Historians of Chinese technology have tended to pay little attention to the Ming dynasty, characterizing it as a stagnantperiod unmarked by significant inventio

What can the history of technology contribute to our understanding of late imperial China? Most stories about technology in pre-modern China follow a well-worn

Despite the importance of books and the written word in Chinese society, the history of the book in China is a topic that has been little explored. This pioneer

A commoner's presentation to the emperor of a lucky omen from his garden, the repercussions for his family, and several retellings of the incident provide the b