Historical Dictionary of Revolutionary China, 1839-1976

(Hardback)

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A contribution to the reference literature on China, this historical dictionary covers the entire revolutionary period in China. Although existing biographical dictionaries focus on the 20th century, the Chinese revolutionary movements began in the early 19th century. China's defeat in the Opium War (1839-1842) set the conditions for the rise of revolutionary movements, the first being the Taiping Christian Revolution of 1851-1864. Sun Yat-sen's Republican Revolution began in the late 19th century and was followed by the Communist Revolution during the second half of the 20th century. With the Socialist transformation under Mao-Tse-tung, the Chinese entered another revolutionary stage. The death of Mao and the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976 conclude the time period covered in this dictionary. The entries in this volume provide concise accounts and profiles of the people, events, ideas, and other factors that played a role throughout the revolutionary period including sources of additional information.

Reviews

"Beginning with the Opium War, when China's loss set the stage for various revolutionary movements that followed, and continuing through the end of the Cultural Revolution, when the Gang of Four was arrested, the Historical Dictionary of Revolutionary China 1839-1976 treats persons, incidents, organizations, movements, and policies. More than 70 scholars from around the world contributed signed articles to this work, edited by Pak-wah Leung of Seton Hall University. Articles range from one to five pages in length, and most contain references for further reading. Of course, Sun Yat-sen, Mao Tse-tung, and Chiang Kai-shek are included, but so are Ch'iu Chin ("martyr of the 1911 Revolution; forerunner of the Chinese feminist movement"); Tz'u-hsi, the Empress Dowager; scholars such as Yen Fu ("Translator and interpreter of Charles Darwin . . . and other Western thinkers"); and such Americans as Edgar Snow and General Joseph Stilwell. Topical entries include Boxer Rebellion, Taiping Revolution, Iron and Blood Society, Quotations from Chairman Mao, Hundred Flowers--a broad collection that gives a good picture of these years. Internal cross-references are noted with an asterisk. Most entries are given in English (e.g., New Tide Society), but a few are in Chinese (Ko-lao Hui [Elder Brother Society]). Romanization is basically Wade-Giles "because scholars in the China field have used it widely since the nineteenth century," but the index uses both the Wade-Giles and pinyin systems to accommodate present practice. Additional helps are a 25-page chronology of events, a 23-page bibliography of materials in English and Chinese, a glossary showing romanized terms with their Chinese characters, and anindex. The only major problem encountered in using this volume was finding the Cultural Revolution (certainly an important event), which was referred to many times by an asterisk in other entries but which is not where it is expected under C. Instead, it is found in G as Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and is located only by using a see reference in the index. While other biographical references cover this period in China, this dictionary provides coverage of both persons and subjects. The authoritative but readable text of the Historical Dictionary of Revolutionary China will be a valuable resource for public and academic libraries and may also be of use in some high school libraries."-Booklist
Beginning with the Opium War, when China's loss set the stage for various revolutionary movements that followed, and continuing through the end of the Cultural Revolution, when the Gang of Four was arrested, the Historical Dictionary of Revolutionary China 1839-1976 treats persons, incidents, organizations, movements, and policies. More than 70 scholars from around the world contributed signed articles to this work, edited by Pak-wah Leung of Seton Hall University. Articles range from one to five pages in length, and most contain references for further reading. Of course, Sun Yat-sen, Mao Tse-tung, and Chiang Kai-shek are included, but so are Ch'iu Chin ("martyr of the 1911 Revolution; forerunner of the Chinese feminist movement"); Tz'u-hsi, the Empress Dowager; scholars such as Yen Fu ("Translator and interpreter of Charles Darwin . . . and other Western thinkers"); and such Americans as Edgar Snow and General Joseph Stilwell. Topical entries include Boxer Rebellion, Taiping Revolution, Iron and Blood Society, Quotations from Chairman Mao, Hundred Flowers--a broad collection that gives a good picture of these years. Internal cross-references are noted with an asterisk. Most entries are given in English (e.g., New Tide Society), but a few are in Chinese (Ko-lao Hui [Elder Brother Society]). Romanization is basically Wade-Giles "because scholars in the China field have used it widely since the nineteenth century," but the index uses both the Wade-Giles and pinyin systems to accommodate present practice. Additional helps are a 25-page chronology of events, a 23-page bibliography of materials in English and Chinese, a glossary showing romanized terms with their Chinese characters, and anindex. The only major problem encountered in using this volume was finding the Cultural Revolution (certainly an important event), which was referred to many times by an asterisk in other entries but which is not where it is expected under C. Instead, it is found in G as Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and is located only by using a see reference in the index. While other biographical references cover this period in China, this dictionary provides coverage of both persons and subjects. The authoritative but readable text of the Historical Dictionary of Revolutionary China will be a valuable resource for public and academic libraries and may also be of use in some high school libraries.-Booklist
Both author and subject indexes are included. Most entries are annotated; the critical comments offered often prove to be the most useful and interesting feature of this bibliography.-ARBA
No one will read this useful reference book from cover to cover, but many of us will use it. This volume is extremely helpful for any student of nineteenth and twentieth-century China. The accurate and concise essays found in this volume will prove useful to all individuals who seek to learn more about contemporary China and its recent past.-uXThe Journal of Asian Studies
Recommended for all academic and research collections.-Choice
"Both author and subject indexes are included. Most entries are annotated; the critical comments offered often prove to be the most useful and interesting feature of this bibliography."-ARBA
"No one will read this useful reference book from cover to cover, but many of us will use it. This volume is extremely helpful for any student of nineteenth and twentieth-century China. The accurate and concise essays found in this volume will prove useful to all individuals who seek to learn more about contemporary China and its recent past."-uXThe Journal of Asian Studies
"Recommended for all academic and research collections."-Choice

Author Bio

EDWIN PAK-WAH LEUNG is Professor in the Department of Asian Studies and Senior Fellow of the Asia Center at Seton Hall University. He is the author of Adaptability of the Chinese in America (1988), Modern Change in Chinese Diplomacy (1990), and several articles, and the editor of special editions of Chinese Law and Government and Asian Profile.