China Book

Today, China plays a vital role in world affairs and therefore knowledge of its rich history, controversial present and uncertain future is essential. Diverse areas of what is now China were unified into a multi-ethnic empire in 221 BCE by Qin Shi Huangdi, whose 'Underground Army' has fascinated so many. This imperial pattern, which continued to grow and evolve until the 'last emperor' abdicated in 1911, was founded on military force. Nonetheless, the empire was enlightened and spiritually deepened by Confucians, Daoists, Legalists and Buddhists, and poets, painters, farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs all flourished. The realm was eventually taken over by Central Asian Mongols and Manchus, and in the nineteenth century began to lose internal coherence and external authority. With the 1911 Revolution, China entered a new era as a Republic. The following years saw social upheaval, a prolonged civil war between Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists and Mao's Zedong's Communists, and a devastating war with Japan. In 1949, Chairman Mao proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China. After a period of consolidation, the Great Leap Forward of the late 1950s and the Cultural Revolution, 1966-76 revealed deep differences over social and economic strategies and led to political repression and economic frustration. Deng Xiaoping succeeded to power after Mao's death in 1976 and successfully pursued policies of opening China to the world and promoting economic reform. Deng's legacy of 'Socialism with Chinese characteristics', as underlined by the violent events of 1989, aims to combine political firmness with economic growth.