Evelyn S. Rawski

A truly excellent look at the background, institutions and factors influencing China's last dynasty, the Qing, examining in depth the factors that contributed to the early success of this foreign (Manchu) dynasty after the fall of the Ming in 1644. Covers such topics as the role of the 8 banners, women, marriage, shamanism, Confucianism and Confucian state rituals, city planning, kinship and primogeniture in the Manchu world. Also provides many examples from the reigns of the dynasty's most famous rulers--Kangxi and Qianlong. Very well researched, well written, and the perfect book to introduce the last of China's great dynasties.… (más)

This is the catalogue from an exhibition of the same name at the Royal Academy of Arts in 2005/2006. It has good illustrations of the objects that were exhibited and a series of interesting essays to introduce the historical period & put the objects into perspective. My read through is written up in four parts:
http://ninecats.org/margaret/blog/2013/05/09/china-three-emperors-1662-1795-ed-e...
href="http://ninecats.org/margaret/blog/2013/05/29/china-three-emperors-1662-1795-ed-evelyn-s-rawski-jessica-rawson-part-2" rel="nofollow" target="_top">http://ninecats.org/margaret/blog/2013/05/29/china-three-emperors-1662-1795-ed-e...
http://ninecats.org/margaret/blog/2013/06/09/china-three-emperors-1662-1795-ed-e...
http://ninecats.org/margaret/blog/2013/06/16/china-three-emperors-1662-1795-ed-e...… (más)