Confucianism and the Succession Crisis of the Wanli Emperor

Confucianism and the Succession Crisis of the Wanli Emperor introduces students to the suppleness and power of Confucian thought by recreating the historical context that applied to issues of governance during the Ming Dynasty.

Part of the “Reacting to the Past” series, this text consists of elaborate games in which students are assigned roles, informed by classic texts, set in particular moments of intellectual and social ferment. The game unfolds amidst the secrecy and intrigue within the walls of the Forbidden City, as scholars struggle to apply Confucian precepts to a dynasty in peril.