A Thousand Pieces of Gold: Growing Up Through China's Proverbs – A Poignant Memoir Exploring Chinese History and Culture

by Adeline Yen Mah

In this poignant memoir the New York Times bestselling author of Falling Leaves , Adeline Yen Mah, provides a fascinating window into the history and cultural soul of China. Combining personal reflections, rich historical insights, and proverbs handed down to her by her grandfather, Yen Mah shares the wealth of Chinese civilization with Western readers. Exploring the history behind the proverbs, she delves into the lives of the first and second emperors and the two rebel warriors who changed the course of Chinese life, adding stories from her own life to beautifully illustrate their relevance and influence today.

Genres: China, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Memoir, Asia, Asian Literature

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Adeline Yen Mah is a Chinese-American author and physician. She grew up in Tianjin, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and is known for her autobiography Falling Leaves.

Reviews

[Bookshop · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend was raving about this book and lent it to me. Initially, I was rather skeptical: after the success of "Wild Swan", there were tons of 'me-too' books wailing about the hardship of living under Communist China and how they got new lives overseas. One of which, I thought, was Adeline Yen Mah's Falling Leaves.

But I had to eat my words. This is a very good book: 1/3 autobiography, 1/3 chinese history, 1/3 proverb explanation. Weaving two parts (autobiography and chinese history, ancient and modern) around proverb explanations to produce one complete, flowing story is a remarkable feat. At times, the relevance of one part to another seems jagged but I can't complain. It's a pleasure to read and, along the way, I find out more about the Chinese history. There are a lot of illustrations on the chinese philosophies and way of life, peeks into her own life, and lessons that history repeats itself.

Fascinating. There is no need to understand chinese or its proverbs to enjoy this book.

PS: now I am curious about "Falling Leaves"

[Jinbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adeline Yen Mah has become one of my favorite author. After reading her novel "Falling Leaves," I was fascinated by her storytelling and how she recalled her childhood experiences. In "A Thousands Pieces of Gold," Yen Mah provides the history and culture of China combined with her own personal experiences and the proverbs learned from her Ye-Ye(grandfather). In the book, she writes about the first and second emperors of China and as well as two warriors and constantly compared Mao Zhe-Dong with them. Yen Mah also explains how the proverbs can be used in the situation with her family. From reading this book, I learned a lot more about the Chinese history and culture and how China came to be today.

[Lucy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biography of an unwanted Chinese girl. Adeline is a real fighter. You won't only read her story, you'll feel it. One of my favorite books.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have any interest in China or Chinese history, this is a great book for you. It's interesting, informative, and well written, but not heavy reading at all.

[Alyssa Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Thousand Pieces of Gold is a unique memoir that highlights various Chinese proverbs and uses the history of China to show how the proverb came into use; Adeline Yen Mah adds a personal touch to this by showing how that proverb relates to every day life by relating it to her own personal experience. I feel like this book is everything at once. It is informative and poignant and so beautifully crafted.

I am in awe of Yen Mah’s ability to weave together such different stories into something seamless and absolutely riveting. This is a unique way to tell a story, and I was riveted from cover to cover. Even though I’d read her earlier memoir, Chinese Cinderella, I found that viewing her story through the lenses of the different proverbs she chooses to highlight put those stories in a new light. This has made me think that I need to read all of her works because of her abilities as a writer.

If you have any interest in Chinese history, proverbs, or Adeline Yen Mah’s story, you will love this book I highly recommend it.

Also posted on Purple People Readers.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love anything this author writes. I enjoyed the history, culture and proverbs from this book.

[Lyn Haines · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Thousand Pieces of Gold: My Discovery of China's Character in Its Proverbs is fascinating blend of memoir and history written by Adeline Yen Mah the author of Falling Leaves: The Memoir of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter.

‘The best proverbs come from our history ... Proverbs mirror the past to benefit the present.’

[Bob Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an incredibly sweet and wonderful book. The author weaves her personal life into a collection of famous Chinese proverbs, at the same time taking the reader through the early history of China, including the coming to power of the First Emperor of China, and ending with the establishment of the Han Dynasty. Oh, and did I mention that the author relates the book to current events in history, and an evaluation of Mao Zse Tung? Breathtaking! And it's the kind of book that I love: history, biography, intimate, and Chinese. I find Chinese culture fascination, and this book is a wonderful window into the Chinese world. Highly recommended!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of a young girl who's father, although he calls her his treasure, ultimatly sells her when the family face famine in China in the 1870's. She ends up sold again, comes to America where she is enslaved until she is eventually lost (and ultimatly won) in a poker game. From her very grim beginnings, Lalu/Polly triumphs as an inspiring woman - a true heroine.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable and informative book. Adeline Yen Mah has pulled off a well balanced fusion of biography, ancient history, and modern history, whilst explaining Chinese culture through its proverbs. It sounds like too much to cram into one book, but somehow she did it. It was interesting the way she intertwined several different storylines and made them all relate to each other through the themes of the Chinese proverbs, showing how history repeats itself both on a national and a personal scale. It was particularly interesting to me because as a mandarin Chinese learner I am forever confused by the way native speakers throw proverbs around in conversation, and this book explained the origins of some of them. Overall a very interesting and thorough look into the Chinese culture and way of thinking.

[Richard Grayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Memoir of China's past through it's Proverbs.

This book was written by Adeline Yen Mah. I have written a review on her first book Falling Leave.

When she was young, her Ye Ye (grand father) taught her and told her stories of China's history through proverbs. This book i think is her dedication to her Ye Ye.

With each proverb (for each chapter), tells us the stories of the rise of First Emperor (Qin) of China till the fall of his empire, in between she also wrote about her life and China during Chairman Mao's reign.

I have heard of the cultural revolution but did not truly understood it until i read this book.

She compared chairman Mao's rule with the rule of China's first Emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi (Qin dynasty). Towards the middle part of his rule, he had books, history of China destroyed, about 400 over scholars was killed during his purged. Chairman Mao did the same thing during the 1960's revolution. He had his political 'ememies' destroyed...killed 40,000 over scholars, books destroyed..he wanted to be better than the first Emperor.

The book also covered the rise of the Han dynasty, which lasted for about 400 years because the rulers were more just then the previous one.

The stories of her life was covered in Falling Leaves, in this book, sort of continuation... Such as how they reacted when she wrote her book...she was disowned by her relatives because of 'face' issue. One of her brother even mocked her...'no one will publish your book, no one will read your book, why give up being a doctor....and if you did write, i will sue you'...

Lucky some lady had faith in her and willing to publish it provided she cut off one hundred thousand words (for her first book) and she also warned her that once it is published some family members may not like it. Adeline went for it and never look back.

She still missed her brother, the one she was closed too. She was sad that he was a pawn set up by her older sister and step mom.

Men/leaders = Lust, betrayer, greed, ego, hunger for power..all covered in this book, from ancient time till modern day. Somethings just never change.

[Vivian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting but annoying. Of course I can’t expect this book to be a perfectly researched primer of Chinese proverbs, but at the same time I think we could ask for more professionalism in many, many ways.

I think part of my dislike stems from my disbelief about how confident this book’s tone is, how much it demands our unquestioning belief. But of course that’s exactly what that general was thinking over 2000 years ago, and now we’ve been given a perfect translation of those ancient Chinese words into modern English. Really. I appreciate that Mah is no professional historian or researcher, but having dialogue and oversimplification makes me really distrust her words.

I also have a hard time getting past Mah’s constant descriptions of her familial problems. I’m very sure she felt terribly treated, but at the same time I have to wonder that hers is the only voice broadcasted to the world – which leads me to doubt much of what she says happened. After all, can her childhood memories be so perfectly remembered and retold? And coming off Dave Egger’s unflinchingly honest self-inspection, I find Mah’s story to be a selfish revenge of sorts, with little remorse or doubt about consequences.

I got this book because I wanted to get a bit more in touch with the Chinese language and culture, and while this was an easy read to swallow, its tone and its many impossibilities made it very annoying. I’ve got Falling Leaves on my bookshelf at home, but now, to tell the truth, I don’t want to read it.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The library houses this volume in the "folk literature, fairy tales, and proverbs" section, which somehow piqued my curiosity. I would say it falls more into either autobiography or history of China, but had it been in either of those places I would never have picked it up. The author is best known for her two autobiographical works FALLING LEAVES and CHINESE CINDERELLA.

I found her personal applications of the proverbs her grandfather taught her which spring from the time of the 1st Emperor and the wars following his death to be fascinating. I especially appreciate learning that to know a country and its people one must have an understanding of its proverbs or sayings. It is the "salt in the stew" -- invisible to the untrained eye or palate, but seasoning all.

The time of the 1st Emperor approximates the time of the Roman Empire. It was a period of massive construction--the Great Wall of China and many roads and canals. There was also great violence done to the people.

The author shows many parallels to this emperor and Mao Tse Tung. Her account is drawn from an ancient book of Chinese history she calls SHIJI, which was written at great sacrifice to its author.

I feel it imperative that we in the West be more cognizant of the ways of the East and this little volume makes this more possible.

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book and am giving it 3.5 stars. I loved the telling of ancient Chinese history through its proverbs aspect as well as the snippets comparing that history to Mao's era and today. I feel I came away from this book knowing more about China and factors that have influenced its people over the generations and interested to learn more. Where I lost interest was in her personal family outtakes. At first I enjoyed them and saw the value in continuing the explanation of the proverbs from her own life prospective but pretty soon it was evident that these were just a way for her to vent about her stepmother cutting her out of her will. She managed to bring almost every proverb back to this event some way or another and by the end I was sick of hearing about it. I haven't read Falling Leaves yet but am now hesitant to pick it up least it is just more of the same. At least in this book I had the excitement of another storyline full of murder, revenge, conquest and the shaping of China to break up the monotony of the 'I had an evil stepmother who denied me my inheritance" story.

[Sascha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Thousand Pieces of Gold is essentially a commentary of Sima Qian’s Historical Records, or 史記 (Shiji). The writing is, at times, extremely tedious and the personal testimonies are unnecessary, detracting from what could have otherwise been a very elegant book. Nevertheless I respect that it would have taken great courage and determination to write this book, and that the Author’s stories about why these proverbs are so important obviously matter to her even if the point is never properly made to the audience. There’s a loose thread in there somewhere, and the tapestry gets a little muddled. The stories matter less in the end then the history, and the history seems to matter more than the proverbs, and it only serves to make you wonder if Sima Qian pulled some of his penned phrases from The Odes or any of The Four Books.

The positives about this book are that it incites you to read and provides a greater understanding of Chinese history, and a cultural background, to those that might not understand that history is an ever-present being that never really falls into the past.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the decades of Chinese history begin to feel much the same after chapters and chapters of battles, schemes, usurping of thrones, and beheadings, the repetitive nature of the subject is no fault of the author, whose handling of her narrative structure is excellent. The way in which she interweaves her own life, the history of the First Emperor, and the history of Mao Zedong allows all three subjects to complement and support one another, giving the reader a strong sense of the circular nature of history and of the vast importance of their heritage to the Chinese mentality. Altogether, the book is an enlightening look at a subject many Westerners are all too unfamiliar with and certainly merits reading for the cultural exposure alone.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who is fascinated with Chinese history, I love this book that delves into the origins of Chinese proverbs. Many of the proverbs are based on actual historical events, while others reflect universal human values. Yen Mah has created a great resource. I found her writing a bit tedious though, and have to confess I didn't read this book completely through. I will keep it as a resource though, because it references important linguistic features of Chinese that one encounters often while studying the language.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adeline Yen Mah gives you ancient Chinese proverbs and then relates them to Chinese history,specifically the beginnings of the first two emperors of China and then the establishment of the Han Dynasty. She also does a little compare and contrast with the first emperor and Mao Tse-tung. She also adds stories of her own life to help illustrate their relevance to today. Worth reading just for the abbreviated biography of the author. She was born in China but most of her family left for Honk Kong during the communist revolution.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read Falling Leaves, I looked forward to reading another of Yen Mah's books. My disappointment in this book stems from a definite relationship to her first book. Undoubtedly, she had a harsh childhood and is a very bright woman. I won't take away from that, but I will look to enjoying anything she writes that tells me she has moved beyond that bizarre childhood and is relishing her successful life. She has way to much too offer to spend her days wallowing in something she cannot change.

[Shu · Rating 4 out of 5]

"... the renowned British poet Philip Larkin ... described Chinese proverbs as 'white dwarfs' of literature because each was so densely compacted with thoughts and ideas... He said that the enormous heat radiated by these small stars is equivalent to the vast knowledge and profound wisdom contained in certain sayings gleaned from China."

"General Meng Tian, who built the Great Wall, supposedly first invented the writing brush by binding rabbit or camel hair to a wooden shaft with string and glue and using pine soot as ink."

[JiaMin Luo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more from this book. After finished reading Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves, I am obesessed with her autobiographies. So I decided to read this book, "A Thousand Piece of Gold". This book has a lot of Chinese phases and Chinese history. I do not recommend it to people who do not like history or Chinese culture. My favorite part of the book is when Adeline applied the chinese phases to his own life.

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would rate this book 1.5 stars only because it provided a good introduction to the history of the Warring States period. I was not very interested in the author's family history and I had issues with her interpretations on China's history and some of her editorial comments on Mao. Maybe it's because I had not read the author's autobiography, Falling Leaves, and therefore was not familiar with the back stories on her family their actions.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

he majority of Chinese proverbs are drawn from the 1st century, when the First King of all China established his leadership over the whole country and its warring kingdoms. In ancient China, a scholar's conversation would be studded with appropriate sayings, and a man's status in society would be defined by his use and knowledge of proverbs. In modern China, much of this is still true, and proverbs are used daily.

[Mike DeLue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read while still in school and reread recently while on vacation to Taiwan and Hong Kong. A fascinating way of putting so much information into context for the unfamiliar reader and a great way to introduce yourself to Chinese history and culture. Adeline Yen Mah's writing is excellent and the story she has to tell is unique and engaging.

[The Greatone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah yes, this is my favorite book by Adeline Yen Mah, I absolutely loved learning about ancient Chinese history and proverbs, it's like you're learning a whole new language! It's great! I highly recommend it!

[Vivek · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book Adeline Yen Mah does well to blend proverb etymology with her life story and Chinese history. At times though, the historical component lacks dimension (and perhaps could have been shortened). Still, a good read if you like proverbs.

[Mary Gilmartin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me insight into the proverbs that the author gleaned from the writings of Sima Qian. Adeline Yen Mah's personal reflections with the history behind this provided a window into the Chinese mind. Reference, Chapter 3: Jing Xi Zi Zhi "Respect and cherish written word"

[Dima · Rating 5 out of 5]

personal favorite

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying the Chinese history behind the proverbs. The intermixing with her life parts were fine, but the proverbs and their historical origins were fascinating.

[Jo]

going to read this in preparation for visiting the british museum next month