p. 60:  Needham does not have such a positive attitude towards Tsou Yen, and regards Western influences upon Tsou Yen as not too likely.  The discussion on pp. 60-1 follows mainly my own researches.

p. 61:  The interpretation of secret societies is influenced by general sociological theory and detailed reports on later secret societies.  S. Murayama and most modern Chinese scholars stress almost solely the social element in the so-called “peasant rebellions”.

Chapter Five

p. 63:  The analysis of the emergence of Ch’in bureaucracy has profitted from general sociological theory, especially M. Weber (see the new analysis by R. Bendix, Max Weber, an Intellectual Portrait, Garden City 1960, p. 117-157).  Early administration systems of this type in China have been studied in several articles in the journal Yue-kung (vol. 6 and 7).

p. 65:  In the discussion of language, I use arguments which have been brought forth by P. Serruys against the previously generally accepted theories of B. Karlgren.—­For weights and measures I have referred to T. Sekino, Liu Fu and Wu Ch’eng-lo.

p. 66:  For this period, D. Bodde’s China’s First Unifier, Leiden 1938 and his Statesman, Patriot, and General in Ancient China, New Haven 1940 remain valuable studies.

Chapter Six

p. 71:  The basic historical text for this whole period, the Dynastic History of the Han Dynasty, is now in part available in English translation (H.  H. Dubs, The History of the Former Han Dynasty, Baltimore 1938, 3 volumes).

p. 72:  The description of the gentry is based upon my own research.  Other scholars define the word “gentry”, if applied to China, differently (some of the relevant studies are discussed in my note in the Bull.  School of Orient. & African Studies, 1955, p. 373 f.).

p. 73:  The theory of the cycle of mobility has been brought forth by Fr. L. K. Hsu and others.  I have based my criticism upon a forthcoming study of Social Mobility in Traditional Chinese Society.  The basic point is not the momentary economic or political power of such a family, but the social status of the family (Li-shih yen-chiu, Peking 1955, No. 4, p. 122).  The social status was, increasingly, defined and fixed by law (Ch’ue T’ung-tsu).—­The difference in the size of gentry and other families has been pointed out by a number of scholars such as Fr. L. K. Hsu, H. T. Fei, O. Lang.  My own research seems to indicate that gentry families, on the average, married earlier than other families.

p. 74:  The Han system of examinations or rather of selection has been studied by Yang Lien-sheng; and analysis of the social origin of candidates has been made in the Bull.  Chinese Studies, vol. 2, 1941, and 3, 1942.—­The meaning of the term “Hundred Families” has been discussed by W. Eichhorn, Kuo Mo-jo, Ch’en Meng-chia and especially by Hsue T’ung-hsin.  It was later also a fiscal term.