Perduring Protest?

Perspectives on the History of Remonstrance in China

Contributions by Felix Bohlen Contributions by Eugen Wiens Contributions by Béatrice L’Haridon Contributions by Thomas Crone Contributions by Paul Fahr Contributions by Christian Schwermann Edited by Thomas Crone Edited by Paul Fahr Edited by Christian Schwermann

Book cover: Perduring Protest?

Extent: 204 pages

Publisher: V&R unipress

Subjects: Asian/Pacific Studies & Religions, Social Sciences 

Series: Studien zu Macht und Herrschaft

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(December 2023)

ISBN: 9783847116516

6.3 x 9.33 inches

Price: $62.00

In stock

Early Chinese inscriptions show that already the kings of the Western Zhou period (1045-771 BCE) called upon officials to submit remonstrances. However, it was not until the Warring States period (fifth century BCE to 221 BCE) that remonstrance was explained to mean that monarchical rule would be optimized if officials could object to the monarch’s decisions. This book examines the history of remonstrance in China from conceptual, institutional, literary, and comparative perspectives, pointing out parallels to European institutions and the expression of dissent in modern China. Special attention is paid to the historical semantics of remonstrance, the strategies and intentions of remonstrants, and the perspective of the rulers who instrumentalized criticism to pursue their own goals.


Early Chinese inscriptions show that already the kings of the Western Zhou period (1045-771 BCE) called upon officials to submit remonstrances. However, it was not until the Warring States period (fifth century BCE to 221 BCE) that remonstrance was explained to mean that monarchical rule would be optimized if officials could object to the monarch’s decisions. This book examines the history of remonstrance in China from conceptual, institutional, literary, and comparative perspectives, pointing out parallels to European institutions and the expression of dissent in modern China. Special attention is paid to the historical semantics of remonstrance, the strategies and intentions of remonstrants, and the perspective of the rulers who instrumentalized criticism to pursue their own goals.

  • Contributions by Felix Bohlen
  • Contributions by Eugen Wiens
  • Contributions by Béatrice L’Haridon
  • Contributions by Thomas Crone
  • Contributions by Paul Fahr
  • Contributions by Christian Schwermann
  • Edited by Thomas Crone
  • Edited by Paul Fahr
  • Edited by Christian Schwermann