Inside the Ming Dynasty: A Peking University History PhD Uncovers Secrets of the Imperial Palace

The Affairs of the Ming Dynasty: A Peking University History PhD Reveals the Secrets of the Ming Palace takes readers deep into the Ming court through extensive excavation and analysis of historical sources. It gradually unveils the complex personal relationships within the imperial household, portrays the fierce struggles and conflicts among the women of the inner palace, and sets down the hidden history and truth behind the palace walls. The book reveals a wealth of new material and fresh perspectives. Its lively, witty prose blends storytelling with commentary, drawing on the past to illuminate the present. Its observations are stimulating and memorable, leaving a lasting impression.

Since the book began running in the History Discussion section of the Tianya Community forum, some media outlets have called it “the Ming dynasty's Empresses in the Palace,” while readers have praised it as “Tianya's legendary history post.” They feel that the author, a trained “professor of history,” brings a seasoned, incisive style to the subject, skillfully combining the clarification and verification of historical facts with vivid storytelling and a realist historical perspective that draws on the past to examine the present. In doing so, the book has pioneered a new form of historical writing that blends narrative and commentary. It is more profound and historically weighty than the popular “storytelling” and “essay” styles of history, setting a new standard for modern vernacular historical writing.