1895-1928-The Era of Warlord Rule in China-(A Complete Set of Five Volumes)

Author: Tao Juyin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: This book was published by the Shuqian Bookstore in 1959 and 1983 under the title "A Chronicle of the Warlord Era," and it is extremely rare in the market. It is said that there were two opinions about the book back then. One was from Mr. Cao Juren, who called the author a historian with sharp insight; the other was from the academic circle, which believed the review was biased. Now, it seems that for the latter, Mr. Tao was constrained by the circumstances of the time and had no choice but to do so; for the former, I cannot agree. In that era, it was simply impossible to produce a historian with sharp insight, and Mr. Tao was no exception. Liu Suli – A Personal Chronicle of the Early Republic by Tao Yin, a top reporter during the early Republic era, documenting China's unprecedented transformation in three thousand years. 17 years of rule, 13 presidents, 46 cabinets. Preserving the vividness and dynamism of news while capturing the rigor and grandeur of historical writing. A landscape of warlords, full of twists and turns. Wars, coups, assassinations, political struggles, student uprisings, labor strikes—everything was tried under the names of republicanism, presidentialism, federalism, constitutional monarchy, and responsible cabinet government. China's path to modernization was long and winding. Wang Xue'ai, Wu Si, Zhang Ming, Lei Yi, Li Yaping, Liu Suli. From the collapse of the late Qing Empire to the reunification of China by the Republic government, the transition from empire to "republic" is a crucial link connecting ancient and modern Chinese history, a key to understanding modern Chinese politics. For today, the history of the Republic era is perhaps one of the most important periods in Chinese history, and the period from 1912 to 1928 is especially critical. Even now, we have not fully understood or grasped it. Looking back, many phenomena remain difficult to comprehend: warlords, who were often rough individuals who believed "might makes right," sometimes showed fear and humility in the face of legal procedures; perhaps only a hundred thousand or at most a few hundred thousand could be considered intellectuals at that time, yet their political influence and social were unprecedented. Wang Xue'ai, Researcher at the Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Mr. Tao Juyin's works led me into the study of warlord history. Mr. Tao was one of the few renowned reporters during the Republic era, and the characters he wrote about, he had interviewed; the events he recorded, he had witnessed. His chronicles are filled with a strong sense of the scene. This vivid immediacy, through Mr. Tao's engaging writing, has had a profound impact on every reader. Zhang Ming, Doctoral Supervisor at Renmin University of China
Mr. Tao's 1.3 million-word "Chronicle" clearly and vividly depicts the complex and tumultuous history from Yuan Shikai's rise in Korea to Zhang Xueliang's change of flag in Manchuria, spanning 33 years, without resorting to any fictional elements. It is neither "" nor overly dramatic, truly deserving of the title "historian with sharp insight" (as described by Cao Juren). It can be said that Mr. Tao made his name reporting on the "Beiyang Warlords." He not only had an intimate knowledge of what happened "on stage" but also knew many little-known secrets and anecdotes in detail. Lei Yi, Researcher at the Institute of Modern History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
If you want to understand the dramatic changes of the early 20th century, the achievements and failures of the early Republic era, and the origins of the present day without being misled, you should read this book seriously. Li Yaping, Author of "Imperial Politics in the Past"
How did an autocratic empire collapse? How was constitutionalism established and then dismantled? How did the power struggles enshrined in the constitution evolve into violent conflicts? This book provides living demonstrations. Although this book describes history, its insights have not faded with time. Wu Si, Scholar
In the long river of Chinese history, the Beiyang Warlord era has its own extraordinary significance. Historians discussing the late Qing era often avoid the phrase "a great transformation unseen in three thousand years," but the period recorded in this book can be said to be the climax of that "great transformation." It marked the end of the empire and the beginning of the "republic," as ancient China struggled out of a long period of autocracy anded its way toward the "republic." Its significance and far-reaching impact have become increasingly clear to later observers; this period was also a time of renewal and innovation, where constitutions, national assemblies, modern police systems, new-style schools, and public opinion were established, among many other institutions that directly inspired later history. The title "Chronicle" preserves the freshness and vitality of news while capturing the truth and grandeur of historical writing. With over 1.4 million words, it outlines a 33-year period from Yuan Shikai's rise in Korea to Zhang Xueliang's change of flag in Manchuria. The author's writing is effortless, vividly portraying a host of warlord and political figures, revealing countless little-known secrets and scandals. Among the tough military leaders, there are touches of dry humor, and behind the plots and schemes, there is an unshakable human nature. Though it does not rely on literary fiction, it is still thrilling; though it describes the past, it reads as if it is happening today.