The History of Chinese Civilization

ISBN-13: 9789819971244 / Angielski

Xianqun Bu; Haiwang Yuan; Felix Liu

Spis treści

Chapter 1 Introduction: The Unique Path and Rich Connotation of Chinese Civilization 1

I. “Civilization” and “Chinese Civilization” 1

II. The Evolution of Chinese Civilization 6

III. The Basic Characteristics and Contemporary Values of Chinese Civilization 29

Chapter 2 Dawn of Civilization 36

I. The Origin of Agriculture 36

II. Unity in Diversity 40

III. Legends of Ancient History 45

Chapter 3 The Xia-Shang-Zhou Civilization 49

I. Erlitou and Yinxu 49

II. Creating Rites and Music 52

III. Tianming (Heavenly Mandate) and Depei (Matching Heaven with Virtue) 56

IV. The Institutional Reforms in the Various States 59

V. Various Schools of Thought and Their Exponents 61

VI. Oracle Bone Script and Bronze Inscriptions 65

Chapter 4 The Qin and Han Civilization 68

I. Qin Shi Huang Unified China by Annexing Six States 68

II. The Emperor Wu of Han with Great Talent and Bold Vision 73

III. Zhang Qian’s Journal to the Western Regions 76

VI. The Guangwu Restoration 78

V. History and Chinese Classical Studies 82

Chapter 5 Wei-Jin- Northern and Southern Dynasties Civilization 86

I. The Nine-rank System 86

II. Wei-Jin’s Charming Manners 90

III. The Migration Wave and the Development of Jiangnan 93

IV. Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei’s Institutional Reform and the Fusion of the Ethnic Peoples in the North 97

V. Buddhism and Taoism 100

Chapter 6 The Sui-Tang Civilization 105

I. Sansheng Liubu and Keju 105

II. Good Government of Zhenguan 110

III. Tang Code and Rites of the Kaiyun Era of the Great Tang 112

IV. Management of the Frontiers and Ethnic Minorities in the Tang Dynasty 115

V. Chang’an, a World Metropolis, and the Eastern Asian Cultural Sphere with Tang as the Core 116

VI. Tang Poetry 120

Chapter 7 The Song-Yuan Civilization 125

I. China Run by Scholar-Officials 125

II. The Rise of Neo-Confucianism 128

III. Commercial Cities’ Prosperity 131

IV. Dadu of Yuan: Shaping the Center of a Unified Multi-Ethnic State 133

V. Xingsheng: An Institutional Practice of Governing a Multi-Ethnic State 135

VI. A Brilliant Era of Cultural and Technological Prosperity 137

VII. The World-Communication-Expanding Silk Road 139

Chapter 8 The Ming-Qing Civilization 143

I. Zheng He’s Voyages to the Western Seas 143

II. The Beginning of Globalization 145

III. The High Qing Era 147

IV. Yangmingism and Kaoju 149

V. Yongle Dadian and Siku Quanshu 151

VI. Four Great Classical Chinese Novels 152

VII. Summary of Traditional Technology 155

Chapter 9 Modern Chinese Civilization 158

I. The Aggression of the Powers and the Civilization in Darkness 159

II. Striving for National Salvation and the 1898 Reform 163

III. The Xinhai Revolution and the Abdication of the Qing Emperor 172

IV. The New Cultural Movement and the Enlightenment of Minds 181

V. Attempt and Failure of Republicanism 188

VI. Introduction of Marxism and the Founding of the Communist Party of China 191

Chapter 10 A New Chapter of Chinese Civilization 196

I. The Establishment of a New State System 196

II. Pioneering the Path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics 198

III. The Socialist Economic and Scientific & Technological Construction Draws World Attention 199

IV. Chinese Civilization in the New Era 201

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O autorze

Xianqun Bu, male, has a Ph.D. in history and is researcher and director of the Institute of Ancient Chinese History of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, director of the academic board at the Institute, director of the Professional and Technical Title Evaluation Committee, State Council Special Allowance Expert, researcher, doctoral supervisor, deputy director of the academic committee of the institute, professor of the school of humanities of the Chinese Academy of Social sciences. He is also a member of History Discipline Evaluation Group of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, vice president of the Association of Chinese Historians, president of the Chinese Qin and Han History Research Association, vice president of the Chinese Geographical Names Heritage Cultural Protection Promotion Association, expert in the Chinese Social Science Fund Disciplinary Review Group, member of the Chinese Gazetteer Steering Group, director of the International Confucian Association, etc. 

Blurb

This book tracks the entire history of Chinese civilization from a broad historical view. Its narrative spans a long period between primitive society and contemporary civilization, which makes it a unique academic works.

From an academic point of view, this book is accurate in history and combines historical theories. Although brief, it captures the main thrust of the development of Chinese civilization and achieves a broad outline. Important figures, historical events, and achievements of civilization in all times are involved and discussed.

From a theoretical point of view, based on the characteristics of early Chinese civilization, the book discusses the connotation of key concepts such as "civilization" and "Chinese civilization", which have certain theoretical value.

From a contemporary and practical perspective, the book helps readers understand the history of Chinese civilization and promotes cultural exchanges between China and the world and leads to a better understanding of today’s China.