This volume brings together a number of important studies by leading scholars on various aspects of intellectual and institutional developments during the early Chinese empire.
The subjects treated cover law and ritual (J.L. Kroll, Jacques Gernet, Léon Vandermeersch and M.J. Meijer), philosophy and religion (Derk Bodde, U. Libbrecht, Robert P. Kramers and E. Zürcher) and literature and entertainments (David Knechtges and Michael Loewe). Some contributions deal with aspects of the Han legacy to later Chinese culture (W.L. Idema and Harriet T. Zurndorfer). These studies are preceded by a biography and bibliography (Ph. de Heer) of Anthony F.P. Hulsewé in honour of whose eightieth birthday this Festschrift was compiled.