Origins of the Chinese Revolution, 1915-1949

by Lucien Bianco, Muriel Bell (Translator)

The original French edition of this book, published in 1967, was widely acclaimed as the best introduction to Chinese Communism ever published. A fresh, bold interpretative survey, it focuses on the dynamic social forces underlying the Chinese Communists' rise in three short decades from obscurity to power. The author seeks above all to relate the events of this tumultuous period to certain tentative generalizations about the nature and course of the revolution. He is concerned less with the May Fourth Movement as such, for example, than with the revolution's intellectual origins, less with the Communist party's early political history than with the place of Marxist ideology in that history, less with the military aspects of the war of 1937-45 than with the influence of nationalism in the growing success of the Communists.

An important part of the book deals with the various governmental and non-governmental attempts at reform during the Kuomintang era, which the author shows were too little too late to dam the swelling flood of revolution. The conclusion evaluates the crucial role of imperialism, the peasantry, and the army in the Chinese "formula" for revolution and re-examines the relationship between Marxism and the Chinese Revolution.

Genres: History, China, Politics, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

French sinologist and historian.

Reviews

[Fernando Pestana da Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the English translation of the French original Les origins de la révolution chinoise, 1915-1949 first published in 1967. Notwithstanding the sixty five years that have since elapsed, I find it an extraordinarily enlightening introduction to the history of China in the first half of the twentieth century and in particular, as the title of the book let us to infer, to those factors (political, social, economic, military, and historical) that form the background of the Chinese revolution of 1949. The book opens with a brief overview chapter of the last half century of the Qing empire until the inauguration of the Republic in 1911, followed by another one on the intellectual climate and movements since the end of the empire, and then by a survey of the origins of the Communist Party, its foundation, the early alliance with the Kuomintang and the attempt at its extermination by the Kuomintang's government of Chiang Kai-Shek that led to the Great March. Then, in several chapters, we learn about the social situation (in particular in the countryside where the vast majority of Chinese people lived in terribly harsh conditions), the role of Nationalism, the chances (or lack thereof) for reform instead of revolution, the temporary alliance during the war against the Japanese invasion, and final the civil war and the chaotic final stages of the Nationalist regime. In barely two hundred pages we get an excellent and very lively and balanced account of the main facts and intervenors, as well as a discussion of the historic, intellectual, and ideological forces that shaped their action. A great book!

[esther]

i really did try 😭😭 maybe one day i'll actually finish it

[Marc Therrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un livre intéressant. Il faut au moins une connaissance de base sur l’histoire de la Chine au 20e siècle pour vraiment l’apprécier et comprendre son propos, ce qui m’a malheureusement privé du plein enrichissement que j’aurais pu tirer de cet ouvrage.

Le livre montre aussi une certaine naïveté vis-à-vis du régime de Mao Zedong (naïveté que l’auteur reconnaît lui-même, puisqu’il s’agit d’une réédition, près de 30 ans après la première publication). Néanmoins, c’est une bonne source pour comprendre pourquoi le régime nationaliste s’est effondré devant l’avancée communiste en Chine.

[Gnuehc Ecnerwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It may be a fortunate coincidence that this book (the original French version) was completed and published in 1966, just before the horrors of the Cultural Revolution in China fully unfolded; otherwise, the author would have had a very different taken in his analysis. It's 'fortunate', because we can get a glimpse of how he evaluated the historical development uncoloured by recent and drastic events initiated by Mao in China.

At first glance, one might sense that the author could have a slight tint of leftist inclinations, influenced by the French revolution as the historic reference point. In fact, many of the events leading up to the Chinese revolution were compared and contrasted in reference to similar counterparts in France or some other European countries. However, the author tried quite deliberately to draw distinctions between the development of revolutions in France and Russia and the one brewing in China at the beginning of the 20th century. The main goal of his analysis focused on factors unique to the context (political, social and military) of China during that time. To that end, he did a thorough and convincing job.

Though much has changed in China since 1966, this book is still a valuable historical resource to understand the intricate interlocking elements that made up the tapestry of this period in China. Many of the more recent narratives about this period are tainted by propaganda (pro- or anti- CCP), and it is becoming harder and harder to find source material that is not influenced (or rewritten) by the CCP propaganda machine after it became a world power since the 2000's.

[Aidan Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 2022, and it was very intriguing. The copy I read originally belonged to my grandfather, who had passed away a few years prior due to a broken heart one year after my grandmother had died. It was the original French text, and even though I know how to read, write and speak French, my first language is English, so it took me a while to get through it. I was awestruck by the detail with which Lucien Bianco wrote about the lead up to the Chinese revolution, the brutality of the war, and how ultimately the Communists won. I was enthralled by the way in which he presented these facts and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in this topic.

[Fidel Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un livre d’histoire élémentaire utile mais post-facée d’un tract de propagande de guerre froide assez effarante, témoignant d’une confusion dans l’esprit de l’auteur entre l’héritage européen du colonialisme / la nature de classe du fascisme, et les tentatives des pays coloniaux de construire des entités politiques où les gens ne soient plus obligés de passer l’année à collectionner leur propre merde dans l’espoir de pouvoir manger l’année d’après.

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[Marc Olaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une bonne introduction à l’histoire politique chinoise de la première moitié du XXème siècle, qui parvient à rester digeste.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful little jaunt that provides a fresh perspective on the Revolution from an un-fresh time (1960s??)

[Brag Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

includes alot of interesting information about the early years about the CCP, their growth and takes on why the CCP succeded and the KMT didnt.

[Frank Inserra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A taught, well-researched, and perceptive history of the end of Imperial China, as it is consumed successively by overpopulation, imperialism, nationalism, and communism.

[Jacob Woocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good overall. Great writing.

[Joeri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1967, this book is not exactly a 'fresh take'. The author however gives a near-complete overview of the events building up to the Chinese Revolution. It delves into the pressures of modernisation and imperialism. It explores the failure of the Guomindang Republic, questioning its programme, social basis and political integrity, as well as looking at limiting external circumstances like the poor state of the economy and the war with Japan. And of course it searches for the success formula of the Communist Party, stressing its combination of social revolution, mass-mobilisation of peasants, political pragmatism and military strategy.

The book has a broad scope but explores every dimension in detail, layering them chapter by chapter. What emerges is a balanced and comprehensive account of the origins of the revolution, as was promised by the title. I found the author to be always nuanced, fair and to the point in dealing with his subject. This work is a good entry point for those with vague notions of China's modern history. It certainly reads easier than other academic works I picked up. For the more advanced reader it offers both a good synthesis as well as opportunity for reflection on the relative importance of elements contributing to revolutionary buildup and success.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough summary of the political situation in China from 1915-1949. I was expecting it to be more a history of the Chinese Communist Party, based on the title "Origins of the Chinese Revolution". However it focused more on the general political climate that made revolution, led by the Communist Party, possible. It seems to be pretty essential reading for anyone looking for a summary of the events of the time period.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

in the tradition of james joll, attempts an all-inclusive analysis of the origins of the rev. good breadth, but somewhat shallow.

[Chelsea Szendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean, no-nonsense prose never goes out of style. We can quibble over the details, but for Bianco, it's a matter of simply mathematics:

Imperialism + Peasantry + Army = Chinese Revolution

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much flowery language. Use of Wade-Giles is distracting and confusing.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit academic, but if that is what you are looking for, it is a must-have for China scholars. Compared to most texts covering this period, this book is an easy read.

[Carlisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I come back to this book all the time. Necessary reading honestly