Ancient Household Registration
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Summary
Editor's review
The book's value lies in its distinctive angle of approach. From the "she" community registry system of the pre-Qin period to the "registered households and common people" of Qin and Han, the "fixed household classification" of Sui and Tang, and the Yellow Registers and baojia system of Ming and Qing, the authors situate every major reform of household registration in its specific historical context, clearly showing how state power gradually penetrated and shaped grassroots society through this instrument. Readers learn not only the format, content, and administrative organs of household registers across dynasties but also gain a deeper understanding of why household registration became a cornerstone of imperial rule in ancient China.
Particularly valuable is the authors' interweaving of vivid historical details and case studies—how Han dynasty poll taxes depended on household records, how the status distinction between "guest households" and "host households" in the Tang affected social standing—which bring cold institutional history to life. For readers who wish to look beyond the surface of dynastic change and understand at the institutional level how ancient Chinese society sustained and operated itself over the long term, this book offers a substantial intellectual framework and path of inquiry. Its exposition is measured and restrained, its sources solid—an excellent work of popular history that combines scholarship with readability.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- History enthusiasts interested in ancient Chinese social structure and mechanisms of state governance
- University students or young faculty seeking an interdisciplinary perspective between institutional and social history
- Readers of cultural works who wish to deepen their understanding of ancient China through concrete institutions
- Writers or planners in related fields who need reliable historical background knowledge
Not a good fit for
- Casual readers expecting novelistic narrative or tales of exotic historical curiosities
- Readers who want only fragmented facts and lack patience for systematic institutional exposition
Reading tips
- Reading in chapter order is recommended to grasp the continuous historical logic of household registration's evolution
- Readers may consider each dynasty's economic and military context to understand the deeper drivers of institutional change
- If uncertain about institutional terms or historical events, consult reference works or basic general histories for better comprehension
About the publisher
Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序言
- 上古时期——裂土分茅
- 夏代地理中心及行政联盟
- 商代区域划分与人口
- 周代疆土区划和人口
- 春秋战国行政区划
- 春秋战国户籍制度
- 中古时期——建章立制
- 秦代在全境推行郡县制
- 秦代比较完备的户籍制度
- 两汉时期州郡县三级建制
- 汉代户籍制度及演变
- 魏晋南北朝的州郡县制
- 魏晋南北朝户籍制度
- 隋代地方行政的二级制度
- 隋代的户籍制度改革
- 唐代行政区划的大变革
- 唐代较严密的户籍制度
- 近古时期——铸新淘旧
- 五代十国时期的行政区划
- 宋代路州县三级行政区划
- 宋代以财定等的户籍制度
- 辽代行政区划与户口类型
- 西夏的行政区划与户籍制度
- 金代的行政区划与户籍管理
- 元代行省制的创设与完善
- 元代的户籍分类管理制度
- 近世时期——别开生面
- 明代行政区划设置三司制
- 明代人口管理的黄册制度
- 清代的三级行政区划系统
- 清代开放的户籍保甲制度
FAQ
Is this book highly academic? Is it suitable for general readers?
Which dynasties does the book mainly cover?
Beyond the household registration system itself, what else does this book offer?
Comments
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About the author
Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.
Xing Jianhua is an author about whom little public information is available. Judging from the ten works held in the collection, his writing covers a notably wide range of subjects, including history and culture, biography, inspirational personal growth, and agriculture and forestry. In the field of history and culture, he focuses on specific topics such as the ancient household registration system and ancient city towers and historic sites, approaching ancient society through institutions and architectural remains to present its forms of organization and spatial character. His biographical works include volumes on Sartre and Michelangelo, reflecting an interest in Western thinkers and artists. Works on the history of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers further indicate his attention to rural society and agricultural history. Overall, his writing leans toward informative popularization and thematic compilation, with concrete subjects and a practical approach, making it suitable for readers seeking an introduction to or reference material on these fields.
