic activities such as market monopoly, commercial taxation, international trade, and consumption. This book aims to be of relevance to students and researchers interested in early modern history, eastern commerce, Ming merchants, and contemporary global affairs.

Modern economics come from western countries. They are the mirrors of the economic conditions of these countries and the way they talk about economic phenomena is under the logic of western philosophy. But in fact, as a culture of long history, China has its own "e;classic economics"e;, though it hides behind modern context. The author re-discovers the Chinese classic economics from scriptures and historical records. This book not only contains the academic explanation of a long forgotten economic theory system but also offers us a new prospect to understand the modern world.This area this book covers is unique and totally new. People always consider economics is rather young. But in fact, economic thoughts, which influenced by many different aspects, exist for a long time. This book tries to re-discover the long hidden economic thoughts in ancient Chinese culture. It provides us a new way to understand the model and the unique patterns of modern China's economic behavior.Whenever we refer to economics, whether economics of Adam Smith, Keynes or even Karl Marx, we are always referring to something "e;western"e;. There are few books talking about the economic thoughts in ancient China. This book has few competitors. It will appeal to a worldwide audience of students and scholars of economics.This area this book covers is unique and totally new. People always consider economics is rather young. But in fact, economic thoughts, which influenced by many different aspects, exist for a long time. This book tries to re-discover the long hidden economic thoughts in ancient Chinese culture. It provides us a new way to understand the model and the unique patterns of modern China's economic behavior.Whenever we refer to economics, whether economics of Adam Smith, Keynes or even Karl Marx, we are always referring to something "e;western"e;. There are few books talking about the economic thoughts in ancient China. This book has few competitors. It will appeal to a worldwide audience of students and scholars of economics.

From China's most influential foreign policy thinker, a vision for a "Beijing Consensus" for international relations The rise of China could be the most important political development of the twenty-first century. What will China look like in the future? What should it look like? And what will China's rise mean for the rest of world? This book, written by China's most influential foreign policy thinker, sets out a vision for the coming decades from China's point of view. In the West, Yan Xuetong is often regarded as a hawkish policy advisor and enemy of liberal internationalists. But a very different picture emerges from this book, as Yan examines the lessons of ancient Chinese political thought for the future of China and the development of a "Beijing consensus" in international relations. Yan, it becomes clear, is neither a communist who believes that economic might is the key to national power, nor a neoconservative who believes that China should rely on military might to get its way. Rather, Yan argues, political leadership is the key to national power, and morality is an essential part of political leadership. Economic and military might are important components of national power, but they are secondary to political leaders who act in accordance with moral norms, and the same holds true in determining the hierarchy of the global order. Providing new insights into the thinking of one of China's leading foreign policy figures, this book will be essential reading for anyone interested in China's rise or in international relations.