Modern Chinese History

Author: Jiang Tingfu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-04-01
Features: This book defines "Modern Chinese History" as "the history of modernization in China," making the question of whether China could modernize and how it could modernize the main theme of the book. It examines three modernization schemes: the Self-Strengthening Movement led by Prince Gong Yixun, Zeng Guofan, and Li Hongzhang as the first modernization plan; the Reform Movement led by Kang Youwei as the second modernization plan; and the Boxer Movement, or "Boxer Rebellion," as the third modernization plan. All these schemes ultimately failed. Therefore, the book proposes its own viewpoint: "Modernization of national defense not only requires modern transportation, education, and economy but also modernized politics and a modernized citizenry. Half-new and half-old approaches are ineffective. In other words, for China to survive in the modern era, it must fully adopt Western culture." The academic tradition pioneered by this book was once the mainstream framework for the study of modern Chinese history. However, after the modern history research conducted by Fan Wenlan, Hu Sheng, and others, this framework was completely replaced by the so-called "new academic tradition" that demanded ideological conformity in the study of modern Chinese history. In the old Chinese academic circles, more than half of the works on modern China and China's foreign relations in modern times were "inherently" based on Jiang Tingfu's historical perspectives. This book is known as "a small but renowned book in the field of history," "highly academically rigorous," "well-known in the academic world," "one of the most influential works on modern Chinese history," "a timeless classic," "the apex of a pyramid of great works," "every word a gem, leaving one in awe," "still a classic in modern history to this day," "a masterpiece of historical scholarship," "the foundational work of modern Chinese history," "superior to most later works of a similar nature," "pioneering in its approach," "broad in perspective and uniquely innovative," "not mere technical skill but grand craftsmanship," "a scholarly gem representing an era," "a groundbreaking contribution to modern historical studies," "a small book with a grand history," "condensing ten years of research," and "a weighty work of historical scholarship." This book not only established Jiang Tingfu's academic reputation in the field of modern history but also reflects his unique understanding of Chinese culture and China's future destiny as a scholar deeply impacted by the Western tide.