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Performing Inaction: The Courtly Arts of the Wanli Emperor, 1573–1620 is a fresh portrayal of the Wanli reign through the commissions of the Wanli emperor and his mother Empress Dowager Cisheng. Utilizing a trove of textual and visual evidence, Ka-yi Ho challenges long-standing narratives depicting Wanli as a neglectful ruler responsible for the demise of the Ming dynasty. Through a comprehensive examination of Wanli’s and Cisheng’s commissions—including paintings, books, mausoleums, and Buddhist sponsorships—Ho shows how their meticulous curation according to the long-standing customs of the Ming court revealed the ambitions and moral aspirations of the misunderstood Wanli and his highly esteemed mother. Unveiling vibrant yet rarely examined artistic activities within the Wanli court, Performing Inaction also endeavors to integrate the discourse of Wanli court art with the dynamic visual culture of late Ming China.
Price: £46.00
Pages: 240
Publisher: Hong Kong University Press
Imprint: Hong Kong University Press
Publication Date:
15 November 2026
Trim Size: 10.00 X 7.00 in
ISBN: 9789888946839
Format: Hardcover
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