Elites and their children : a study in the historical anthropology of medieval China, 500-1000 AD

Abstract

The history of children in medieval China, as in other parts of the world and in pre-modern times, stands in marked contrast to the traditional areas of historical inquiry such as the history of the state, the history of the economy or intellectual history. Children generally do not have political power or economic influence; they do not write about their own lives, but instead appear in the writings of adults. Yet, children are a critical part of the social order. This thesis discusses the major topics concerning children that stand out in medieval Chinese sources, namely children in the context of medical theory and practice, children as part of families, children as the weak part of communities, children and education and children and death.