本书作者以明万历十五年（公元1587年）前后的史事及生活在那个时代的人物为中心，梳理了中国传统社会管理层面存在的种种问题，并在此基础上探索现代中国应当汲取的经验和教训。(This book details the historical events and people living around the 15th year of the Ming Wanli Era (AD 1587). It summarizes the problems on all levels of traditional Chinese social management and on this basis explores experiences and lessons that should be learned by modern China.)