Superfluous Things: Material Culture and Social Status in Early Modern China

Superfluous Things examines the material culture of Ming Dynasty China through objects, texts, and social practices of the elite class. The book focuses specifically on the late Ming period (1550-1644), when connoisseurship and luxury consumption reached new heights. Through analysis of period texts and artifacts, Clunas explores how the ownership and appreciation of objects - from paintings to furniture to books - became markers of social status and cultural refinement. He investigates the ways Ming elites used knowledge about objects to demonstrate their sophistication and justify their social position. Ming-era manuals, guidebooks, and treatises on taste and collecting serve as primary sources to understand how people were taught to evaluate and discuss material goods. The author examines both the actual objects and the discourse around them, including debates about authenticity, value, and proper appreciation. The work reveals complex connections between consumption, social mobility, and power in late imperial China. By studying these "superfluous things," the book illuminates broader questions about how material culture shapes social hierarchies and self-identity.

Readers describe this as a dense academic text focused on Ming dynasty material culture, particularly through the lens of luxury items and connoisseurship. Readers appreciate: - Detailed analysis of how objects reflected social status - Clear explanations of Chinese terms and concepts - Extensive use of primary sources - Thorough examination of consumption patterns Common criticisms: - Writing style is dry and repetitive - Heavy use of academic jargon makes it inaccessible - Some sections feel overanalyzed - Limited appeal beyond academic audiences One reviewer noted it "requires serious concentration but rewards close reading." Another called it "enlightening but exhausting." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (6 ratings) Google Books: No ratings available The book has limited reviews online, likely due to its specialized academic nature. Most reviewers are scholars or graduate students in East Asian studies.

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🏮 The book focuses heavily on the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), a period when China experienced unprecedented growth in luxury consumption and the creation of detailed guides for "tasteful living" 📜 Craig Clunas became the first-ever Professor of Chinese Art at Oxford University, serving in this position from 2007 to 2018 🎨 The text examines how everyday objects like inkstones, furniture, and paintings became markers of social status and cultural sophistication in Ming China 🏛️ The book draws extensively from a 16th-century manual called "Treatise on Superfluous Things" by Wen Zhenheng, which provided detailed instructions on how elite Chinese should furnish their homes 🍵 One key focus of the book is how connoisseurship of ordinary items (like teapots or rocks) became a crucial way for Ming Dynasty scholars to demonstrate their refinement and separate themselves from merchants who could simply buy expensive things