A Long and Winding Road: China's Road Culture

Author: Ma Honglu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The Chinese nation indeed had a past worth being proud of. Qin emperors and Han emperors, Tang emperors and Song emperors, the Silk Road, the Four Great Inventions—these stories have been told time and time again., we are proud of our ancestors' achievements, but what good does that do? Civilization was originally a shared treasure of humanity, yet in modern times, it seems to have become a monopoly of the West. Eliminating backwardness, ignorance, and barbarism became the pretext for the great powers to wage war; the series of failures of the Qing government repeatedly shattered the Chinese people's dream of being a superior nation. Dreams led to tragedies, and tragedies evolved into potential nightmares. Today, we compile this series not to repeat old stories or to revive lost dreams. In fact, China can no longer indulge in dreams, but it should also not sink into nightmares. China's ancient civilization has its own place in the world. As we enter the 21st century, it is urgently needed to have a scientific understanding of it. We hope, through meaningful explorations by experts and scholars, lively and engaging writing, and beautifully printed illustrations, to open up a new perspective for readers to reflect on history. May all dreams and nightmares belong to the past, and may we better face the present and the future.