History of Guangdong: Ancient Volume 1

Author: Fang Zhiqin, edited by Jiang Zuyuan, and Wang Tingkui as the chief editor of this volume
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1996-04-01
Features: The modern and contemporary history of Guangdong is indeed tumultuous, colorful, and ever-evolving, leaving one awestruck. Many of its figures and events are closely tied to the nation and are frequently discussed in general Chinese history, so many historical facts are not unfamiliar to readers both within and outside the province. Precisely because of this, the selection of materials and arguments is inevitably similar to those of modern Chinese history. If it were entirely identical, it would lack its own distinctiveness and personality, rendering its value insignificant. Therefore, the challenge of writing the modern and contemporary history of Guangdong lies not in having no guidelines to follow, but in making breakthroughs. The authors, aware of this, deliberately innovated during the writing process. To summarize, first, for the Guangdong historical events narrated in other books on modern Chinese history, we have elaborated on the brief accounts, corrected the errors, debated the inappropriate analyses, and supplemented the omissions; second, for significant matters that were overlooked in existing books on modern Chinese history, we have provided additional accounts; third, we have paid attention to local characteristics and the description and analysis of geographical and cultural environments. As for socio-economic aspects, such as industry, agriculture, commerce, culture, education, ethnic issues, and the Overseas Chinese community, this book places particular emphasis on them, striving to provide a more detailed discussion to fill the gaps or shortcomings of past similar works. In terms of politics, we have strived to comprehensively reflect the intricate relationships among various political forces and factions, distinguishing it from previously published books on the history of the Communist Party of China, the Kuomintang, and the Chinese Revolution, thereby showcasing the comprehensiveness of general history. Hong Kong and Macau originally belonged to Guangdong and came under British and Portuguese rule in modern times, yet they remain closely linked to the province. Therefore, this book also includes discussions on Hong Kong and Macau issues.