A Compendium of Chinese History (Volumes I, II, III)

Author: Bei Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: This book is the blood and tears of Bei Yang's ten years in prison. Under extremely harsh conditions, it extracts the essence of the vast Chinese history into a historical outline, emphasizing not only the major trends but also the historical insight. Bei Yang possesses a solid foundation in historical research. He divides Chinese history into non-factual history and factual history, with the former ranging from mythology and legends to the semi-factual era, and the latter starting from the 9th century BC and extending to the late Qing Dynasty. The author focuses on the key aspects of the nation's rise and fall, the rise and decline of politics, and the characteristics of academic development, handling the text with ease and grace. This book is listed as one of the top ten most influential books.
Our country is only one, and that is China. We take pride in being Chinese, not in being subjects of a dynasty. When China was strong, like during the Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, or Qing Dynasty, we were indeed proud to be subjects of those dynasties. When China was weak, like during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Five Dynasties, the Song Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, or the late Qing Dynasty, we still took pride in being Chinese. China is our mother, our only foothold. All dynasties are merely dynasties of China, and all nations are but different names for China.
Bei Yang, as a writer of reference books, was often sneered at by arrogant and shallow historians. But if you understand that only the knowledge you write yourself is truly yours, you will appreciate and respect the authors of reference books. Those who have a superficial understanding of basic historical facts of the Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties but claim to be experts in a specific topic are, in my opinion, not worth discussing. Bei Yang is my friend and colleague, but when it comes to basic historical facts like the Warring States period or the Eight Kings' Rebellion, I dare only to seek his advice and not to debate with him.
The long and arduous imprisonment of the renowned overseas Chinese historian Tang Degang honed Bei Yang's extraordinary insight into the strengths and weaknesses of various historical systems, the success and failure of policies, the rise and fall of societies, the inclinations of the human heart, and the nature of human beings—qualities often lacking in high-sounding, textbook-style history books. This monumental work, "A History of the Chinese People," spanning five thousand years and covering ten thousand miles, reflects a deep sense of concern for the times and a keen understanding of subtle truths. It is undoubtedly a great work that makes one worry about the world and explore changes in society.
Lei Yi, Researcher at the Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
"A History of the Chinese People" was written by Bei Yang from 1968 to 1977 while he was in prison. After its publication in Taiwan, it received rave reviews and was listed as one of the top ten most influential books in Taiwan. The Chinese simplified edition was published in mainland China by China Friendship Publishing House in 1998. This newly released three-volume illustrated edition of "A History of the Chinese People" has been revised by Bei Yang, preserving as much of the original book as possible. Improvements have been made to the use of the term "China" in the book, adjusting it according to specific contexts; the names of people and places have been modified to align with the usage familiar to mainland readers; obscure characters have been annotated with pronunciations and explanations for easier reading; and over 200 illustrations have been added. This is currently the most authoritative and complete edition of "A History of the Chinese People."
Our country is only one, and that is China. We take pride in being Chinese, not in being subjects of a dynasty. When China was strong, like during the Han Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, or Qing Dynasty, we were indeed proud to be subjects of those dynasties. When China was weak, like during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Five Dynasties, the Song Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty, or the late Qing Dynasty, we still took pride in being Chinese. China is our mother, our only foothold. All dynasties are merely dynasties of China, and all nations are but different names for China.