Crisis and Reconstruction: The Tang Empire and Its Regional Warlords

Combining traditional intellectual history with the methods of “new cultural history,” this book offers a systematic and in-depth examination of the conception, formation, development, and meaning of the modern idea of the Chinese nation.

The book explores the An Lushan Rebellion of the Tang Dynasty and the formation and impact of the regional military governor system that followed. It analyzes changes in the geopolitical landscape and military strategy across Henan, Guanzhong, Hebei, Jianghuai, and other regions during the era of the regional military governors.

Drawing on a wealth of historical sources, the author reveals how the Tang Empire reshaped its territory, rebuilt central authority, and adjusted its regional policies in response to internal strife and external threats, showing how these changes affected social class shifts.

Through detailed analyses of Henan, Guanzhong, Hebei, Jianghuai, and other regions, the book not only depicts the political, military, and cultural characteristics of the era of the regional military governors, but also reveals the profound impact of these changes on the decline of the Tang Empire.