Joanna Handlin Smith: The Art of Doing Good: Charity in Late Ming China. xiii, 405 pp. Berkeley, Los Angeles and London: University of California Press, 2009. £24.95. ISBN 978 0 520 25363 6.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. It may state two separate claims as one.

The book is essentially a Jiangnan story, even though it starts in Henan.

“It is, however, essentially a Jiangnan story, even though it starts in Henan.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Owing to the limitations of the available sources, the book is essentially a story about those in a position to give rather than those at the receiving end of the philanthropic endeavour.

“It is also, owing to the limitations of the available sources, essentially a story about those in a position to give rather than those at the receiving end of the philanthropic endeavour.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

In 1637 Chen Longzheng of Jiashan, Zhejiang, brought the charitable cause to its bloom and opened the society to include every man able to make even the smallest contribution.

“In 1637 Chen Longzheng from Jiashan, Zhejiang, in continuation of family traditions, brought the noble cause to its bloom, and opened the society to include every man who would be able to make even the smallest contribution.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The benevolent society concept became more inclusive when it spread from the central plains to the Yangzi Delta, where it continued to flourish until the end of the Ming dynasty.

“While Yang ' s society remained an elite affair, the concept became more inclusive when it spread from the central plains to the Yangzi Delta, where it continued to flourish right up to the end of the Ming dynasty.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it.

Lu Shiyi's diary of 1641 provides a rare alternative glimpse into the world of these philanthropists, about whom we mostly know only from their own writings.

“The role of lesser men in these associations is illustrated impressively by the more humble literatus Lu Shiyi from Taicang, whose diary of 1641 provides a rare alternative glimpse into the world of these outstanding philanthropists about whom we mostly know only from their own writings.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper may give no reason why it holds. It may state two separate claims as one.

The exploration of the inner worlds of late-Ming people reveals that Chinese people are capable of genuine compassion and do value life.

“The exploration of the inner worlds of late-Ming people, much to our surprise it seems, reveals that Chinese people are capable of genuine compassion and that they do value life.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Qi Biaojia, from a wealthy Shaoxing gentry background, left a substantial diary documenting his tireless commitment to famine relief work.

“Most prominent among these, because he left a substantial diary that documents his tireless commitment to famine relief work, is Qi Biaojia from a wealthy Shaoxing gentry background, the hero of the second part of this summa of two decades of research.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Increasing literacy and the flourishing print culture of the time made knowledge, in particular medical knowledge, available in an unprecedented way and facilitated the dissemination of morality literature promoting the value of charitable acts.

“It is equally a story about increasing literacy and the flourishing print culture of the time, making available knowledge, in particular medical knowledge, in an unprecedented way and, equally crucial, facilitating the dissemination of the morality literature that promoted the value of charitable acts.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

The crises of the last decades of the Ming are not a safe guide to explaining the surge of charity, because there have been other periods of severe crises that did not see a comparable surge of interest in doing good.

“The crises of the last decades of the Ming are not a safe guide, as there have been other periods of severe crises that did not see a comparable surge of interest in doing good.”

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

The new practice of institutionalized philanthropy was discontinued in its place of origin.

“Unfortunately, along the way this new practice of institutionalized philanthropy seems to have been discontinued in its place of origin.”

It may state two separate claims as one.

Qi Biaojia spent 5,000 taels on his garden, as opposed to charitable donations ranging from 10 to 300 taels.

“We find the super rich Qi Biaojia spending fortunes on his garden (5,000 taels as opposed to his charitable donations ranging from 10 to 300 taels, pp. 110, 114)”

• cites pp. 110, 114Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

Probably not a substantial claim. The paper’s conclusions may not depend on it. The paper may give no reason why it holds.

The desperately poor struggled to survive the agricultural slack season even in years with normal harvests.

“and the desperately poor struggling to survive the agricultural slack season, even in years with normal harvests.”