China: A History

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The other thing that I like about the book is that even though it’s not about this, there are some characters sprinkled in that move between China and the United States. There’s some cross-cultural understanding or misunderstanding. Te-Ping Chen is a very good journalist, and a very talented writer of fiction as well. It would be a perfect book club book. The Song dynasty was also a period of major innovation in the history of warfare. Gunpowder, while invented in the Tang dynasty, was first put into use in battlefields by the Song army, inspiring a succession of new firearms and siege engines designs. During the Southern Song dynasty, as its survival hinged decisively on guarding the Yangtze and Huai River against the cavalry forces from the north, the first standing navy in China was assembled in 1132, with its admiral's headquarters established at Dinghai. Paddle-wheel warships equipped with trebuchets could launch incendiary bombs made of gunpowder and lime, as recorded in Song's victory over the invading Jin forces at the Battle of Tangdao in the East China Sea, and the Battle of Caishi on the Yangtze River in 1161. China > History > The Ming dynasty > Political history > The dynastic succession", Encyclopædia Britannica Online, 2007 In 771 BC, King You and his forces were defeated in the Battle of Mount Li by rebel states and Quanrong barbarians. The rebel aristocrats established a new ruler, King Ping, in Luoyang, [35] :4 beginning the second major phase of the Zhou dynasty: the Eastern Zhou period, which is divided into the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. The former period is named after the famous Spring and Autumn Annals. The decline of central power left a vacuum. The Zhou empire now consisted of hundreds of tiny states, some of them only as large as a walled town and surrounding land. These states began to fight against one another and vie for hegemony. The more powerful states tended to conquer and incorporate the weaker ones, so the number of states declined over time. [36] By the 6th century BC most small states had disappeared by being annexed and just a few large and powerful principalities remained. Some southern states, such as Chu and Wu, claimed independence from the Zhou, who undertook wars against some of them (Wu and Yue). Many new cities were established in this period and society gradually became more urbanized and commercialized. Many famous individuals such as Laozi, Confucius and Sun Tzu lived during this chaotic period. Wilkinson, Endymion (2018). Chinese History: A New Manual (5thed.). Cambridge: Harvard University Asia Center. ISBN 978-0-9988883-0-9.

The Eastern Han dynasty was one of the most prolific eras of science and technology in ancient China, notably the historic invention of papermaking by Cai Lun, and the numerous scientific and mathematical contributions by the famous polymath Zhang Heng. Xu, Pingfang (2005). The Formation of Chinese Civilization: An Archaeological Perspective. Yale University Press. p.281. ISBN 978-0-300-09382-7.

When we examine China in the post-Mao era, we often focus on the booming urbanisation, consumerism, technology and mega-companies. But what about the religion and spirituality of China? This topic is crucial for understanding the complex fabric of modern China. Ian Johnson masterfully uncovers what happened to China’s spirituality after the end of the Cultural Revolution. Qiu, Jane (7 January 2014). "Ancient times table hidden in Chinese bamboo strips. The 2,300-year-old matrix is the world's oldest decimal multiplication table". Nature. doi: 10.1038/nature.2014.14482. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. China is home to 130 million migrant workers. Every year they travel to their home villages for the New Year’s holiday and it’s the world’s largest human migration. Leslie T. Chang tells the story of these migrant workers through two young women working on the assembly lines of the industrial city Dongguan. Chang follows the women for three years, observing how the economic boom of China has changed the lives of many women working in the factories. From Chang’s own history to the real hardships and human side of China’s manufacturing industry, this book is a must-read on Chinese culture and history. I know you were excited last year about a new translation of Monkey King coming out. Was it needed?

Yu Hua says “If I were to try to attend each and every aspect of modern China, there would be no end to this endeavour, and the book would go on longer than The Thousand and One Nights. So I limit myself to just ten words.” With this foundation, Yu Hua covers Chinese culture, history, politics and society. He opens up the mysteries of modern China by sharing a witty and refreshing Chinese perspective. As one of the country’s most famous contemporary writers, you can’t miss reading this masterpiece. Zhang, Shanruo Ning (2016). Confucianism in Contemporary Chinese Politics: An Actionable Account of Authoritarian Political Culture. Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-7391-8240-6.Fairbank, J.K.; Goldman, M. (2006). China: A New History (2nded.). Harvard University Press. p.320. ISBN 978-0674018280. Major military campaigns were launched to weaken the nomadic Xiongnu Empire, limiting their influence north of the Great Wall. Along with the diplomatic efforts led by Zhang Qian, the sphere of influence of the Han Empire extended to the states in the Tarim Basin, opened up the Silk Road that connected China to the west, stimulating bilateral trade and cultural exchange. To the south, various small kingdoms far beyond the Yangtze River Valley were formally incorporated into the empire. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, as many as 3 million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minority groups are being held in China's internment camps which are located in the Xinjiang region and which American news reports often label as "concentration camps". [101] The camps were established in late 2010s under Xi Jinping's administration. [102] [103] Human Rights Watch says that they have been used to indoctrinate Uyghurs and other Muslims since 2017 as part of a " people's war on terror", a policy announced in 2014. [104] [105] [102] The camps have been criticized by the governments of many countries and human rights organizations for alleged human rights abuses, including mistreatment, rape, and torture, with some of them alleging genocide. [106] RELATED CONTENT: The first timer’s guide to China: where to go and what to do 3. China Witness by Xinran Image credit: Penguin Random House Zhu, R.X.; Potts, R.; Pan, Y.X.; Yao, H.T; Lü, L.Q.; Zhao, X.; Gao, X.; Chen, L.W.; Gao, F.; Deng, C.L. (December 2008). "Early evidence of the genus Homo in East Asia". Journal of Human Evolution. 55 (6): 1075–1085. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2008.08.005. PMID 18842287.