Jesuit Mission and Submission: Qing Rulership and the Fate of Christianity in China, 1644–1735

Abstract

and worth more historians’ attention. The Aura of Confucius is a model study of a single place and its sources, treated in depth and breadth. It brings fresh detail to the social history of the Lower Yangtze region and usefully expands the boundaries of conventional art history. By examining the difficulties in making Kongzhai flourish, Murray also makes significant additions to our increasing understanding of both Chinese institution-building and the complex afterlife of Master Kong. Reflecting on Kongzhai’s past in 2020, Julia Murray was not optimistic about its future. However, as James Robson noted in a book launch on April 22, 2022, one may not need to be so pessimistic. Today, far flimsier connections can and do undergird popular tourist destinations. The residences of famous families are safely promoted, newly wealthy patrons are anxious to create and demonstrate cultural and social status, and Confucius himself, while still something of a wild card, has again been taken up by the governing powers. Exciting research lies ahead. Stay tuned.