Xiqi Lu, Rural Control in Imperial China，

First published in English 2025,

by Routledge,

4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

by Routledge,

605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158

The Xiangli system is a cornerstone of Imperial China’s rural governance. Rural Control in Imperial China vols. Ⅰ and Ⅱ illuminates how state power extended to the villages, and examines how the rural population was integrates into the dynastic system.

The first volume begins by clarifying the concept of the Xiangli system and introduces three perspectives for approaching this research topic---political, social and historical. The four chapters of Volume Ⅰ then delve into the roots of the system and ins implementation from the pre-Qin period to the Tang Dynasty, covering eight historical periods in ancient China.

The Volume Ⅱ focuses on the late development of the system, from Song dynasty to the Qing. Through a detailed analysis of five historical periods and several representative regional case studies, this volume highlights the system’s adaptations and enduring influence over centuries of imperial rule. The concluding chapter offers crucial insights into how local governance structures both shaped and were shaped by wider political, economic and cultural forces across the dynasties of Imperial China.

This two-volume set will be essential reading for scholars and students of China and Chinese history, particularly those interested in rural governance and control in Imperial China.

Xiqi Lu is Professor of History at Fudan University, China. His research interests focus on the history of Imperial China and historical geography.