The Shortest History of China

Shortest History

by Linda Jaivin

From kung-fu to tofu, tea to trade routes, sages to silk, China has influenced cuisine, commerce, military strategy, aesthetics and philosophy across the world for thousands of years.Chinese history is nothing if not messy. Heroes are also villains; prosperity mingles with violence; cultural vibrancy coexists with censorship and repression. Modern China is seen variously as an economic powerhouse, an icon of urbanisation, a propaganda state and an aggressive superpower seeking world domination.Jaivin distils this vast history into a sparkling narrative, from mythical origins to the COVID-19 pandemic. It's a story in which China's women, from the earliest warriors to 20th-century suffragettes, receive long overdue attention.As historical spectres of corruption and disunity continue to haunt the People's Republic, Jaivin discusses what may lie ahead – not just for China but for the world.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction, Asia, Politics, Historical, World History

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

Linda Jaivin is the author of twelve books, including the forthcoming (May 2021) The Shortest History of China and the novel The Empress Lover, published in April 2014 as well as the travel companion Beijing, published in July 2014. Other major publications include the Quarterly Essay: Found in Translation (late 2013), five novels and a novella, a collection of essays (Confessions of an S&M Virgin) and a China memoir (Monkey and the Dragon). Her first novel was the internationally bestselling comic erotic Eat Me. The Empress Lover follows A Most Immoral Woman, which is set in China and Japan in 1904 and based on a true story. She is also a translator from Chinese and a playwright. She was the winner of the 2014 New South Wales Writers Fellowship.

Reviews

[Annikky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good overview of a topic that is so vast that it's almost impossible to summarise. A good starting point for people who are planning to do more reading on China and a great option for those who just want to read one, accessible book about the country's history.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Shortest History of China is a richly informative and important book. China's past is key to the modern world. This nimble and pacy history of rogues, revolutions and rebellions can be read in a single afternoon but will transform your perspective for a lifetime. Some people turn to Chinese history for clues to China’s present. Others look to it as the missing piece in the puzzle of world history as it’s typically taught in the west. And still, others find joy simply in exploring topics ranging from the intellectual and cultural life of Chinese cities in dynastic times to the stories of China’s first feminists, the origins of Daoism, or even the history of history in China itself. Chinese history is sprawling and gloriously messy. It is full of heroes who are also villains, prosperous ages and violent rebellions, cultural vibrancy and censorious impulses, rebels, loyalists, dissidents and wits, and the story of women in China, from the earliest warriors to twentieth-century suffragettes, is rarely ever told.

And historical spectres of corruption and disunity, which have brought down many a mighty ruling house, continue to haunt the People’s Republic today. Modern China is seen variously as an economic powerhouse, an icon of urbanisation, a propaganda state or an aggressive superpower seeking world domination. Linda Jaivin distils a vast history into a short, readable account that tells you what you need to know, from China’s philosophical origins to its political system to the COVID-19 pandemic and where China is likely to lead the world. Jaivin is an author who has lived and worked in China for years, first as a student then as a foreign correspondent. She was in China during the Tiananmen Square massacres of 1989 and several of her closest friends were leading the protests. The Chinese politics, language and culture expert posits that knowing the story of this extraordinary civilisation is necessary for understanding the revival of Chinese power and its increasingly aggressive role in the world. Highly recommended.

[Darka]

у мене були інші очікування від книжки, бо я розраховувала, що ми більше будемо говорити про очевидну проблематичність сучасного Китаю, але авторка надто вже делікатно висловлювалася на всі злободенні теми.

але загалом було цікаво написано, а, якщо заплющити очі на нереалістичність задумки вмістити буквально тисячоліття історії в 230 сторінок з картинками, то навіть певною мірою пізнавально.

смішно, що пояснення вінні-пуху з обкладинки допитливим читачам у книжці знайти не вдасться. не дуже смішно, що велетенською країною ображених націоналістів-комуністів (не питайте) до скону керуватиме обіженка, що забороняє мультфільми "щоб усі боялись, щоб не насміхались".

мені здається, що це ненайкращий (але і ненайгірший, лол, нагадаю вам, що у фоліо виходила книжку мудрощів від дядечка Сі, неможливі рівні) варіант книжки про Китай для перекладу в сучасній Україні, бо він може створити дещо викривлене враження у людей, які до того недостатньо цікавилися темою.

[M Caesar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, if you stop reading and pretend the book ends at the world war 2 period when you get there its 4 stars. A lot of good info in a short period of time on Chinese history, which is the goal of the book. But once it gets to the 20th century the handling of the communist period is very bad. It takes umbrage with a lot of things, such as the ending of slavery in Tibet by the mao era government (which it fearmongers about and glosses over the whole , the Tibetian society functioned as a slave state part), or the great firewall and fearmongers about "censorship" without mentioning that the shit the great firewall blocks is stuff like chan imageboards lol. If you had no familiarity with chinese communism or its policies or marxist statecraft in general you would come away with a strange impression of the government that it was just one party liberal democracy that made a lot of "bad" decisions unpopular with western human rights lawyers for no reason lol. Its a shame it did such a hard pivot into orientalist liberalism because the early chapters were quite good.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly what it claims to be and it does it well. While not comprehensive it covers important points of each dynasty, highlighting key players, advances in philosophical thought and invention and well as covering the cyclonic nature of history. Covering the rise and fall, prosperity and oppression. Famine, flood and war.

The writing is engaging and often leaves you curious to read up on certain figures or periods. It explains the social mood of the time and how the leaders of the time employed propaganda, religion and philosophical thought into the leadership. And how they continued to do that to the present and most of all it explains the way we have reached the current climate we find ourselves in with the CCP.

It truely is a fantastic if brief education in the history of China.

And as a last note, it's always fascinating to see when the English will show up and be complete and utter fucking wankstains. Ugh.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blessing this concise, readable history is for my students. I teach AP World History to high school sophomores and learning about China is always a daunting task. Enter "The Shortest History of China." In fifteen relatively brief chapters, the author present thousands of years of history my students would have feared learning. This will serve nicely as a Fall Break reading assignment that won't seem punitive! I was lucky enough to get an advanced readers copy and was able to build it into this year’s curriculum. Thanks, Netgalley and @experimentbooks for making this high school teacher's life a little easier!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone from China, I would say this book is solid as an introduction to the history of China.

On a side note, I notice the author went out of her way to highlight the influence of important females in each dynasty. Given Chinese society is mostly patriarchal throughout its history (and to the present day), this is perhaps a necessary nudge in the right direction.

[Rory]

Read because I didn’t know anything about China. Now know some things about China. Turns out a fair amount of stuff has happened over there.

[Yuliia Dukach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Непогана книга щоб хоч трохи дізнатися про історію Китаю людині, яка не знає (майже) нічого. Але саме це і ховає в собі найбільшу проблему: майже три тисячоліття описані на 240 сторінках, і тепер в моїй голові суцільний месс 😅

Підозрюю, що не багато втратила якби прочитала лише вступ і останні три розділи з історією КПК.

[Halina Hetman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Цю книгу я купила наобум, в рамках підготовки до читання І-Цзіну. Ніколи не думала, що можу захопитися такою темою, але авторці вдалося передати мені свою пристрасть. Якщо Китай вас не цікавить, то з книгою все одно варто ознайомитися - хоча б для того, щоб побачити, як треба писати про складне (4000 років історії на 250 сторінках, які читаються легко і весело). Ну і для того, щоб краще розуміти своїх ворогів (якщо ви думаєте, що Китай Україні не ворог, а потенційний партнер, вам сюди: У таборах високих технологій).

Айнштайн казав:

Якщо ви не можете пояснити це просто, ви не знаєте цього достатньо добре.

Лінда Явін знає історію Китаю дуже добре. Це допомогло їй написати найкращий нон-фікшн, який я коли-небудь читала.

[Julian Worker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is OK as an introduction to the history of China. This history is complicated, complex, and confusing at times with perhaps too much emphasis in the book on the more modern aspects of China's story. There are only two pages of 'further reading' suggestions and I'd like to think that this is not enough for such a vast subject.

I reckon this book could do with a good edit as it's a bit vague in places.

[Христо Блажев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Китай – за който знаем твърде малко: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/n...

Разбирам напълно възраженията към такъв тип олекотени истории, но все ��тнякъде трябва да се започне. Определено няма да преразказвам китайската история, авторката го е направила удачно, като още в началото пише, че тая работа с петте хиляди години писана история не е съвсем вярна, по-точно: “Най-старото материално свидетелство на китайска писменост обаче датира отпреди 3500 години, което я нарежда на трето или четвърто място в света след тази на шумерите в Месопотамия, на древните египтяни и вероятно на минойците.” След това хронологично проследява не толкова владетел по владетел – в често политически разкъсаните китайски земи това е невъзможно, колкото се опитва да отличи приносите на различните династии, които се сменят на кормилото на властта и с променлив успех се опитват да консолидират колкото се може по-голяма територия. Голяма до непонятна за нас степен, които възвеличаваме битки с по няколко десетки хиляди войници на бойното поле, докато в Китай нещата още тогава са от различен порядък – “преброяването от 754 г. съобщава за население от около 53 милиона души, но по-вероятно е да са доста повече, защото “преброяванията при Тан не са обхващали всички мигранти, нехански етноси, монаси, странстващи артисти, работници и евнуси”.

ИК Прозорец
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/n...

[Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

+Fascinating read from start to finish - just the right ratio of interesting anecdotes (The man-baby-jester successfully overthrowing the kingdom being my favourite) to commentary to broader sociopolitical events.

+Does a great job briefly outlining how thinkers / texts continue to exert influence (Confucius, Daoists, Mao, Tao Te Ching, I Ching, the new Falun Gong)

+Being so recently published, its nice to read through the Xi Jinping era up to present day. I now have a slight confidence in understanding the CCP.

-Sometimes it seems a little too brief such as when the book barely describes Mao’s Great Famine of the 1960s. In the author’s defence though, I’m getting what I pay for and there’s no way my fried attention-span is tolerating a 2000-page history book.

“Wen-yuan Qian observes: ‘No other nation had so many peasant rebellions, was plagued by so many civil wars, and was invaded so often; yet no nation preserved its own characteristic culture so well”

[Yulia Maleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книжка не для професійних істориків, а звичайних читачів, бо написана просто, легко і цікаво. Для тих, хто хоче зрозуміти в чому суть конфліктів КНР з Тайваню та Тибетом, згадати як так сталося, що з'явилося дві Кореї, прочитати про студентські протести на площі Тяньаньмень проти політики комуністичної партії і жорстке придушення його, про штучний голод, а також про багато подій до ХХ століття. Вони досі впливають на світобачення китайців.

Мені сподобалося, що тут немає возвеличення Китаю, а лише спроба об'єктивно поглянути на минуле, мистецтво і філософію, різні династії і становище жінок, щоб допомогти трішки краще зрозуміти цю країну. Тут, до речі, описується і звідки пішов звичай бинтувати ноги (це каліцтво справжнє), і які жінки приходили до влади в різні часи і як жорстоко вони розправлялися із суперницями.

Для розширення світобачення і поглиблення свого розуміння світу і знань про нього і без заглиблення в зайві дати, яких все одно не запам'ятаєш, – те, що треба.

[Yaryna Zhukorska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Китай. Про нього можна говорити багато, але важко написати коротко й цікаво.
Авторці це вдалося.
Коротка історія держави, яка завжди займала й займає важливе місце на геополітичній карті світу.

З династіями, переворотами та змінами влади, звичайно, я заплуталася по тексту, але від цього він не стає менш цікавим та інформативним.
Насправді часто все одно, хто саме при владі, головне - що він (не) робить.

Нанкінський договір 1842, Гонконг, статус Макао, Тибет, Тайвань та ООН, екстериторіальність, уйгури, концесії - місцями таке враження, що читаєш книжку з міжнародного права чи міжнародних відносин, що і не дивно.
А ще Південнокитайське море, яке я бачила й полюбила. Та хіба можна не полюбити море))
І яке, як пояснювали мені, коли я була у Вʼєтнамі, - насправді Північнокитайське море)

✔️ Відмова однієї порядної людини важить більше, ніж мовчазна згода натовпу (с).

✔️ І хоч ніхто не знає, що готує для нас майбутнє, історія принаймні робить його менш несподіваним.

#451deepreading

[Philip William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Linda attempts to tell the history from a modern perspective but it never quite comes off.

She seems clearer on the last hundred years (which is 40% of the book) but possibly that is because my understanding of the last 100 years is better then the previous 2,500 years.

I am left looking for a better understanding of the history of China and how it interacts with modern day thinking.

[♡ Diyasha ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ✦ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧 ✦

𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎: 288
𝙶𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚜: 4.02
𝙰𝚖𝚊𝚣𝚘𝚗: 4.4

• What do you think about modern China? Or about their culture and urbanization? How do the fierce superpowers get their positions?

• China is known as an “economic superpower” and has influenced cuisine, commerce, military strategy, aesthetics and philosophy across the world. China tells the stories of violent rebellions, cultural vibrancy and censorious impulses, rebels, loyalists, dissidents and wits, and also about the story of women in China, from the earliest warriors to twentieth-century suffragettes, is rarely ever told.

• Language has super efficiently taken its part here. The Chinese politics, language and culture expert posits that knowing the story of this incredible civilisation is indispensable for understanding the rebirth of Chinese power and its increasingly assertive role in the world. I came to know that the author was in China during the Tiananmen Square massacres of 1989.

• For one who loves to know the history of a country, this book is a solid preface to the history of China. From kung-fu to tofu, tea to trade routes, and sages to silk, Chinese history is gloriously chaotic. This “Shortest History of China” is not the shortest history. This is one of the most well-defined and narrated explanations one can ever have. Chinese historical records are long and deep.
.
So I would love to rate 4.3 🍁🧿

[Michelle Huang]

I read this book sporadically over the last few months and skipped all the dynasties and started in 1839 with the first opium war. I generally struggle with history books because there are so many details, which I experienced in this book also. I will comment that I would’ve liked a bit more analysis/insight into motivations, significance, vibes rather than facts. Still glad I read it as it contributed to my learning of Chinese history, although I can’t remember what I learned exactly from this book due to sporadic experience of it and simultaneously learning from other sources too.
One of my fav resources so far was China Roots of Madness documentary (on YouTube) which shares chinese history from 1839 first opium war in a chronological way using actual footage from the times!! which really helped me piece together all the separate bits of Chinese history I hard learned (boxer, Qing, opium wars, foreign occupation and interference, Japan, civil war).

[Jonatan Risåsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to Chinese history. It was interesting to learn about the emperors, thinkers and artists who contributed to shaping the China we know today.

It was sometimes hard to follow the different figures, as their names were foreign to me.

I think there was a bit too much focus on relatively minor events from the last 50 years. However, those events were crucial in shaping contemporary China.

[Amelia Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting on a flight to Shanghai and it was hugely informative and fascinating! Covering centuries of Chinese history in one 300ish page book is no small feat. However, I would have liked a bit more balance between the ancient history and 1900s onward. The chapters covering BCE were a whirlwind, and more time was given to the modern day.

[hannah scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

mad history that i barely knew anything about, would love to read more about China’s history cus obvs it was quite brief x

[Viv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great intro into the history of a nation that is almost impossible to condense. Linda Jaivin has done a fabulous job of giving the a summary of a history that is as much defined by its longevity as the individual events that take place within it. This lays out the story of a nation that has incredibly ancient roots, right from the myths of its origins to the modern day nation led by Xi Jinping.

At times I found myself wanting a little more storytelling from this. There are some chapters and moments where each paragraph or each event feels a little disjointed. I felt myself wanting to know ‘What’s the story of the Ming dynasty? What’s the story of the downfall of the Qing?’ But at the end of the day, I don’t think that that’s what this book is for. Ultimately, this book is titled: The Shortest History of China. And it does a wonderful job of exploring just that - it’s a jumping off point and I truly believe that it’s something that everyone should read to understand the absolute breadth, depth and vibrancy of this nation that we see rising as a global power today. In reading this book, I’m reminded that there is still so much that the ‘West’ doesn’t know or understand about China and the Chinese people. This book would act as a wonderful introduction and as a result of reading it, I know that I’ll be looking into the areas that have interested me the post (particularly the last 200-300 years of history).

I am a Chinese Australian young woman and I really found myself thinking to myself “Wow. I truly never knew about ..xyz…”. China’s history is so vast and colourful. It’s filled with benevolent rulers, scandalous stories and tyrants alike. It’s full of so much art, so much literature and poetry that I wonder how it’s not talked about more. I know I certainly will be looking into more of this. Plus, I loved that Linda Jaivin spotlights the role of women at varying points throughout the book. While we journey through China’s 4000+ years of history, Jaivin takes a moment to just point out this female character, or that Empress, or that suffragette (I LOVED hearing about the badass females throughout Chinese history).

I particularly appreciated that LInda Jaivin takes to this history with the eye of someone who really admires China’s history and culture. It’s clear that she has dedicated a great deal of energy to this and I was really intrigued to see what a Western woman would see and write about. And I truly enjoyed reading it.

A great read - really looking forward to reading more Chinese history.

[Haniza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author’s narration of ‘Chinese’ history (insofar as you can pinpoint to a ‘Chinese’ entity/collective awareness/civilisation/nation state over 3000 years) showcases the rise and fall of each dynastic cycle, with each fall being preceded by telltale signs of corruption and rebellion/widespread unrest/revolution. Notwithstanding this (the narration goes), even at the height of any one dynasty there would be detractors, it was simply the nature of Chinese sociopolitical culture for some level of criticism to exist, in some cases, supported in the name of being a loyal friend.

The argument is that a similar cycle would apply to the modern era of Mao to Xi Jinping (and beyond). Author implies that telltale signs are appearing again, with any eventual fall only delayed by brutal suppression. Xi Jinping’s China is but a blink in history, says the author, which if you follow along the general theory of empires, is an inescapable conclusion. Not a question of will it make way for another ‘dynasty’/form of government/central ideology, but *when* will it.

+ the author acknowledges the mammoth task before her, but dives into it anyway for the benefit of us casual readers of popular history

+ female players & detractors & literary works are consistently featured across different dynasties

- My gripe is that for the modern era, the author at times benchmarks China’s civilisational advancements/regressions against its western peers or at least against western standards, as opposed to referencing internal standards. Though to be fair, there aren’t always many female forward examples in premodern times across different civilisations. Still thinking about this point.

[Alice Caratti · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. The first half of the book up until the 1900s I found it very hard to keep up and make sense of it but understandable considering how far back the history goes! Very brief but is an awesome overview of Chinese history.

[Paul Frandano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent

Others have commented on the misleading brevity of the book. Author Jaivin has squeezed in so much information and thumbnail analysis into so few pages, with interesting illustrations and graphics to boot, that this mighty, tiny history can only be fairly discussed in superlatives. Moreover, I'm certain, Jaivin's history will, at some points, enlighten even seasoned China scholars. Needless to say, every relatively knowledgeable reader will come across chapters and topical treatment that, in their view, fall short. (I was disconcerted by the short shrift given to Hu Yaobang and the non-mention of Zhao Ziyang, both pivotal figures in the post-Mao reform movement.) But ample compensation elsewhere makes this a favorite recommendation to friends who know next to nothing about China, wish to learn, but are daunted by the massive and growing China literature. I will not hesitate to recommend Linda Jaivin's Little Red Book, one that you will not have to shake well before using.

[Nicolas Malmendier · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Shortest History of China is for sure not one of the best history book I’ve read, but it is an ambitious attempt to summarize China’s vast history in just 250 pages. Some of the elements I didn’t enjoy are inevitable when pursuing this ambition. For example, as the author moves from one century to another, I often felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of historical figures mentioned. Yet, given the book’s scope, the author had little choice but to include them. Then again, I was at times hoping for more context to fully understand the significance of certain individuals, but the author had to make trade-offs and couldn’t dwell on every detail of Chinese history.

Therefore, I believe the book serves as a solid introduction, helping readers identify which aspects of China’s history they might want to explore further through more detailed books.

[Kumasama · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Score: 8/10*

A very solid read about history of China, from ancient times all the way to COVID days. Its told in a short but precise style that cuts to the chase while still maintaining a good level of personal commentary from the author. I loved her mixing of political history as well as areas of culture, religion, and arts.

Its a very short book for the kind of scope it has, but gives a really solid glimpse into the essentials of China's history. For someone like me with not much background on the topic, I have learned a lot while also enjoying the accessible writing style.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading pithy histories, especially the ‘shortest history’ series. This is excellent and confirms to me that I’ve got an ok understanding of the huge breadth of time China’s past covers.

The book is written with enough detail to answer random questions that might come up but does not bog itself down in detail that would distract from the need to cover so much in so few pages.

Really recommended to anyone wanting to break into the huge story that is China!

[mantareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that the first half of this book covers the 16 "dynasties" of Chinese history before turning to the 20th C, which takes up the second half (and even then only in decent granularity), leaves me awestruck at how much more there is yet to learn, how many more myriad layers there are in 5,000 years of happenings.

This is a concisely written primer into Chinese history, and i enjoyed reading it. I liked even more that the author decided to end her Acknowledgements with 但愿人长久！

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know history is very big but I appreciate the conciseness of the Shortest History of China, as compared to a Chinese history book I once began reading which from now on I will call the Longest History of China.