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The Search for Modern China
by Jonathan D. Spence

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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/162556.The_Search_for_Modern_China?utm_medium=api&amp;utm_source=blog_review" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Search for Modern China" border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/photo.goodreads.com/books/1172302418m/162556.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/162556.The_Search_for_Modern_China?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">The Search for Modern China</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29444.Jonathan_D_Spence">Jonathan D. Spence</a> 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3299231?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review"><h3>My review</h3></a>
 rating: 2 of 5 stars Spence's book is surely thorough and well-researched but, as a strict history, lacks any overarching theme and lost my interest after 300 pages. If you're China bound or very interested in Chinese culture, you'll probably find the 700 page journey rewarding. Though I didn't finish, I learned a few fascinating historical features of China that explain certain modern features.
 
 -The examination system (long the primary route to professional success) instilled a historical family respect for academics and test-taking.
 -China distanced itself from Western science due to a dispute between Emperor Kangxi and Rome over the integration of Chinese customs into Catholicism (the global shift from a religious culture to a scientific one is/has been a bumpy and sometimes violent ride).
 -The Qing Dynasty had no Ministry of Foreign Affairs and instead delegated matters with foreign nations to Ministries of Border Affairs (Russia), Rituals (similar cultures), and the Imperial Household (prestige). Neither were any earnest attempts made by the Chinese government to study foreign cultures. Why? In the words of Emperor Qianlong to Great Britain: "You've got nothing we want." (The Chinese word for China, "Zhongguo", translates literally to "Central Country", or, more liberally, "Center of the World".) The Chinese simply believed their culture was superior and had no need to learn from other cultures.
 -The Opium Wars explain a great deal about both Chinese culture and Asian geography:
 -The British worked so hard to market opium in China in order to balance their massive trade deficit in acquiring tea, spices, and porcelain (especially since Britain had "nothing that [China] want[s]").
 -The ensuing Opium Wars marked the end of Western admiration of China and the growth of a hard-line Chinese attitude towards foreigners.
 -British became first settlers in Hong Kong after being kicked out of Macau at the onset of the Opium Wars.
 -Chinese defeats in Opium Wars finally spurred them to copy Western technology (and they did it very well, replicating captured cannons in a matter of weeks - a sign of things to come in the days of the iPhone).
 -Harsh 1842 Treaty of Nanjing linked China and Britain forever and opened the way for Western trade, consulates, and settlement at large.
 -In at least two cases, a Chinese man has dreamed that he is the son of Jesus and started a massive, temporarily successful utopian rebellion.
 -Ambitious rebels often lose their motivation one they taste the luxuries of palace life.
 -Successful revolutions always have clear goals.
 
 <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/206483?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_review">View all my reviews.</a>

DJ's review
rating:
bookshelves: history
recommended for: only those greatly interested in China

Spence's book is surely thorough and well-researched but, as a strict history, lacks any overarching theme and lost my interest after 300 pages. If you're China bound or very interested in Chinese culture, you'll probably find the 700 page journey rewarding. Though I didn't finish, I learned a few fascinating historical features of China that explain certain modern features.

-The examination system (long the primary route to professional success) instilled a historical family respect for academics and test-taking.
-China distanced itself from Western science due to a dispute between Emperor Kangxi and Rome over the integration of Chinese customs into Catholicism (the global shift from a religious culture to a scientific one is/has been a bumpy and sometimes violent ride).
-The Qing Dynasty had no Ministry of Foreign Affairs and instead delegated matters with foreign nations to Ministries of Border Affairs (Russia), Rituals (similar cultures), and the Imperial Household (prestige...more Spence's book is surely thorough and well-researched but, as a strict history, lacks any overarching theme and lost my interest after 300 pages. If you're China bound or very interested in Chinese culture, you'll probably find the 700 page journey rewarding. Though I didn't finish, I learned a few fascinating historical features of China that explain certain modern features.

-The examination system (long the primary route to professional success) instilled a historical family respect for academics and test-taking.
-China distanced itself from Western science due to a dispute between Emperor Kangxi and Rome over the integration of Chinese customs into Catholicism (the global shift from a religious culture to a scientific one is/has been a bumpy and sometimes violent ride).
-The Qing Dynasty had no Ministry of Foreign Affairs and instead delegated matters with foreign nations to Ministries of Border Affairs (Russia), Rituals (similar cultures), and the Imperial Household (prestige). Neither were any earnest attempts made by the Chinese government to study foreign cultures. Why? In the words of Emperor Qianlong to Great Britain: "You've got nothing we want." (The Chinese word for China, "Zhongguo", translates literally to "Central Country", or, more liberally, "Center of the World".) The Chinese simply believed their culture was superior and had no need to learn from other cultures.
-The Opium Wars explain a great deal about both Chinese culture and Asian geography:
-The British worked so hard to market opium in China in order to balance their massive trade deficit in acquiring tea, spices, and porcelain (especially since Britain had "nothing that [China] want[s]").
-The ensuing Opium Wars marked the end of Western admiration of China and the growth of a hard-line Chinese attitude towards foreigners.
-British became first settlers in Hong Kong after being kicked out of Macau at the onset of the Opium Wars.
-Chinese defeats in Opium Wars finally spurred them to copy Western technology (and they did it very well, replicating captured cannons in a matter of weeks - a sign of things to come in the days of the iPhone).
-Harsh 1842 Treaty of Nanjing linked China and Britain forever and opened the way for Western trade, consulates, and settlement at large.
-In at least two cases, a Chinese man has dreamed that he is the son of Jesus and started a massive, temporarily successful utopian rebellion.
-Ambitious rebels often lose their motivation one they taste the luxuries of palace life.
-Successful revolutions always have clear goals.
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