Ming China, 1368–1644: A Concise History of a Resilient Empire

by John W. Dardess

This engaging, deeply informed book provides the first concise history of one of China's most important eras. Leading scholar John W. Dardess offers a thematically organized political, social, and economic exploration of China from 1368 to 1644. He examines how the Ming dynasty was able to endure for 276 years, illuminating Ming foreign relations and border control, the lives and careers of its sixteen emperors, its system of governance and the kinds of people who served it, its great class of literati, and finally the mass outlawry that, in unhappy conjunction with the Manchu invasions from outside, ended the once-mighty dynasty in the mid-seventeenth century. The Ming witnessed the beginning of China's contact with the West, and its story will fascinate all readers interested in global as well as Asian history.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction, Asia

172 pages, Hardcover

First published September 16, 2011

About the author

John W. Dardess is professor emeritus of history at the University of Kansas.

Reviews

[mantareads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. For the uninitiated (me), the names and events in this book blur into each other very quickly, so that one loses interest after the first 6 or 7th Notable Civil Servant, Scholar or Outlaw.

Even potentially interesting questions, like why almost all the Ming emperors died so young is barely touched upon; instead it's all touch and go here. I'm not sure if this is the author's idea of being Concise. It's just flat to me.

The overall effect is an uninteresting and uninspiring recitation of names and events from an Authority.

Even the book's ending, which is where an author could close with a bang, didn't stick. Instead Dardess choses to trail off with some flaccid observation about the conditions which had helped the Ming dynasty to emerge...what a waste of an ending.

So to be clear, i dont think the Ming was a boring period in Chinese history. It's just how badly told their stories are in this book.

In spite of its title this isn't really a Concise Account at all, and the prose makes it feel even longer. You can write livelier histories than this. The historian should work on his storytelling.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview for someone who isn't very familiar with the Ming already, but is generally familiar with east Asian history (i.e. not totally uninitiated, but far from expert). One pet peeve was that the book included tons of Chinese names but no Chinese characters: everything was romanized. For someone not very familiar with the names and places, it would have helped immensely to have accompanying characters, at least as footnotes.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief but thorough history of the Ming emperor. Provides a quick overview with the occasional dry humor.
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[Aidan Darnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was obviously written for the professional student or other serious academic with an already solid knowledge of Chinese history, culture, and governance. There’s no handholding, little explanation of key concepts, and scattered without any sort of narrative whatsoever.

Which is all fine, because the book still manages to do a good job of exploring some of the different angles of Ming society. The approach of five different topics, each told roughly in chronological order, slowly adds layers of understanding on top of one another. A dedicated reader or student could tie the different elements along the timeline to arrive at a solid understanding of the times. But they’d have to sort through hundreds of names, dozens of unexplained terms, and references to other eras that aren’t explained with any depth.

The chapter devoted to governance is a great example of the strengths and weaknesses of the book. It tries to answer a very good question: why did the Ming government last so long? It then answers and explores those answers in great depth. You’re left with a strong sense of the institutions and structures that worked. But you’re also flooded with anecdotes that don’t tie together very well, mini biographies that employ few narrative devices, and too many details about the see-saw of balance of power in the court.

As a book for a general reader who may be interested in this time and place (like me), it’s not bad. But it’s not stellar either. It’s up to the reader to really make something of it.

[Roman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for anyone wanting a more in-depth knowledge of Ming China. Dardess's prose is very accessible and understandable for non-historians and students of history. It's a very short read and not intimidating. I will say that he uses individuals often as examples, so it is easy to forget names because there are so many. This history is by no means a comprehensive view of the Ming, Dardess mainly focuses on its institutions as the backbone of Ming sustainability for almost three centuries. With that being said, it is a good resource for someone interested in learning the basics about Ming political and governmental institutions, particularly the emperor's, eunuchs, and the civil administrators. It does not discuss many social issues, conditions, or groups like the women or everyday people. But I recommend it to anyone interested in an overview of one of China's important dynasties, but doesn't want to commit to a 500+ book.

[Jessica Zu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nicely written little book about Ming China. It is unlike many inscrutable dry history books that will assist your sleep. Nevertheless, it still crammed in tons of information in 135 pages. Every paragraph can be a research topic for a Ph.D., which really reveals how Mind China is badly under-studied.