Art, Politics, and Palace Eunuchs in Ming China, 1368–1644

This is the first in-depth analysis of the place of the Ming palace eunuchs in the social history of Chinese art, examining the intricate intersections of art, politics, and palace eunuchs in the Ming dynasty. In addition to articulating the elite eunuchs’ roles as important power brokers in the political arena, this monograph offers a balanced view of Ming eunuchs, with evidence of their accomplishments as book authors, editors, and compilers, poets, calligraphers, and art collectors, the Confu