The Faces of Power
- Description:
- Impressions:
The Faces of Power by Zhang Hongjie presents the operation of imperial authority in Chinese history through vivid portraits and case studies. Zhang illustrates how emperors and officials embodied power, how institutions shaped it, and how ideology sustained it, rather than discussing it in the abstract. The book reveals the grandeur and fragility of centralized rule, emphasizing the contradictions between morality and pragmatism and the struggles of those in positions of power. It is a highly relevant work for readers who are interested in the universal dynamics of governance and the history of China, as it is both an engaging narrative and a contemplation on the nature of political authority.
