The Imperial Capitals of China

by Arthur Cotterell

From the third century B.C. Shang Emperor's obsessive―and fatal―attempts to engage the Immortals with cosmologically pleasing urban planning, Chinese emperors have designed their imperial capitals in ways that reveal the heart of their dynasty. In a history peopled with countless races, nationalities, and faiths, capital city ley lines display religious preoccupations and building design shows cultural influences of the period. The Tang capital at Chang’an betrays the striking creativity and cultural receptiveness that earmark the era as a literary and artistic golden age, and the Forbidden City of fifteenth century Beijing still stands as testament to Ming dynasty architectural virtuosity. Arthur Cotterell provides an inside view of the rich array of characters, political and ideological tensions, and technological genius that defined the imperial cities of China, as each in turn is uncovered, explored, and celebrated. The oldest continuous civilization in existence today stands to become the most influential.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Arthur Cotterell, former Principal of Kingston College in London, has spent many years combining senior educational management with historical research. He is the respected author of more than thirty books, and is now writing on the Chinese empire, from the history of which he considers one can learn as much about leadership as from Ashridge or Harvard.

Reviews

[Terence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may have given this book three stars if not for the egregious editing errors that peppered nearly every page of the book (a few are detailed below).

To the good: This book isn't really about the imperial capitals of China though often as not they do make an appearance in each chapter. Rather, I get the impression the author wanted to write an idiosyncratic little book where he could indulge himself in talking about China. And I didn't mind that. Cotterell has an engaging style of writing, and though he wanders around describing Chang'an in one paragraph and then jumping into the career of the poet-scholar-official Bai Juyi the next, it's all rather interesting (at least to a committed sinophile such as myself). If you want a more focused discussion of various periods, he has a brief little reference section at the back of the book.

And there are interesting little factoids like Tang Chang'an (c. AD 650) covered 70 square kilometers and was built on an exacting grid system where each ward was enclosed by its own wall, which made crowd control exceedingly easy. (Sizewise, Imperial Rome at its height was a paltry 12 sq. km., and, though respectable, Baghdad lagged far behind at 30.)

Unfortunately, I can only imagine that Cotterell and the editors at The Overlook Press (an apt company name if ever there was one) only glanced at the galleys before allowing this volume to go to press.

In a 300-page book, I can forgive an error or two but the obvious errors that piled up in the course of this book are simply unforgivable. The following is the SHORT list:

1. Sentence fragments. I was in a position to note one down immediately: p. 287, "Pu Yi's attempted restoration in 1917, which lasted for only a few days, he continued to live in the imperial palace at Beijing until 1924." There are at least 2 more that come to mind but I wasn't in a position to note them at the time. Trust me -- there're there.

2. A highly idiosyncratic use of the definite article. Or nonuse. There are points where Cotterell sounds like his first language doesn't have a definite article and he is unfamiliar with its use.

3. "bareness" for "barrenness"

4. "magnets" for "magnates"

5. "phrase" for "phase"

6. "dairy" for "diary"

7. "pubic" for "public" (a classic)

8. "restrain" for "restraint"

9. "multi-ethic" for "multi-ethnic"

10. "peninsular" for "peninsula"

11. Names change (sometime within the same paragraph!): "Bang Zhao" (correct) becomes "Ban Zhao"; "Dezong" is sometimes written "De Zong"; "Xiaowen" (correct) becomes "Xianwen"; and "Guo Xi" (correct) becomes "Gao Xi."

12. Inconsistent transliteration: "Wu Cheng'en" in some instances; "Wu Chengen" in others.

13. And on p. 249, the header is simply "CHAPTER TITLE" rather than the actual chapter title.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book to learn more about China's ancient capitals. What I discovered, however, is an absolutely delightful book on the history of China (and its capital cities) as chronicled through the lives of its most important emperors. The first chaper on "The Cosmology of the Chinese Capital" is a fascinating overview of the Chinese world view that links astronomy, religion and geography with Chinese, Indian, Khmer and other Asian orientations--one of the best introductions to the subject I've read. The author then chapter by chapter, follows the lives of the various emperors who founded, moved or destroyed cities and courts and populations in their search for the ideal capital city, safety, riches, military advantage, or divine approval. This history comes alive with anecdotes, stories and details that are beautifully woven together and makes the text a real page-turner. Together with Ann Paludan's excellent book "Chronicles of the Chinese Emperors", which because of its rich illustrations and pictures is the perfect companion to Cotterell's narrative, you have two of the best general overviews of Chinese history to be found. Wonderful book, and one I'll buy and give to many friends to introduce them to the captivating subject of classical Chinese history.

[Tim Pendry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you get into the rhythm of the narrative, this is an entertaining way of getting a broad outline of Chinese history (up to the early twentieth century) through the story of its imperial capitals.

There are surprisingly few good general accounts of Chinese history, considering the country's new status as rising superpower, although we understand that publishers intend to change that in coming years.

In the meantime, this book will serve. Cotterell writes well enough. The heads of Chinese history are covered. There are even the seeds of analysis. Not a bad interim introduction.

To know China is also to understand much of the rest of East Asia better. Although distinct and proudly separate cultures, both Korea and Japan owe a great deal to Chinese culture.

One foot note - the account of British imperial conduct in the mid-nineteenth century is pretty damning.

The British were little better behaved towards China than the modern Mexico cartels who are now undermining the United States.

In a way, as the mafia say, 'that was then and this is now', but the Chinese are not unjustified in seeing our discovery of ethics in foreign policy to have come somewhat late in the day.

You should read a history of China, if not this one, to understand precisely what informs the Chinese sense of what needs re-balancing in the world. Chinese suspicion of Western motivations are reasonable.

Histories of Russia, India and the Muslim worlds would tell not dissimilar stories of arrogant piracy by Western 'gentlemen' and 'scholars'.

There is unfinished business here and Westerners should start reading sooner rather than later about the world they once ruled and soon will rule no longer.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chinese history at its finest. Will add more to my review later.