A Ming Confucian’s WorldA forgotten century marks the years between the Ming dynasty's (13681644) turbulent founding and its sixteenth century age of exploration and economic transformation. In this period of social stability, retired scholar official Lu Rong chronicled his observations of Chinese society in Miscellaneous Records from the Bean Garden (Shuyuan zaji). Openly expressing his admirations and frustrations, Lu provides a window into the quotidian that sets Bean