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An Ax Falling under the Candle Light:
A Royal Murder Mystery, History Writing, & the Political Culture of Song China
March 2, 2011 @ 12:00 am
The Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE) is known for its remarkable political stability. Yet, its very first royal succession was shrouded in mystery– murder mystery. Why did the founding emperor, Taizu, pass over his grown sons to designate his younger brother Taizong to be his heir? Or did he? Did Taizong kill his older brother Taizu, possibly with poison or an ax? This paper will discuss how the memory of the murder mystery was simultaneously hushed up and preserved during the Song, and what the subtle influence of this memory can tell us about history writing and the political culture of the Song period. And of course, the murder mystery itself will also be discussed.
Dr. Xiao-bin Ji teaches in the Department of History at UCSB.
This lecture is sponsored by the UCSB East Asia Center.
jwil 01.iii.2011