In recent years, there have been numerous academic studies in the history of publishing in the Ming and Qing periods, along with the history of printing, the history of books, the history of bibliographic classification, the study of... more
In recent years, there have been numerous academic studies in the history of publishing in the Ming and Qing periods, along with the history of printing, the history of books, the history of bibliographic classification, the study of bibliography and the study of book editions. But in reviewing the related research, the author holds that in the analysis of book culture and publishing culture, questions of the economic behavior of commercial presses and questions of the activities of commercial sellers have implications for social
production at several levels. And while there are some studies on the
contemporary publishing industry and printing industry, in terms of research on the aspects of consumption and cultural production, there has still been little work done in this area and more needs to be done. In addition, approaches in the study of publishing culture and the study of commercial publishing activity in the West have gradually started to influence the field of Chinese history in the West, bringing about more systematic research. This article reviews the last twenty years of scholarship on the Ming and Qing periods publishing industry and the printing industry, and in the second part it discusses new findings on commercial publishing. And the essay concludes with a discussion of related fields in recent years, raising some prospective areas for future research and the possibilities for related pathways of research.
production at several levels. And while there are some studies on the
contemporary publishing industry and printing industry, in terms of research on the aspects of consumption and cultural production, there has still been little work done in this area and more needs to be done. In addition, approaches in the study of publishing culture and the study of commercial publishing activity in the West have gradually started to influence the field of Chinese history in the West, bringing about more systematic research. This article reviews the last twenty years of scholarship on the Ming and Qing periods publishing industry and the printing industry, and in the second part it discusses new findings on commercial publishing. And the essay concludes with a discussion of related fields in recent years, raising some prospective areas for future research and the possibilities for related pathways of research.
