A comprehensive analysis of the transformations of ancient history in early Chinese texts.This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the accounts of change of rule in Chinese texts from 600 to 100 BC including the core philosophical works of the Chinese tradition attributed to Confucius Mozi Mencius Xunzi Hanfeizi and Zhuangzi. Drawing from the early structuralism of Claude LviStrauss Sarah Allan demonstrates that similar motifs repeat in every period and argues that they serve like myth to mediate the inherent social conflict between kinship relations and that of the larger community. This conflict is embodied in the idea of a dynastic cycle founded by a virtuous sage king and passed down hereditarily until a last evil ruler is again replaced and played out at regular intervals in legends of kings and ministers heirs and sages ministers and recluses regents and rebels.