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Description of  Laws of the Land: Fengshui and the State in Qing Dynasty China

0691246734 pdf A groundbreaking history of fengshuis roles in public life and law during Chinas last imperial dynasty Today the term fengshui, which literally means wind and water, is recognized around the world. Yet few know exactly what it means, let alone its fascinating history. In Laws of the Land, Tristan Brown tells the story of the important rolesespecially legal onesplayed by fengshui in Chinese society during Chinas last imperial dynasty, the Manchu Qing (16441912). Employing archives from Mainland China and Taiwan that have only recently become available, this is the first book to document fengshuis invocations in Chinese law during the Qing dynasty. Facing a growing population, dwindling natural resources, and an overburdened rural government, judicial administrators across China grappled with disputes and petitions about fengshui in their efforts to sustain forestry, farming, mining, and city planning. Read more