• Author: Jin Song
• Publication Date: December / 2020
• Publisher: SNUPRESS

Examining the principles and characteristics of spatial governance in the process of forming an ancient state in China, focusing on boundaries and the movement of people through them

This monograph considers not only the spatial cognition of ancient China and the changes in the characteristics of spatial governance but also the forms of inter-regional exchange and changes in the recognition of the ‘other’ through the access of boundaries and understanding its form. The ancient Chinese empirical period is when the basis of the ruling system of the emperor that governed premodern Chinese society was formed before the Qing dynasty collapsed. In the governing structure and principle of an ancient empire, there not only remained the traditions of the regional culture that was changed and inherited through a long time but also the shamanistic thinking and traditions of ancient people, changed in various forms and preserved. This is equally applied to the issue of recognizing and managing the range of political influence. Therefore a diachronic study on the boundaries and access to them from the Shang-Zhou period to the Qin-Han period is an approach that can rather clearly show the natures of the spatial rule in each period. Accessing boundaries is an act of crossing to and fro other worlds and the degree of openness and closeness depends on the nature of political power. This monograph will offer the recognitions of another world and the ‘other’ than existed in society.

Author Bio

Jin Song received her BA in history education at Korea University and her MA and PhD in Asian history at SNU. After working as postdoctoral researcher at Kyungpook National University and Sungkyunkwan University, she worked as an associate professor at Pyeongtaek University and now at the department of history education at Kongju University. She has published A Study of Fortifications Throughout Chinese History (2014, co-authored) and papers “漢代通行證制度與商人的移動” and “秦漢時代 券書 and the logistics management system of the empire”