Through Chinese Eyes: Tradition, Revolution, and Transformation (Eyes Books Series) - Softcover

Vernoff, Edward; Seybolt, Peter J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0938960512 ISBN 13: 9780938960515

Publisher: APEX Press, 2007

Synopsis

Through Chinese Eyes tells the sweeping story of Chinese history, politics and culture — from ancient China to the turbulent transformation of the last thirty years — through the eyes of its own citizens. Speeches and writings from Chinese leaders and political activists are interspersed with thoughtful analysis by the editors, Edward Vernoff and Peter J. Seybolt. Artwork cleverly illustrating the complexity of modern China includes photos of Western-style billboards in Chinese cities, the cover of a Chinese copy of Monopoly and a deck of cards using pictures of Western currencies for the high cards and Asian currencies for the low cards.

Half the material in this Third Edition of Through Chinese Eyes relates to changes in Chinese society since the 1980s. The Era of Reform section describes the changes, engineered primarily by Deng Xiaoping, that have taken place in China during the last two decades. China and the World discusses the role of China on the world stage, with a particular focus on international relations since the 1970s. It includes a section on Chinese relations with the United States.

This edition is an expanded and updated version of the 1974 classic, slightly revised in 1981. Material from the classic text, that makes this third edition twice the size of the original, includes: Revolution: A Nation Stands Up, recounting the conditions in rural China in the 1940s and the Communist transformation of village life during the civil war; The Conservative Tradition, presenting aspects of Confucianism which dominated Chinese society for over two millennia; and The Era of Mao Zedong, presenting the story of the Communist Revolution from its beginnings in the 1920s until the death of Mao in 1976. A new section, The Seeds of Revolution, provides examples of the Chinese counter-tradition of equality and rebellion and foreshadows the revolution.

Through Chinese Eyes is the third edition of a classic CITE book. CITE, the Center for International Training and Education, is a program of the Council on International and Public Affairs' "World Cultures Series," a group of books that presents world cultures to readers through the "eyes" of its own peoples. Known as the "Eyes" books, these textbooks - regularly updated - have sold more than half a million copies since the early 1970s. In 2004, one of the series (Through Middle Eastern Eyes) was a winner of the American Library Association's Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title Award.

About this title

About the Author

Edward Vernoff is a Professor of History at Bard High School Early College in New York City. He taught at Shanghai Teachers University during the 1993-1994 academic year and is co-author of The Penguin International Dictionary of Contemporary Biography and co-editor of The Left Academy.

Peter J. Seybolt is a Professor of History Emeritus of Asian Studies at the University of Vermont. His publicaitons include Throwing the Emperor from His Horse; Portrait of a Village Leader in China; Revolutionary Education in China; Language Reform in China;, and The Rustication of Urban Youth in China.

Review

Through Chinese Eyes is a treasure trove that introduces students to a vivid, multifaceted, tumultuous, changing China through Chinese eyes. Ranging widely over the twentieth century revolution and the post-Mao era of market-oriented reform, roaming from village to city, and from villagers to the highest reaches of power and wealth, this volume offers a superb topically organized introduction to modern China's history, politics, society, culture and international relations. While privileging Chinese voices, the authors provide valuable introductions to clarify central issues essential for grasping China's transformations. (Mark Selden, Asia Pacific Studies, Cornell University)

For the past 15 years, I have worked with middle and high school teachers hungry for exactly the kind of guidance and primary sources that this revised, updated and expanded edition of Through Chinese Eyes offers. It is a fine example of a resource that will help teachers prepare their students for today's interconnected world. (Kathleen Woods Masalski, Director, Five College Center for East Asian Studies and Co-director, National Consortium for Teaching about Asia)

The latest edition of Through Chinese Eyes presents an excellent selection of primary source materials to relate the long and complicated history of China, from its traditional Confucian heritage down to the present cultural confusion, marked by Western influence and rampant consumerism. To understand China one must listen to authentic Chinese voices and the range of such voices provided here is extremely impressive.

Teachers and students alike will love the opportunities this volume offers for classroom discussion and debate. (Stanley Rosen, University of Southern California)

Edition details

• Publisher: APEX Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0938960512
• ISBN 13: 9780938960515
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 381