Research: “Writing Unity”: strategies for Political and Bureaucratic Unification during the Chinese First Imperial Time
Mirko Bergamini, Curriculum Eastern Asia, 38th cycle
RESEARCH PROJECT’S ABSTRACT:
The huge bureaucratic system that distinguished the Chinese Empire for almost two millennia was founded during the Qin (221 – 206 BCE) and Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE) dynasties. Such a system needed standard regulations and principles that had to be followed by its officials throughout the imperial territory.
The current research project aims to analyse if these officials had a role in the process of imperial bureaucratic standardization. I will try to do so through the analysis of two manuscripts: the “Wei li zhi dao” 為吏之道 (The way to be an official), which is part of the cache of manuscripts found in a tomb near Shuihudi (Yunmeng County, Hubei), and the “Wei li zhi guan ji qianshou” 為吏治官及黔首 (How to be an official, and how to govern the office and the common people), which is part of the cache of manuscripts acquired by the Yuelu Academy (Changsha, Hunan). These two texts were handbooks used for training officials. Throughout their study, I will try to determine which were the primary criteria that these officials were instructed to follow.
Research project’s title: “Writing Unity”: strategies for Political and Bureaucratic Unification during the Chinese First Imperial Time
11/2022: PhD candidate at the Italian Institute of Oriental Studies (ISO), Sapienza University of Rome (Italy)
Supervisor: Attilio Andreini; co-supervisor: Federica Casalin
11/2019 – 9/2020: 24 CFU Program – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy)
09/2017 – 04/2021: Master’s Degree in Language and civilization of Asia and Mediterranean Africa, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy)
09/2014 – 10/2017: Bachelor’s Degree in Languages, cultures and societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy)