Book Review: A Short History of China by Gordon Kerr

This amazing book provides a comprehensive introduction to more than 4000 years of Chinese history. For thousands of years the Chinese thought of their land as the very center of civilization. Compass and gun powder are definitely Chinese inventions. Even the wheel barrow did not come to use in Europe until the 12^th century, but the Chinese were already using one- wheeled carts from the second century. The world’s first government issued paper money was also introduced in China in 1120s. The Chinese have a glorious history spanning over thousands of years.

In this book the author takes start from the Neolithic time period in China. Other than that, phases of turmoil, invasion, empire building, declining empires and demise of emperors have been included.  From Confucianism to Daoism’s doctrine of quietism, numerous subjects have been touched. Various important themes including military power, agriculture, personal decorum, social relations and burial of emperors are also included.  Class system in Chinese can be examined by the fact that at one time the mandarins regarded themselves superior to the labor class and grew their long fingernails to demonstrate their disassociation from them.

The author relates the origination of Buddhism in Northern China to Central Asia. Moreover in the book the account of Chinese Buddhist traveller Faxian (337-c.422) has also been included. In 7^th century China the imperial court was dominated by an Empress named Wu Zetian, who ruled for 15 years. Adding on to that life under the Mongols, decline of the Yuan Empire and rule of the Ming Dynasty are also discussed in this book.

Kerr views China as to have failed to materialize changes such as industrial development, as vital elements of economy, commerce and power of bureaucracy were under state control. He opines that China lost the initiative to the West in the eighteenth century. Before that, in the seventeenth century, the standard of living in China was amongst the highest in the world and the middle Kingdom was leading in terms of innovation and discovery. The Opium War of the nineteenth century between Great Britain and China (1840- 1842) is considered the first and most important conflict between both the sides. In addition to that, the treaty of Nanking and migration of the Chinese to other parts of the world are briefly explained.

The start of the twentieth century in China was marked by a struggle between warlords, nationalist, communists, idealists and opportunists, which brought an end to China’s 2000 year old tradition of monarchial rule. The tussle between the Kuomintang and the Communist party of China for power, collaboration of both these parties against the common enemy Japan are highlighted. Rule by Mao, Zhou Enlai and the period of modernization by Deng Xiaoping are specified in the latter half of the book.

In the concluding paragraphs of the book China’s current position in the world is examined. While applauding the growth rate/fight against poverty the author on the other hand raises serious questions over pollution (China is home to 16 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities), democratization and right to information in China.