Explore a sweeping portrait of China and its neighbors, from the heart of the empire to distant borders.
This edition presents a Geographical, Historical, Chronological, Political, and Physical description of the Chinese world and its surrounding regions, offering readers a window into early modern understandings of China, Chinese-Tartary, Corea, and Thibet.
The General History of China compiles observational notes, cultural detail, and historical context drawn from travel narratives and scholarly avenues of its time. It blends geography with accounts of peoples, governance, medicine, and daily life, helping readers grasp how West and East viewed this vast region.
What you’ll experience
- Detailed portraits of places, governments, and key peoples across China and nearby lands
- Observations on trade, resources, and the role of merchants in shaping life and travel
- Descriptions of customs, religion, medicine, and daily practices
- A sense of the map, routes, and landscapes that connected distant communities
Ideal for readers of historical geography, travel writing, and early cultural studies who want a window into how scholars and travelers described a vast empire and its neighbors.