Civilization and Vices: Typical Chinese People: Typical Chinese People

Author: Arthur H. Smith
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This book pioneered the study of Chinese national character and had a profound influence on later scholars. It marked the end of a century of Western debates about the personalities of the Chinese and drew great attention from Lu Xun. Lu Xun wrote The True Story of Ah Q as a response to it. Fourteen days before his death, Lu Xun solemnly recommended this book to the Chinese people. Lin Yutang's The Chinese and Pearl S. Buck's Nobel Prize-winning first novel The Good Earth can also be seen as clearly influenced by Arthur H. Smith. This book is a popular read for foreigners to understand China, and it has been published for 115 years. Today, some foreigners still consider it the for understanding the Chinese. The Chinese are no longer the same as they were a century ago, and China has undergone tremendous changes, but the 27 characteristics of the Chinese summarized in this book still resonate and provoke deep reflection today. President Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter to the author, stating that reading this book greatly deepened his understanding of China. This book pioneered the reflection on Chinese national character. Lu Xun wrote The True Story of Ah Q in response to it and solemnly recommended this book to the Chinese people before his death. Lin Yutang's The Chinese was clearly influenced by it.