China

An up-to-date, concise examination of China-past and present-providing detailed information on a country whose substantial impact on the global economy and consumer culture continues to grow.Part of ABC-CLIO's Asia in Focus series, this authoritative resource is designed to help a wide variety of readers understand the complexities of the world's most populous country-a nation of ancient glory and rising importance, yet one that remains elusive and not generally well known.Packed with recent scholarship and fascinating details, this concise, multifaceted volume offers an updated look at China's geography and history, from the political and technological dominance of the imperial period to the communist revolution and the present state. The work also vividly captures the "living" China of today-its economy, politics, and culture-with extensive coverage of topics ranging from education, languages, arts, and cuisine to industrialization, gender issues, population control efforts, and human rights controversies that have impacted the country's relationship to the global community.

More than 50 sidebars focusing on key people, places, and events, plus a variety of maps created to help readers better understand the nation's history, geography, language distribution, and other important facets

About the Editor and the ContributorsIntroduction1 GeographyRobert André LaFleur, Warren Bruce PalmerThe Physical Setting and China's PopulationGeographical RegionsLand, Agriculture, and the LaojiaComing to China: Invasion and TributeThemes in Chinese GeographyImaginative Geography2 HistoryRobert André LaFleurArchaeologyFoundation Myths and Early History (to c. 1100 b.c.e.)Charting the Rise and Fall of China's Dynastic Tradition-Sima Guang's PerspectiveThe Zhou Dynasty (c. 1100-221 b.c.e.)The Qin Centralization (221-206 b.c.e.)The Han Dynasty (206 b.c.e.-220 c.e.)The Period of Division (220-589)The Sui Dynasty (581-617)The Tang Dynasty (618-906)The Five Dynasties (907-959) and the Kingdoms of Liao, Xi Xia, and Jin (c. 900-1234)The Northern and Southern Song (960-1279)The Mongols and the Yuan (1234-1368)The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)The Qing Dynasty to 1800The Early 19th Century-Stasis, War, and Diplomacy (1800-1850)Rebellion and Beyond (1850-1870)Attempts at Restoration and the Fall of Qing (1870-1911)Republican China and the War Years (1912-1949)The People's Republic of China (1949-Present)Notes3 Politics and GovernmentJohn A. RappFrom Traditional to Modern: The 20th-Century Chinese StateThemes from Communist SystemsCombining Traditional and Communist System ModelsIdeologyParty-State StructureDomestic Policy: Human Rights and DissentForeign Policy: China and Global PoliticsGreater China Issues4 The Modern Chinese EconomyWarren Bruce PalmerChina's Traditional Agricultural EconomyThe Chinese Economy, 1900-1949China's Economy: The Mao Era, 1949-1978Economic Reform, 1979-1989The Chinese Economy TodayResourcesChina's Economic SystemIntellectual Property RightsChina's Financial SystemChina's Trading Partners and China's Trade Balance5 SocietyRobert André LaFleur, Tamara HamlishReligion and ThoughtThe Hundred Schools of Thought (c. 700-200 b.c.e.)Buddhism and Religious Daoism During the Period of Division (c. 200-600 c.e.)Neo-Confucian ThoughtReligion, Thought, and the Power of GatheringSocial Classes and EthnicityPeopleWealth, Class, and Status in Chinese HistoryWealth and Status in Contemporary ChinaEthnicity and Outlying Peoples in Early Chinese ThoughtEthnic Minorities in Modern ChinaWomen and MarriageWomen in Chinese SocietyMarriage and Family in Traditional ChinaTraditional Marriage and Family LifeWomen in Contemporary ChinaEducationLanguage and LocalityEducation and AcculturationTraditional EducationContemporary EducationEducational CurriculaEducation in Taiwan and Hong KongEducational Challenges6 CultureChinese LanguageShin Yong RobsonThe History of Written ChineseFormation of the CharactersSimplified CharactersProblems of SimplificationPronunciationPhonetic Writing (Romanizational) Systems: Peking or Beijing?Mandarin versus DialectsUseful Chinese ExpressionsSocial Relationships and EtiquetteTamara Hamlish, Warren Bruce Palmer, Robert André LaFleurNested BoxesSocial Relationships-GuanxiSocial Relationships-FamilySocial Relationships-Beyond HomeSocial Relationships-Practical Etiquette in Chinese Social SituationsLiteratureDaniel YoudIntroduction: Continuity, Discontinuity, and DiversityThe Classic of PoetryThe Songs of ChuEarly ProseHan Dynasty PoetryOne Poet from the Period of Division: Tao QianTwo Poets from the Tang: Li Bo and Du FuCí Poetry of the Song DynastyFiction: Tales and Short StoriesDramaMing and Qing NovelsThe Modern and Contemporary PeriodsChinese ArtKenneth S. GanzaChinese Art and the Supernatural WorldNature in Chinese Pictorial ArtChinese Decorative ArtMusic in ChinaAnn L. SilverbergIntroductionDifferences between Chinese and Western MusicCharacteristic Types of Traditional Chinese MusicFoodRobert André LaFleur, Tamara HamlishFood in Chinese CultureFood in Chinese HistoryChinese Regional CuisinesTea Culture and Chinese Festival FoodsLeisure and SportsRobert André LaFleur, Tamara Hamlish, Kevin LathamA Walk in ShanghaiDaily Life in Chinese SocietiesPilgrimage and Everyday ActivitiesSpectator Sports and the Olympic GamesPopular Culture and Traditional BeliefsRobert André LaFleur, Kevin Latham, Tamara HamlishThe Internet, Gaming, and CommunicationFilm and CinemaPopular ReligionCalendars and AlmanacsNumbers and DirectionsYin-Yang, the Five Phases, and Color SymbolismLanguage and Popular Culture7 Contemporary IssuesAnita M. AndrewContemporary China: Echoes of the PastChina's Traditional WorldviewEuropean Maritime Powers and the Qing DynastyThe Opium War, 1839-1842The Century of HumiliationEnvironmental ProblemsPollutionCoal Dependence and Mining DangersThree Georges Dam ControversiesPoaching of Endangered SpeciesTainted Products from ChinaLead Paint Products from ChinaPolitical Events in China: China's Government Crackdown against Political Protests by Tibetans and UighursThe Chinese Adoption IndustryThe Beijing Summer OlympicsConclusionsGlossaryFacts and FiguresChinese Festivals and National HolidaysChina-Related OrganizationsAnnotated BibliographyThematic IndexIndex