Books in the Routledge Studies in the Early History of Asia series

This book provides an overview of elite theatre in Ming China. It is based on an exploration of the original historical records, and includes comparisons with other forms of ancient theatre, and examines of the details of theatrical performance.

A work on the prehistory of Japan and of South East Asia that challenges views on the origins of Japanese society and identity. It combines scientific evidence from such different fields as rice genetics, DNA and historical linguistics to show that the major elements of Yayoi civilization actually came, not from the north, but from the south.

Analyses Asian historical experiences of polity expansion, examining the motives, mechanisms and justifications for territorial expansion by Asian polities from premodern times.

This book presents the first translation into English of the full text of the Kaogong ji. This classic work, described by the great scholar of the history of Chinese science and technology Joseph Needham as "the most important document for the study of ancient Chinese technology", dates from the fifth century BC and forms part of the Zhouli (The Rites of the Zhou Dynasty), one of the great Confucian classics. The text itself describes the techniques of working and the technologies used by over twenty different kinds of craftsmen and artificers, such as metal workers, chariot makers, weapon makers, music instrument makers, potters and master builders. This edition, besides providing the full text in English, also provides a substantial introduction and other supporting explanatory material, over one hundred illustrations of ancient Chinese artefacts, and the original Chinese text itself.

The study of the prehistory of East Asia is developing very rapidly. Drawing upon the evidence in genetics, linguistics and archaeology, this book examines the history of the peopling of East Asia, and investigates the ways in which we can detect migration, and its different markers in these fields of inquiry.

Drawing upon the latest evidence in genetics, linguistics and archaeology, this exciting book examines the history of the peopling of East Asia, and investigates the ways in which we can detect migration, and its different markers in these fields of enquiry.

This iconoclastic work on the prehistory of Japan and of South East Asia challenges entrenched views on the origins of Japanese society and identity.