Divination, Mythology and Monarchy in Han China [Hardcover]

An examination of the links between religion and statecraft and how they affected the concept of monarchy during the Han dynasty.The four centuries of the Han dynasties from 206 BC to AD 220 witnessed major developments in the ideas of sovereignty. Michael Loewe traces these changes along with some of their religious aspects, including the techniques by emperors and others to forecast the future or to divine about the present. Both mythology and the tradition of learning affected the growth of the imperial ideal which, despite its failings, was of major importance both for the Han and Chinats subsequent dynasties.The four centuries of the Han dynasties from 206 BC to AD 220 witnessed major developments in the ideas of sovereignty. Michael Loewe traces these changes along with some of their religious aspects, including the techniques by emperors and others to forecast the future or to divine about the present. Both mythology and the tradition of learning affected the growth of the imperial ideal which, despite its failings, was of major importance both for the Han and Chinats subsequent dynasties.The four centuries of the Han dynasties from 206 BC to AD 220 witnessed major developments in the ideas of sovereignty. Michael Loewe traces these changes along with some of their religious aspects, including the techniques used by emperors and others to forecast the future or to divine the present. Both mythology and the tradition of learning affected the growth of the imperial ideal that, despite its failings, was of major importance both for the Han and China's subsequent dynasties.List of figures; Preface; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction: the history of the early empires; 1. Man and beast: the hybrid in early Chinese art and literature; 2. Water, earth and fire: the symbols of the Han dynasty; 3. The Han view of comets; 4. The authority of the emperors of Ch'in and Han; 5. The term K'an-y? and the choice of the moment; 6. Imperial sovereignty: Tungl“m