Confucianism and Autocracy

Confucianism and Autocracy: Professional Elitesin the Founding of the Ming Dynasty explores the profound social and political transformations that shaped China during the collapse of the Yuan dynasty and the establishment of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). This pivotal era marked the rise of an unprecedented level of imperial autocracy, a system that defined China's political landscape for centuries. The book delves into the complex interplay between Confucian professional elites, their sociopolitical philosophies, and the structural centralization that underpinned Ming governance. Rejecting notions of the Ming state as either a military dictatorship or a peasant-driven revolution, it positions the Confucian literati as central agents in constructing the autocratic framework, motivated by their vision of societal reform and moral regeneration.

Drawing on extensive primary sources, including 128 collected works from 1340 to 1400, the author examines how Confucian professionals navigated the national crises of the 1350s, offering theoretical and practical responses that laid the groundwork for the Ming's authoritarian structure. The text analyzes the philosophical underpinnings of early Ming autocracy and the Confucian emphasis on ethical governance, revealing how the pursuit of professional ideals intertwined with the brutal centralization of power. From the socio-moral reforms of the dynasty's founder to the eventual ideological shifts within Confucianism, this book offers a nuanced perspective on how Confucian elites shaped the Ming dynasty and China's broader historical trajectory.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1983.