A Social History of Middle-Period China
The Song, Liao, Western Xia and Jin Dynasties
The Cambridge China Library Series

Drawing on a wide range of sources, this book discusses the social history of China in the period 960?1279, comparing the different ethnic cultures of Song 'China' and its neighbouring empires. This valuable reference work for our understanding of the Song, Liao, Western Xia and Jin Dynasties presents recent Chinese research in English translation for the first time, exploring topics including material culture, food, technology, ritual, religion, medicine, gender, family and language.

1. Apparel and accessories; 2. Food, part 1: the food of Song; 3. Food, part 2: the food of Liao, Western Xia and Jin; 4. Housing and indoors appliances; 5. Transportation and communications; 6. Women: Han women living in the territory of Song; 7. Women: ethnic women living in the territories of Liao, Western Xia, Jin, Dali and ethnic settlements under the jurisdiction of Song; 8. Marriage, part 1: marriage of Han people under the jurisdiction of Song; 9. Marriage, part 2: marriage of ethnic people living in the territories of Liao, Western Xia, Jin, Dali and ethnic settlements under the jurisdiction of Song; 10. Childbirth and old-age care; 11. Funeral and burial practices, part 1: funeral and burial practices of Han people under the jurisdiction of Song; 12. Funeral and burial practices, part 2: those of Liao, Western Xia, Jin, Dali and ethnic settlements under the jurisdiction of Song; 13. Social activities and related etiquette; 14. Religious beliefs; 15. Worship of various natural gods; 16. Witchery and divination; 17. Entertainment and sports; 18. Medical and healthcare practices; 19. Appellations and seniority among siblings; 20. Taboos; 21. Personal symbols; 22. Chinese character tattoos, pattern tattoos and flower pinning; 23. Holidays and vacations; 24. Oral and written languages; 25. The family organization; 26. Festivals; Postscript; Index.