Our country and our people

Author: Lin Yutang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2002-06-01
Features: The Republic of China and My People, also known as The Chinese People, is Lin Yutang's breakthrough and representative work in the Western literary world. It is a "book about China that is true, profound, comprehensive, and important" (as praised by Nobel Prize laureate Pearl S. Buck). Since its publication in 1935, it has caused a sensation both domestically and internationally. The Republic of China and My People, also known as The Chinese People, is Lin Yutang's breakthrough and representative work in the Western literary world. Due to its meticulous portrayal of the character, soul, ideals, life, politics, society, and culture of the Chinese people, as well as its extensive and in-depth comparison with those of the Westerners, it has caused a sensation both domestically and internationally since its publication in 1935. It has been translated into multiple languages and widely circulated in the West. The book has had several editions, with the most recent being the full translation of The Chinese People published by Xuelin Press in January 2002, with 14.75 printing units and a price of 24.8 yuan. It is Lin Yutang's representative work, deeply influential, and continuously reprinted. The Republic of China and My People, also known as The Chinese People, is Lin Yutang's (1895–1976) breakthrough and representative work in the Western literary world. Due to the book's exquisite portrayal of the character, soul, ideals, life, politics, society, and art of the Chinese people, as well as its extensive and in-depth comparison with those of the Westerners, it caused a sensation both domestically and internationally since its publication in 1935 by John Day Company in New York, USA. It was highly regarded by many prominent figures in the United States and has been translated into multiple languages, widely circulated in the West.
Author Bio: Lin Yutang (October 3, 1895 – March 26, 1976), a native of Longxi, Fujian. Originally named Hele, later changed to Yutang, then to Yutang. In 1912, he entered Shanghai Saint John's University and taught at Tsinghua University after graduation. In the autumn of 1919, he went to the United States to study at Harvard University's Department of Literature. In 1922, he obtained a master's degree in literature. That same year, he transferred to the University of Leipzig in Germany to specialize in linguistics. After receiving his doctorate in 1923, he returned to China and served as a professor at Peking University, as well as the director of the Department of English at Beijing Normal Women's Normal School. From 1924 onwards, he became one of the main contributors to Yusi. In 1926, he became the head of the College of Arts at Xiamen University. In 1927, he served as a secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1932, he edited the monthly magazine Lunyu. In 1934, he founded Renjian Shijie (Human World), and in 1935, he founded Yuzhou Feng (Mystic Universe), advocating for the "self-centered and leisurely style" of short essays. After 1935, he wrote cultural works and novels such as The Republic of China and My People, A Dream of Red Mansions, and The Sound of the Wind and the Cries of the Cranes in English while in the United States. In 1944, he once returned to China to lecture in Chongqing. In 1945, he went to Singapore to establish Nanyang University and served as its president. In 1952, he co-founded the magazine Tian Feng with others in the United States. In 1966, he settled in Taiwan. In 1967, he was appointed as a research professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 1975, he was elected as the vice president of the International P.E.N. Club. In 1976, he passed away in Hong Kong.
This book has now been published, just as all great books eventually are. It meets all the requirements mentioned above. It is realistic and unashamed of its truthfulness. It is beautifully written, both serious and joyful, offering the correct understanding and evaluation of ancient and modern China. I believe it is the most true, profound, comprehensive, and important work about China to date. Even more commendable is that it was written by a Chinese, a modern Chinese. His roots are deeply planted in the past, yet his rich fruits are borne in the present. —Nobel Prize laureate Pearl S. Buck