Under the sky ()

Author: Han Yuhai
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Features: A thought-provoking human geography reading; A must-read governance strategy map for officials; A classic work that will surely spark a major discussion. Travel with the wise, listen to the sages, gain profound insights into geography, history, culture, religion, trade, and the deep integration of closely linked ethnic groups, savoring over 500 precious and interesting historical illustrations. This book collects essays written by Professor Han Yuhai of Peking University over the years, inspired by his travels to China's border regions, Korea, Japan, and even Europe and America. These include studies on the historical, ethnic, and institutional aspects of places such as Northeast China's old industrial base, Shangri-La in Yunnan, Greater Shanghai, Beijing's urban water system planning, and Henan's "earthen fortress villages." Additionally, the book explores civilizational and institutional research on Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Germany.
The author discusses the world at large, focusing on the concept of "momentum"—the very wisdom that All Under Heaven seeks to convey. All Under Heaven collects essays by Professor Han Yuhai written over the years, inspired by his travels to China's border regions, Korea, Japan, and even Europe and America. These include studies on the historical, ethnic, and institutional aspects of places such as Shanghai's concessions, Shangri-La in Yunnan, Northeast China's old industrial base, Beijing's urban water system planning, and Henan's "earthen fortress villages." The book also explores civilizational and institutional research on Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Germany. Most of these essays were published in magazines like Book City and Tianya and were highly praised by readers. The essay "From Afar" won the 2004 Guo Moruo Essay Award.
All Under Heaven includes 12 recent essays published over the years. They appeared sporadically—some in Book City magazine, others at international conferences—but when gathered together by a discerning reader, they gained the momentum of a spark igniting a fire. This "momentum" is the key to unlocking Han's writing. The three essays "From Afar," "Northwest Prosperity," and "This Beautiful Shangri-La" take readers from Northeast China to the Northwest and Southwest, shifting focus away from the excessively highlighted Jiangnan region to the inland frontier, aiming to reveal China's true inner courtyard and support system. "A Single Read and Snow Flies from the Head" and "The Legend of the Island" examine the twists and turns of two important cities—Guangzhou and Shanghai—in the historical whirlpool, detailing their struggles and transformations amid various interest groups. "The Death of Silver" uses three perspectives—industrial revolution, the Opium War, and the dianhui system—to pierce through the fog of that tumultuous period.
In the afterword, the author writes that the poem "The Peach Blossom Fan" by "Nan Jiang Jiangbei, matters tangled like hemp, half leaning on Liu's family, half on Ruan's, three sides play chess, don't plan for it, one move in the southwest fears competition" captures the turning point of the rise and fall of the world—it is "balance of power," which is the wisdom that All Under Heaven seeks to convey.