Every Chinese dynasty has experienced a localist turn in which the centralizing power of the founding gives way to increasing localism, but all localist turns are not the same. This talk will note the general phenomena and explore a specific case of the localist turn under the Mongols’s Yuan dynasty, the consequences of which have continued into the present. Using the particular case of Wuzhou (Jinhua) a prefecture in Zhejiang province, the talk will show how a data-driven approach, spatial and social network analysis can reveal trends in local society that would not be otherwise apparent.
Presenter
Professor Peter K. Bol is the Charles H. Carswell Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University. He was also the Vice Provost for Advances in Learning between 2013 and 2018.