Social Life Of The Chinese

First Published in 2005. This is the most complete and detailed account of the traditional domestic and daily life of the Chinese in the mid-nineteenth century. Writing in the 1860's, Doolittle concentrates on social and religious customs, revealing the people through their practices and material culture which he observed for over fourteen years. Colourful, exotic and compelling, this is a more telling portrait than any history or encyclopedia, an innovative tour de force of popular culture, and a classic ahead of its time. Doolittle lived midway between Shanghai and Canton, the origin of the overseas Chinese diaspora. The world he describes here may have vanished in mainland China, but endures in Chinatowns and Chinese homes around the world.

Professor Justus Doolittle

Introduction.-Chinese Life in Fuhchau I.-Agricultural and Domestic Matters II.-Betrothal and Marriage III.-Betrothal and Marriage-continued IV.-Married Life and Children V.-Superstitious Treatment of Disease VI.-Death, Mourning, and Burial YII.-Death, Mourning, and Burial-continued VIII.-Ancestral Tablets and Ancestral Halls IX.-Priests of the Three Religions X.-Popular Gods and Goddesses XI.-Popular Gods and Goddesses-continued XII.-Mandarins and their Subordinates XIII.-Mandarins and their Subordinates-continued. XIV.-The State Religion XV.-Competitive Literary Examinations XVI.-Competitive Literary Examinations-continued. XVII.-Competitive Literary Examinations-continued. XVIII.-Chinese Anecdotes XIX,-Established Annual Customs and Festivals. XX.-Established Annual Customs and Festivals-continued XXI.-Established Annual Customs and Festivals-continued XXII.-Singular and Popular Superstitions XXIII.-Business Customs XXIY.-Meritorious or Charitable Practices XXY.-Meritorious or Charitable Practices-continued. XXVI.-Social Customs XXVII.-Social Customs-continued XXVIII.-Social Customs-continued XXIX.-Miscellaneous Opinion sand Practices. XXX.-Miscellaneous Opinions and Practices-continued. XXXI.-Charms and Omens XXXII.-Fortune-Telling XXXIII.-Opium and Opium-Smoking XXXIV.-Missionary Topics XXXV.-Missionary Topics-continued XXXVI.-Interior View of Peking