Power, Religion, and the Hospital in Premodern Asia

The roots of hospital practices predate modernity, nation-states, and biomedicine. While much has been written about medieval European hospitals, this book looks at the history of their Asian counterparts. It unpicks these institutions’ entanglement with ruler ideologies, charitable practices, and emerging legal frameworks for donations and endowments. Epigraphic, legal, and archaeological evidence indicates that attempts to secure the long-term endurance of these institutions were made, involving complex administrative frameworks as well as organized supply chains. Taking a transregional perspective, the volume assesses the impact of these institutions on the ground as well as the nature of their care protocols.