This book, the first of a two-volume set, presents the xiangli system throughout Imperial China, tracing its development from the pre-Qin period to the Tang dynasty. The xiangli system is a cornerstone of Imperial China's rural governance. Rural Control in Imperial China vols. I and II illuminates how state power extended to the villages, and also examines how the rural population was integrated into the dynastic system. This first volume begins by clarifying the concept of the xiangli system and introduces three perspectives for approaching this research topic -- political, social and historical. The four chapters of Volume II then delve into the roots of the system and its implementation from the pre-Qin period to the Tang dynasty, covering eight historical periods in ancient China. This two-volume set will be essential reading for scholars and students of China and Chinese history, particularly those interested in rural governance and control in Imperial China.