Ten Thousand Things: Nurturing Life in Contemporary Beijing

by Judith Farquhar, Qicheng Zhang

Ten Thousand Things Ten Thousand Things explores the many forms of life, or, in ancient Chinese parlance "the ten thousand things" that life is and is becoming, in contemporary Beijing and beyond. Coauthored by an American anthropologist and a Chinese philosopher, the book examines the myriad ways contemporary residents of Beijing understand and nurture the good life, practice the embodied arts of everyday well-being... Full description

Genres: China, Anthropology, Philosophy

352 pages, Hardcover

First published March 23, 2012

Reviews

[Richard Sjoquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading this splendidly descriptive collaboration between two outstanding academics: one American; the other Chinese. I can't recall finding any other work that addresses the urban landscape of this major world capital with such deft prose and insight. This is by no means a sterile, aloof scholarly account, although it certainly has moments of academic digression. It is a truly remarkable find for me as one who is now reflecting on my quarter century coming and going from Beijing and preparing to write a memoir about it. What transpires in this ethnographic study is a genuine, exceedingly well-informed and heartfelt dialogue between these authors and the reader. It exceeded my expectations in every respect and is well worth the price. Indeed, I recommend it over any other English print work when it comes to depicting the daily lives of Beijingers. Through both the close collaboration and the trained eye of these two observers, it avoids the pitfalls of a binary and Orientalist lens while remaining well aware of these traps. The translated interviews with the putongren and the interspersed references to other observers of urban social change in general and Beijing life in particular, are much appreciated. I applaud their efforts. Special Note: the book focuses mostly on the period from 2001 to 2008, which is a bit dated (i.e its population has doubled since then), however I can vouch for the fact that most of its observations are still quite relevant. Thematically, these authors have identified and promoted messages about how the reader can or should regard this once imperial and communist capital and its cultural and socio-political transformation in recent decades. This work amply sets the stage for squaring this capital with its current status as a megalopolis.

[eidolethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endlessly inquisitive, open-minded, and deeply humane. Farquhar and Zhang never rush to explain people away, showcasing their unique voices and allowing their contradictions to breathe. What is the meaning of life? What is the good life? This book reframes some of our most urgent questions not through abstraction, but through the mundane, embodied labor of life-nurturing in contemporary Beijing.

[Katie C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think if people ask me why i like beijing so much, i could point them to this book ... interesting way of organizing/writing it though and im not entirely sure if i am in love with it, but i think it is effective? for what they are trying to do? and still interesting to read regardless

[Laura Vermeeren]

An exceptional book

[University of Chicago Magazine]

Judith Farquhar, AM'75, AM'79, PhD'86
Coauthor

From Dialogo (Spring-Summer/12): "Coauthored with Chinese philosopher Qicheng Zhang, the book examines what life is and is becoming in modern Beijing. The authors describe how the city's residents understand and nurture the good life, practicing activities that promote well-being."