Chinaas Imperial Past: An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture

By Charles O. Hucker

Book Overview

A work unique in the sweep of its design and scope, intended expressly for the general reader interested in human history and culture, this is a vivid panoramic survey of the vast course of Chinese civilization from prehistory to 1850, when the old China began the agonizing transition to the new. Historical surveys of China tend to be dynasty-by-dynasty chronicles with a profusion of names and dates and occaisional cultural tidbits, or to concentrate on the period from earliest times to the Han dynasty (or the T'ang), giving only scant coverage to the last thousand years. China's Imperial Past is different. Not only does it treat the three major periods of Chinese history at roughly equal length, weaving all their complexity into a balanced, integrated whole, but it gives ample space to China's magnificent literary and artistic achievements.

The author's approach is primarily interpretive, emphasizing patterns of change and development rather than factual details, but he never loses sight of the particularities that made traditional Chinese civilization one of the richest in human history. Especially notable are the many translations of Chinese poetry, among them more than twenty exquisite poems from the great poets of the T'ang.

The author divides Chinese history into three major epochs: a formative age, from high antiquity to the unification of China under the Ch'in in the third century B.C.; an early imperial age, from the Han dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 220) through the T'ang (618-907) and its breakdown; and a later imperial age, from the Sung dynasty (960-1279) to the mid-nineteenth century. Each major epoch is considered in topical chapters--on general history, political institutions, socioeconomic organization, religion and thought, and literature and the arts. A brief Epilogue comments on aspects of Chinese history since 1850.

The book includes 47 plates, eight maps, and various charts, and as appendixes and unusually detailed chronological table, notes on the Chines language, and suggestions for supplementary reading.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804708878
• ISBN13: 9780804708876
• Release Date: June 1975
• Publisher: Stanford University Press
• Length: 492 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

great overview of a fascinating subject

I am new to Chinese history, but based on reading many other history books on other subjects, I can say that this is a great introductory book. It's worth noting that Hucker studied with H.G. Creel (author of the excellent "The Birth of China") and dedicates the book to him. To me, this says a lot about Hucker's dedication to the subject. This is a fine book and the organization is unique--the first chapter of each section sketches out a basic chronology, and subsequent chapters flesh out the details about government, society, thought, and art. This book covers a LOT of ground, but it does it fairly well. As an aside, I once tried reading a one-volume history of China and found it unbearable (it had to cover too much history in too few pages), but Hucker's decision to cut off this book at 1850 allows for a more focused and readable treatment. I recommend this book.

Worth buying!

For me China is just a matter of personal interest - no academic or business motivation. What's the most interesting is to understand the foundations of culture, of social structures, customs and behaviours. With the organisation of this book I could easily pick up the pieces which I consider the most relevant. Having read quite a number of books on the subject I finally found the explanations of several intriguing aspects of Chinese culture, which in the other sources were presented in a "as a matter of fact" mode!

A very good introduction to Chinese history

This book is clearly written and covers competently a broad range of topics. The author follows a topical format (as opposed to a strictly chronological) and discusses in turn general political history, social and political structures, intellectual life, arts and literature. All are described fairly well, though the coverage of some personalities is sketchy perhaps because of space limitations. But the author is clearly very knowledge and provides an adequate amount of critical analysis (in addition to the merely descriptive) so that one doesn't lose sight of the bigger picture.