Making the Palace Machine Work - Mobilizing People, Objects, and Nature in the Qing Empire (Hardcover)

Making the Palace Machine Work: Mobilizing People, Objects, and Nature in the Qing Empire brings the studies of institutions, labour, and material cultures to bear on the history of science and technology by tracing the workings of the Imperial Household Department (Neiwufu) in the Qing court and empire. An enormous apparatus that employed 22,000 men and women at its heyday, the Department operated a "machine" with myriad moving parts. The first part of the book portrays the people who kept it running, from technical experts to menial servants, and scrutinises the paper trails they left behind. Part II uncovers the working principles of the machine by following the production chains of some of its most splendid products: gilded statues, jade, porcelain, and textiles. Part III examines the complex task of managing living organisms and natural environments, including lotus plants grown in imperial ponds in Beijing, fresh medicines sourced from disparate regions, and tribute elephants from Southeast Asia.

General

Imprint:	Amsterdam University Press
Country of origin:	Netherlands
Series:	Asian History
Release date:	July 2021
Editors:	Martina Siebert • Kai Jun Chen • Dorothy Ko
Contributors:	Elif Akcetin • Bae Kyoungjin • Xueling Guan • Lai Hui-Min • Christine Moll-Murata • Martina Siebert • SU Te-Cheng
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 26mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	334
ISBN-13:	978-9463720359
Categories:	Books > Professional & Technical > Technology: general issues > History of engineering & technology Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1500 to 1750 Books > Humanities > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Industrial history Books > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Industrial history Books > History > World history > 1500 to 1750 Promotions
LSN:	9463720359
Barcode:	9789463720359

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