The Four Sayings of the Sea Country

Author: Liang Tingneng (Qing Dynasty)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The so-called "Four Discourses" in this book, namely "The Difficulty of Christianity Entering China," "The Union Province Discourse," "Random Notes on Lanlun," and "The Guangdong Provincial Discourse," respectively introduce the general of Western religions, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and other countries. They chronicle how Western capitalist countries successively came eastward, opening China's doors with goods and religion, reflecting the process of China's understanding of the world during its transition to modernization. This book is one of the "Collected Notes on Qing Dynasty Historical Materials" and is one of the most representative works of author Liang Ting (Nan), written with the purpose of "planning coastal defense against barbarians." The book combines "The Difficulty of Christianity Entering China," "The Union Province Discourse," "Random Notes on Lanlun," and "The Guangdong Provincial Discourse" into one volume. The author chronicles the successive eastward arrivals of Western capitalist countries such as Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, and Spain, their aggressive attempts to open China's doors with goods, and their profit-driven nature. The book is innovative in content and insightful in perspective, playing a pioneering role in the history of modern Chinese thought and holding epoch-making significance.