Description
Rumor in the Early Chinese Empires provides a groundbreaking analysis of how rumors functioned as a critical social phenomenon in ancient and imperial China. Rather than dismissing rumors as mere falsehoods, author Zongli Lu demonstrates how they served as a legitimate form of communication that influenced political decisions, shaped public perception, and reflected the anxieties and aspirations of Chinese society.
Through detailed historical examination, the book traces how rumors emerged, spread, and impacted various aspects of imperial life, from court politics to popular culture. Lu explores the mechanisms by which information traveled, the credibility attributed to rumors by different social classes, and the government’s attempts to control information flow. This work contributes significantly to our understanding of how communication, power, and social dynamics interacted in pre-modern China, offering valuable insights into the nature of information societies across time periods.
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