Hidden power
Subtitle: the palace eunuchs of imperial China
By: [by] Mary M. Anderson.
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Published: March 1, 1990
Place of publication: Buffalo, USA
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 320
ISBN-13: 9780879755744
Copyright date: 1990
Subjects: Eunuchs -- China -- History.; China -- Court and courtiers.; China -- Politics and government.
Description: A little-known yet significant role in Chinese history was played by the palace eunuchscastrated men who developed a concealed subcaste that manipulated monarchs and caused the downfall of immense dynasties. This book vividly chronicles the history of the imperial eunuchs: from the murky origins of the practice to the Ming dynasty when 100,000 eunuchs were employed as agents of the Dragon Throne, to the 1912 uprising that swept away the monarchy and the age-old eunuch system forever. Mary M. Anderson lived in China for more than twenty years, and has written extensively on Asian history and culture.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [313]-318).
Table of contents: title: Preface
pagenum: 13; title: Introduction
pagenum: 15; label: 1
title: How Ancient Was the Chinese Eunuch System?, Shang Dynasty (c. 1766-1122 B.C.)
pagenum: 15; label: 2
title: Early Eunuchs in Palace Intrigue, Chou Dynasty (1122-250 B.C.)
pagenum: 26; label: 3
title: One Eunuch Fells a Dynasty, Ch’in Dynasty (221-207 B.C.)
pagenum: 33; label: 4
title: A Court Beset by Consorts and Eunuchs, Early Han Dynasty (207-141 B.C.)
pagenum: 42; label: 5
title: Greatest Han Ruler and His Eunuchs, Reign of Emperor Wu Ti (141-87 B.C.)
pagenum: 53; label: 6
title: Ruling House Overcome by Eunuchs and Consorts, Last Courts of First Han Dynasty  (86-6 B.C.)
pagenum: 63; label: 7
title: First Great Rise of Organized Eunuch Power, Second Han Dynasty (A.D. 25-220)
pagenum: 83; label: 8
title: Eunuch Power Wanes Under Barbarian Rule, Three Kingdoms and Tartar Invasions (A.D. 220-581)
pagenum: 98; label: 9
title: Eunuchs in a Palace of Debauchery, Sui Dynasty (A.D. 581-618)
pagenum: 112; label: 10
title: Eunuch Power Waxes Anew, Early Tang Dynasty  (A.D. 618-713)
pagenum: 120; label: 11
title: The “Brilliant Emperor”Enhances Eunuch Status, Tang Ruler Hsuan Tsung’s Reign  (A.D. 713-756)
pagenum: 135; label: 12
title: Second Disastrous Upsurge of Eunuch Power, Late Tang Dynasty  (A.D. 757-907)
pagenum: 147; label: 13
title: Eunuchs’ Brief Return to Power, Five Dynasties Era (A.D. 907-960)
pagenum: 174; label: 14
title: Powerful Ministers Dominate Eunuch Corps, Two Sung Dynasties and Barbarian Conquerors (A.D. 960-1279)
pagenum: 182; label: 15
title: Eunuchs Subdued Under Mongol Emperors, Kublai Khan’s Yuan Dynasty (A.D. 1260-1368)
pagenum: 199; label: 16
title: Setting the Stage for Another Eunuch Take-over, Early Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1522)
pagenum: 213; label: 17
title: Eunuch Infamy and Power Reach Highest Peak, Late Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1522-1644)
pagenum: 234; label: 18
title: Eunuchs Under Alien Manchu Rule, Early Ching Dynasty (A.D. 1644-1850)
pagenum: 267; label: 19
title: The Last of the Powerful Eunuchs, The Collapse of Imperial Rule (A.D. 1851-1912)
pagenum: 285; title: Appendix: The Need for Eunchs, How They Were Castrated and Their Lifestyle
pagenum: 307; title: Bibliography
pagenum: 313