A Compendium of Chinese History (Illustrated Edition - Pao Yang's Fine Collection) (3 Volumes)

Author: Bei Yang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The Outline of Chinese History is a monumental work by the Taiwanese writer Bei Yang, who "dedicated himself to organizing Chinese history" during his nine years and twenty-six days in prison. It is called a monumental work for two reasons: first, in terms of length, the entire book is nearly 800,000 words, covering the mythological era of Pangu opening the heavens and earth all the way to the humiliating years of the late Qing Dynasty in the 20th century. Second, in terms of influence, The Outline has been the preferred choice for readers seeking a comprehensive understanding of Chinese history since its publication. There is also a third reason: the achievement of The Outline represents a high level of historical writing by the author. Bei Yang made outstanding contributions in making history engaging and readable while maintaining profound insight. Some features of The Outline:
Freestyle and effortless expression. A clear stance on historical events and figures. The "Eastern and Western Worlds" section at the end of each chapter, which is ingenious and visionary. The book's unique division of chapters by century and sections by topic, using the common Gregorian calendar instead of imperial eras, and dividing each century into ten decades for representation, all make the book's structure clear and the main themes easily identifiable, greatly facilitating reading.