by Gary Bischoff and Wang Wei
Book Description
China: Insight into History, Culture and People
In a world increasingly interconnected, mutual understanding between China and Western countries has never been more crucial. China is the second largest economy in the world and growing fast. They are now and will remain a strong political, military, and economic force. We feel that it is important for people in the West to understand China, Chinese culture, and the Chinese people. This book offers a fresh and accessible perspective on China, exploring its rich history, vibrant culture, and complex relationship with the West, empowering readers to navigate the challenges and opportunities of a world shaped by China's rise. This book is accessible to adults and engaged middle school students alike. The book is specifically written to be a light, fast, and interesting read which will give the reader a knowledge about Chinese people and Chinese culture. This book is also an asset to anyone studying Chinese language since so much of the language has historical and cultural references.
Anyone living in the west that follows the news will see a lot of negative articles about China and Chinese people. This has been happening for a long time. In the mid-1800s, many workers immigrated from China, which resulted in negative stories about swarms of “yellow people” coming to change America. In 1882, a federal law was signed by President Chester Arthur called the Chinese Exclusion Act. This was the only major US federal law that explicitly suspended immigration of a specific nationality. The law was renewed and modified several times and was finally repealed in 1943. These laws were a product of widespread anti-Chinese sentiments. Looking at later developments, during the Cold War, anti-Chinese sentiment became prevalent in Western media following the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949. This was mostly due to a fear of communism.
Now in the twenty-first century, there is renewed interest in China. The Chinese economy has grown into the second largest in the world. Western businesses are interested in China as a consumer economy, and many companies have made significant investments in China. The relationship between the US and Chinese governments are fraught with complications, and at times China and US cooperate with each other, compete with each other, and sometimes are hostile to each other. In the United States, every election cycle seems to be a verbal contest of which candidate will be the toughest toward China. There is also a fear among many Americans that China's economy will surpass the US economy and a concern about what impact that will have on their lives. Some view China as a competitor, others view China as an enemy. The US government dedicates significant resources to countering China's influence and promoting its own values and interests, much of this is negative toward China. It is against this backdrop that we wrote this book. We feel that it is important for Westerners to learn about China and its people.
This web site gives people a brief introduction to our book China: Insight into History, Culture and People.
China: Insight into History, Culture and People
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