China Books

I wanted to buy a book on I-Ching that was easy to read and understand even though I've been learning for 2 years now.This book is ideal.The author writes in simple terms that will appeal to everyone not just beginners.No technical explanations.It covers advice on relationships,work matters and more.I found this book to be unusual compared to other I-Ching books because of its simple explanations and it is written in simple English.For the price alone this book is great value.For what this book has to offer its even better value.Its a great book to start with even if you purchase another beginners book with it.

Great value book suitable for anyone interested in I-Ching.

If you're looking for a book that discusses the I Ching as a philosophy or metaphysics or meditation tool, this book isn't what you're looking for. However, if you want an I Ching that can give insight and solutions into your life, this book is nothing short of spooky. I made a quick and cheap set of index cards as he describes (if I flipped coins around here, my cats'd make sure I spent all day looking for coins) and for the first month that I owned this book I did a reading every morning.

Unlike Tarot, where sometimes you and a deck have to take some time getting to know each other (tarot people know what I mean), this worked right off the page from day one. He offers wonderful blurbs on each of the trigrams, and I was so impressed at how spot on they were at predicting what I needed to look out for that day (my general question) that I started analyzing the book for 'cheats'. You know, generic stuff that could fit anybody "you have a friend named Joe? John?" "You feel as if no one understands you?" That sort of ultrageneric stuff that the Rube desperately clings onto. Nope. Not here. The trigrams are widely different in meaning, with very little overlap.

If you want a practical I Ching tool, and something that you will turn to day after day with confidence, THIS is the book to get.

First of all, you should read the excellent review posted by Janet Boyer. I've got not much to add to this.

I consider this book (and Mark's Bright Idea Deck) as my private mentor/coach. It does not tell me what to do, but confronts me with a set of questions and options to consider. Over time I have learned the importance of asking the right question; sometimes an answer is not even needed, the question alone makes the problem disappear.

Why 4 stars and not 5? Well, we all got spoiled by Mark's use of examples on how to use for instance his bright idea deck.

Well, in this I Ching book, no "50 ways to use the I Ching", no "What would the trigrams do", no different "spreads".
I'm sure I have enough information to construct these on my own, but I would love some practical examples, some "spreads" using more than one or two hexagrams etc.

Anyway, I recommend this book to everyone!

"Enough tire-kicking! It's time to get under the hood of the Book of Changes and get a peek at its thirty-five hundred year-old Wisdom Engine: a ingenious problem-solving computer built back when the Silicon Valley was just the Silicon Gully." - From the book

The I Ching (pronounced eee ching or yee jing) is a profound Chinese oracle that speaks to the complex and changing nature of life. Centered on the Tao-the Truth or master pattern of the universe-the I Ching blends the Yin (feminine principle) and the yang (male principle) to address virtually every type of situation.

Originally consulted using yarrow sticks, this ancient oracle comprises 64 hexagrams consisting of six lines. Each hexagram is like a "chapter" of the Book of Changes (another name for the I Ching). Solid lines are yang and broken lines are yin; both are considered stable. Then there are changing lines that are yang turning yin or yin about to become yang. Although diviners generated these hexagrams with yarrow sticks in the past, modern methods have incorporated coins or even special I Ching cards.

In his new book I Ching for Beginners, Mark McElroy makes this often-ponderous oracle accessible to a new generation. He admits that this book is not a translation nor is it a traditional or scholarly exposition. Nevertheless, I Ching for Beginners provides everything you need to quickly consult-and apply-the wisdom found in the Book of Changes.

Even if you're not into divination, Mark makes the case that the I Ching provides opportunity for reflection, enhances our perception, encourages awareness of impact, and moderates our responses. Often leading individuals by the hand to the "middle way", the I Ching dispenses wise advice for those seeking insight.

Mark explains the nature of trigrams and hexagrams and shows readers how to prepare for a reading and easily generate a hexagram. In fact, he's come up with an ingenious way of generating lines using a handmade deck of sixteen "consultation cards" that are quick and easy to make. Of course, you can also generate hexagrams using three coins (which is what I do). If all the lines are stable, then you just consult the corresponding chapter in the book. (There's an easy-to-read Hexagram Chart in the Appendix). If the hexagram contains changing lines, then you need to create a Primary Hexagram and a Secondary Hexagram-reflecting how a situation is currently and how it's likely to evolve. Then, consult the chapters correlating with the Primary and Secondary Hexagrams.

Each chapter offers a sage observation about the Hexagram and what it encourages and cautions against, as well as keywords, thought questions, and a commentary. Comments on both love and relationships and work and projects are also provided, in addition to comments about the changing lines (stable or Primary Hexagrams only).

I've consulted the I Ching for Beginners three different times, and each of the readings have been incredibly spot on. One night, I was at my wits end as me and my 7 year old were butting heads. I tossed the coins and (surprise!) the situation was a changing one, so it reflected changing lines. The Primary Hexagram was (get this) 38 Resolving Tensions! It spoke of antagonism, conflict, and rebellion-as well as blending fire and water to make powerful steam (as opposed to extinguishing one another.) The Secondary Hexagram comforted me-what the situation was evolving into-because it was 54 Managing Relationships. It showed me the best way to deal with my son and provided me much clarity and comfort.

I consulted Mark's book two other times and found the results to be not only profoundly accurate and insightful, but also amazingly comforting and empowering. I just did a reading a short while ago about the next few days and I what I needed to focus on, and I got exactly the answer I needed-and one that was doable!

Out of curiosity, I compared Mark's "thought for thought" interpretations inspired by the ancient oracle to The Complete I Ching: The Definitive Translation by the Taoist Master Alfred Huang. I was surprised that I Ching for Beginners reflected the gist of the Hexagrams found in this scholarly book. Sure, a book like The Complete I Ching may give some added nuance and information, but for someone wanting a modern, accessible version of the I Ching, Mark's book does the trick.

If you want to learn about the I Ching-especially if you're looking for an easy-to-use oracle with depth and breadth-I Ching for Beginners is an excellent book to get you started. Written in his characteristic witty, engaging style, Mark takes a potentially cumbersome subject and makes it understandable-and more importantly, *doable*--for a new generation of seekers.

I'm a Taiwanese myself. Even though the content of this book is not new to me, it still provides a fantastic read for me personally and I can imagine it'd be more fantastic for someone wishing to know more about Taiwan. Because Taiwan is so isolated in the international arena, books such as this one is highly recommended for the average person. The only aspect I did not like about this book is the first part of this book's title: "Is Taiwan Chinese?". I'd just like to inform readers that all the population in Asian countries (east, north and south east) all originated from China. So basically everyone is Chinese, so it doesn't just apply to Taiwan. It is like saying: Is Australia British? Nevertheless, a rather informative book for all.

"The "one China" policy officially supported by the People's Republic of China, the United States, and other countries asserts that there is only one China and Taiwan is a part of it." The Description of this book is Misleading.

United States acknowledged China's claim but do not agree with "Taiwan is a part of China". United states position is the resolution shall be peaceful.

At last, a book that covers an aspect of Taiwanese history and culture not often discussed until recent years: the Taiwanese people are a hybrid people. Many have some Plains Aborigine blood (traced on the maternal side). But, with cultural stigma, many Plains Aborigines and part Plains Aborigines forfeited their identity and were absorbed by "Han" identity. I've been waiting for a book in English to discuss this area and am glad Melissa Brown published this book.

If - like me - you are interested in the title's answer, Ms.Brown's is the book! Quoting some of her words: " Many events are completely unknown to us, many events are known only through extremely biased perspectives, and many events are so contradictorily reported that is difficult to reconstruct even a chronological sequence of what occurred". And - believe me! - Ms. Brown interviewed people - in Taiwan ( living there) and interviewed people - in China !!! We are talking about an Stanford University Professor. Congratulations and thanks to Amazon .

This volume of articles and tidbits about the great Jackie Chan is definitely worth a read if not great. There are many fine insights into the man and the legend Jackie Chan, and indeed a lot of interesting photographs, which makes it so much the more enjoyable.

The format of the book, however, does not really agree with me. I don't like the article form, it seems cheap and mean. In my opinion it would have been better to write a uniform, coherent text based on the interviews and articles instead. The information is still there, it just seems a bit disorganized (which it really is not, it just seems that way).

It is still highly recommendable for all the information in there. Sure to please any fan.

This book is awesome! John Little's interview with Jackie Chan is worth the price alone. The photographs are the best, particularly the one of Jackie climbing a flag pole that looks like it has to be 50 feet off the ground! I learned so much about Jackie Chan, his martial arts training, his fitness methods and his personal philosophy. Having read all the other books on Jackie, I can easily say that this is - by far - the best! A must for everyone who loves his stunts or have been awed by his physical talent in martial art.

I loved this book. Anyone into the arts will love this book to. Its great and i personally like Jackie Chan.

This book is a fabulous read. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. It is not a narrative, but rather a compiled series of interviews between the author(s) and Jackie Chan that have taken place over the past ten years or so. The chapters are split up into sections on his childhood, martial arts training, philosophy, health and fitness, career and film making, stunt coordinating etc. Each chapter has an introduction and then goes straight into an indepth interview with Jackie Chan himself! There is a small overview at the beginning of the book on his life (a mini "My Life in Action"!) and at the end a filmography and a chapter containing what the author considers are Jackie's ten best stunts in a short paragraph format. There is a treasure trove of pictures from Jackie's films (all black and white unfortunately), many not before seen. I consider this book belongs on the shelf with Jackie's autobiography as it is contains personal insights and comments from "The Man" himself. My respect for Jackie Chan, already high after reading "My Life in Action", has risen even higher. The man is phenomenal and makes the so-called "Hollywood Stars" shine rather pale in comparison. If the many who dismiss Jackie as "just an action actor" could only read this book, how their eyes would be opened! Highly recommended - a must read!

I read about 85-90% of this book and skimmed through the rest. Lin Yutang really gives you an insightful, if not very subjective, view of his Chinese homeland. Having visited China, I am, of course, completely infatuated with the history and culture. Even though this book was written in 1935 (before the Communist revolution and current-day Chinese industrail boom) it still maintains relevence to all things Chinese: from the way they eat; to their poetry and art; to how they see the world.

Lin Yutang obviously holds great love and pride for his Chinese people, but also discusses in a frank manner the shortcomings (including foot-binding and the over-all oppression of women).

Since this book was written during the Sino-Japanese War (eventually to become the Pacific Theatre of WWII); the author's assessment is a valuable first-hand source as to the Japanese atrocities and the retaliation of General Chaing and his temporary alliance with Mao and the Communists.

Lin Yutang's style is a well-written mixture of history, philosophy, psychology, sociology and his own wit and wisdom.

This book made headlines in America when it came out in the 1930's. For perhaps the first time a Chinese wrote a book in English about China and the Chinese, and the sympathetic reaction of many Americans to China's plight in the struggle against Japan made this book a bestseller. I still think it is a good book. It sets out in language that is still easy to read the Chinese mind, their history, philosophy, characteristics, etc. A good deal of the descriptions are the author's own opinions, inevitably, but it is a testament to the author's brilliant mind and perceptive eyes that much of the book is still valid today. Indeed, now that war, revolution, and communism are things of the past, the Chinese are reverting more and more to their old ways, both good and bad, and their old ways are what this book is about.

Pearl Buck, the first American woman to win the Nobel Literature Prize, was the one who persuaded Lin to write this book. Her faith in him is fully justified. Few indeed were native sons of China who were immersed in both Chinese and Western cultures. And Lin was one.

Given my interest in both Lin Yutang and JRR Tolkien, I cannot resist a comparison. There is no evidence that Lin and Tolkien knew each other, although both were philologists (linguists interested in the historical origins of words) living in the same period.

Their specialties were quite different, however. Tolkien was an expert in Old English, and was comfortable in many northern European languages, both old and modern. (He could even read Finnish!) Lin's expertise was in Chinese literature from the classical period, and what made him unique at the time was his almost native fluency in English (as well as in German, plus a couple of modern European languages).

They were born three years apart (Tolkien in 1892, Lin in 1895) and they died exactly three years apart, at the same age (81).

Tolkien was a distinguished Oxford professor. Lin held few positions in universities. But Tolkien's education did not go beyond the bachelor's degree. Lin had an MA (from Harvard) and a PhD (from Leipzig, in Germany).

Tolkien's scholarly output was very small, but of a high quality. Lin had no scholarly output in the technical, academic sense. His scholarship and intelligence were reflected in the highly-regarded Chinese-English bilingual dictionaries he produced, his prodigious translations of Chinese literature, and in the brilliant essays he penned in Chinese. As I'm fluent in Chinese (my own native language), I find his essays very enjoyable, very humorous - more so than his English books.

Tolkien is immortalized by his novels, which have a worldwide appeal. Lin also wrote novels - of an utterly forgettable quality as far as I'm concerned. He's remembered for his non-fictional writings such as this book. Shortly before he died Lin was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature. (I would give it to him if it were up to me.)

Both lived through the Second World War in relative safety, Tolkien in England, Lin in America. Tolkien had proved his bravery in WWI, while Lin's life in pre-1937 China was also perilous due to the Japanese marauders. Both were outsiders in different ways. Tolkien was a Roman Catholic living in Protestant England who had been born in South Africa, and whose last name didn't sound quite English (it's German). Lin was a Chinaman in America, at a time when being a Chinaman was almost like being a Martian.

Tolkien was a practising papist all his life. Lin was at first a Christian, but he later renounced his religion and became what he called a "pagan" most of his life - and then apparently converted back to Christianity in old age. Most of his writings are a-religious, if not anti-religious, having been written in his middle years. Tolkien had little to say about his own religion - and his novels are almost "pagan" - but he seemed to have believed in the "truth" of mythology. (Fools, if you ask me.)

Tolkien was a good friend of C. S. Lewis, the Irish writer. Lin was a good friend of Pearl Buck, the American Nobel laureate. Lewis wrote a glowing review of the Lord of the Rings, while Buck wrote a foreword to this book and did much more to help Lin publish his other books. But neither friendship stood the test of time, apparently.

Coincidentally, both men were social and political conservatives. One preferred Old Britain, and the other Old China, to their modern versions, and technology and "progress" as we know it meant nothing to them. Interestingly, they both loathed communism. They were also devoted pipe smokers. One can well imagine these two gentlemen having a good time sharing their views on these things in a smoky, book-lined study late into the night, speaking their oddly old-fashioned English (perhaps mixing some German into it as well). But as brilliant philologists, they would only talk past each other without a single word being understood! Oh, if only they knew each other!

Tolkien's fame is assured, mainly by his epic fairy tales. Lin will only be remembered by those few people in the West who take an interest in China's cultural heritage. But even now there are still not many Chinese who can write, in good English, about China and the Chinese people from such a literate perspective (in the best true sense of "literate"). His insights are sometimes historical, at other times anthropological and sociological, but always and everywhere personal. He eschews abstract, finely spun theories; he sticks to China's facts, history, insights gleaned from classical literature, and his own keen anecdotal eyes. This book is thus eminently practical. It is not entirely timeless, but neither is it out of date. Given the rising importance of China in world affairs, Lin's books are as urgently needed today as they were more than 60 years ago when they made it to the top of New York Times bestsellers list while China struggled to survive.

I'm a Chinese American fluent in both Chinese and English and I think Mr. Lin did a phenomenal job of explaining the Chinese people and its culture to a Western audience in a very humorous way. I chuckled many times at all the contradictions he pointed out about the Chinese mind and even learned why sometimes my people act the way they do. I've bantered about to friends on the tyranny of family in the Chinese life. But Mr. Lin explained to me why and what that is and its consequences. A great read. One complaint: Mr. Lin tended to throw out names of historical and contemporary figures alike without fully explaining who they are. I was able to guess correctly half of them because of my heritage. But I think most Westerner would find this frustrating because they may be altogether puzzled at who is and why is this person cited.

Ever wondered what China was like before the "peoples" revolution? Here's an answer by a scholarly writer. This book is now out of print but shouldn't be! Beautifully written, and fully indexed; the best editions were printed in the mid 1930's. These were made so well that if you are fortunate to find one it will still be in good condition, because of the carefull crafting of the binding and covers, and also because of the good paper used.

Dutch diplomat Robert van Gulik wrote the Judge Dee mysteries (in English!) to introduce the West to the Chinese version of the mystery story, which arose centuries before the English detective story. Judge Dee is an actual historical person, a magistrate of the seventh century during the T'ang dynasty, who was renown in China for his ability to solve crimes. In Judge Dee at Work, van Gulik presents us with eight short stories each of a single case (the novels, in the Chinese tradition, involve 3 intertwined cases) that take place throughout the judge's long career (magistrates were usually moved to a new post every three years). A table at the back of the book, places each case and all the novels within the timeline of Judge Dee's life.

I have read about half the novels and this book of short stories, and I have enjoyed them all. Early on, Judge Dee employs three different men to be his lieutenants, and they do much of the legwork for him. However, Dee is also very hands-on, going to the crime scenes and sometimes even going about in disguise. In some of the short stories here, he solves the mystery on his own. van Gulik has created a good detective in Dee; he is very, very smart, fair, compassionate to victims and stern with criminals. The cases are varied and interesting, and difficult to solve. I especially like the setting of ancient China. van Gulik really seems to know the era he is writing about, and he brings it alive through the actions and dialog of the story. There is no exposition here. If we need to know the differences of Taoism to Buddhism, we find out through a conversation of Dee with a monk or other character. That really makes the stories glide along. Sometimes a choice of phrase seems a little odd or modern for the setting, and I assume that arises from the fact that van Gulik was Dutch writing about China in English. In any event, these quirks become rather fun and don't detract at all from the stories. van Gulik also made illustrations in the traditional Chinese style of the time, and they add to the stories. I am very glad I have found the Judge Dee mysteries, and Judge Dee at Work is an excellent way to meet the judge and his world. You will be glad you did.

The wonderful thing about these stories is the sense of time and place which comes through in all of them. We find ourselves easily transported to seventh century China, and the world of a highly organised empire, with its representative in the various cities which serve as venues for the stories, the Magistrate, in the person of Judge Dee.

Robert Van Gulick's picture of Chinese life, crafted from his own extensive study of China, both underpins and overlays these elegant detective stories. Those inhabiting these stories are truly the inhabitants of the places: walking through the streets, eating at the restaurants, working in the Tribunal, and interacting with all classes of their highly stratified society.

The characters are well developed, from Judge Dee himself to his various colourful assistants and lieutenants, who do most (but not all) of the Tribunal's leg work. Criminals, victims, witnesses, and others along the way complete the fascinating tableaux.

There are references to the various Judge Dee novels at the beginning of each story providing a context within the magistrate's career. Numerous line drawings by the author gently illuminate the stories.

Indeed, during China's glorious Tang Dynasty (AD 618-960) - the golden age of China, under the reign of Empress Wu Tzi Tien, there was a great judge whose actual native name was Pao Kung (Judge Dee). He was compassionate and full of wisdom and many well-known cases were judged and solved by him and his loyal subordinates. Sometime Justice Pao Kung would commence his judgement at night in his magistrate under candlelight which surely added mystery and awe to the solemn occasion. One of his most celebrated cases was the judgement of a murdered baby prince in which the murderess substitited the corpse with the body of a civet cat...! Legend had it that Magistrate Pao or Dee (as translated by Van Gulik) was born inside a coffin of her deceased mother and therefore half of his face was black and the other half white. Reputedly, he had the supernatural ability to converse with gods and departed souls in the Spirit World which would assist him in delivering judgement. Judge Dee was revered and respected by the throne as well as high officials and he travelled a great deal from province to province to supervise difficult to solve cases. The late Robert Van Gulik had translated many cases of the famous Judge Dee and derived most of his stories from the files of the Tang Dynasty archives and then embellished them somewhat for excitement and drama. Even today, in the tea houses of China, professional storytellers would enthrilled their audience with stories of Justice Pao...! When I was growing up in the then British Malaysia in the 1950s, I had listened to an old storyteller, under a bean oil lamp, telling exciting tales of Judge Dee. He would charge a penny each from the audience Presently, I have had read many of his translations by Van Gulik - notably the Chinese Murder Series which are now classics and give both the Western and Oriental readers an insight into the lives and times of the glorious Tang Dynasty. Justice Pao or Judge Dee was an honest official, incorruptible, learned, a good homicidal investigator and judge of human characters. His judgments, as translated by Van Gulik, is firm and without the slightest error. I urge readers of mysteries and crimes to read the translated works of Judge Dee - never a dull moment and please go for them to while away your time...Cheers.

I first became aware of the Judge Dee stories after reading the short story "He Came with the Rain" in a historical mystery collection. I loved the story so much that I promptly went to Amazon.com to find more Judge Dee novels and stories. This collection of eight short stories is particularly interesting as it covers about 20 years in Judge Dee's career through several of his postings. The stories are extremely interesting, both for the wealth of historical detail as well as the actual mystery content. Judge Dee as a District Magistrate is the leading civilian authority but I found stories such as "The Red Tape Murder" particularly interesting when he clashes with military authorities. This gives Dr. Van Gulik the opportunity to introduce snippets about ancient Chinese history, particularly about the clashes with Korea and the Tartar offenses on China's Western borders. This is a period of Chinese history where very little is known - almost a sort of Chinese Dark Ages - so it is wonderful to learn more about that time, also about the social customs of the era, which I found surprisingly modern, with the exception of the accepted practice of polygamy! If you are interested in historical mystery fiction, I would highly recommend the series. Also try the Sister Fidelma series about a mystery solving nun in Dark Ages Ireland - it is equally atmospheric!

I have never read a better book in my life! The entire plot and setting are incredable! The Yeti are so well discribed. The story has a lot of suspense and adventure. It's worth trying to order a used copy. It is the BEST book!

This book is wonderful! It is full of great discription, but not over discribed. The plot of the book is very interesting. Even though it is out of print, it's worth the chance trying to locate a used copy of this book. It's fantastic!

I love this book it is really interesting ,I espeacialy like the yeti's the describtion of them is great! Ashley is very courages as Oncle Sung! It is the best book I read in all my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Essy!!!!

I read this book for school and it is the best book I have ever read. There is suspense and adventure that makes you want to never put the book down. I would recommend this book to everyone. It's worth it!

I am a docent at the Skirball Museum, Los Angeles where one of the remaining "Tiq's" of the synagogue in Kaifeng is displayed. We have had many lectures by visitors who are both residents of Kaifeng and experts in the history of the Jewish Community there.

The book paints an excellent picture of the history of a people, cut off from outside world contacts for 500+ years but still able to maintain their strict Jewish values.

One story that is not told is that, when the word got back to Europe, many years later, that the Missionary Matteo Ricci had found Jews in China Oliver Cromwell, the pretender to the throne of England, allowed the Jews to resettle in that country after being exiled in 1290CE. The re-addmission was done without an Act of Parliament. Cromwell was aware fof the prophesy in the bible which states that the messiah cannot come/return ubtil the Jews are scattered to all the countries of the earth.

The Kaifeng community had a Rabbi until 18! 50CE and the names given to them by the emperor are still used, very few are aware of their Jewish Heritage.

The author describes why and how a group of Jews moved from the Levant to China and settled in Kaifeng, the ancient capital of the Chinese empire. He follows their struggle to remain as a group within a kind and welcoming society, prominent families and individual in the last 1000 years. A fascinating and unknown historical account that is only lately has come to the public's knowledge.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It came yesterday and I was up late last night finishing it. It is a mixture of history and legend about how a community of persecuted Jews in Turkey, more than a millennia ago packed up and moved to Kaifeng, China, the ancient capital in Henan province, because it had a reputation for being very tolerant. Amazingly, this community manages to survive in isolation up until the early 20th century even though they take on Chinese names, win converts, and eventually become ethnically Chinese.

Unfortunately, there is no photo of this book. The illustrations are wonderful. It is a large thin book divided into 20 enhanced historical stories, fairly easy reading about 140 pages. My only complaints/suggestions are that there are no maps detailing the exodus from Turkey and their routes and stops along the Silk Roads. I lived in China for a year and am a bit more familiar with some of the things brought up in the story than the average American; however, I think Xu Xin and Betty Friend should have elaborated on some cultural and historical aspects, maybe provide some worldwide time tables. Also I and my Chinese friends would have enjoyed seeing the actual Chinese characters for many of the Chinese terms. To those unfamiliar, Chinese is a tonal language with a zillion homonyms. Story 14 was a bit confusing and the authors mix the pinyin, alphabetical system, with the older Wade-Giles system when naming some provinces.I would like to get in touch with Xu Xin but unfortunately, there is no website or e-mail provided.

This is the ONLY book I have read that paints a lucid picture of this part of Jewish history which is of interest to so few people.
The Journeys of the 12th century traders from Persia, many years before Marco Polo "discovered" China is a fascinating story beautifully told by Professor Xu Xin.

If you want to understand the world of today you have to work at understanding how it got to be the way it is. This is one of those books that is critical to doing that, I don't say that lightly. This book is what is known as a primary source. It is the record of one, actually several, of the crucial political battles of the last century, told by some of the leading participants in their own words. It is not a history written decades later by someone to explain what went wrong, but a record of a battle as it progressed.

Reading this book you get a better understanding of the following: How it was that the domestic and foreign policy of the new Soviet Union began to deteriorate from a revolutionary one to one that put the narrow needs of day to day diplomacy and deal making first. How the Chinese Communist Party was formed and how it developed. What type of revolution was it's leadership trying to make? Why were the U.S., England, Japan and France so hostile to it? How and why did the Stalinists and Maoists gain leadership and themselves come into being? And much else.

This book is made up of an impressive number of documants, speeches and reports principally by Trotsky, one of the central leaders of the Russian revolution who would not sell out and died fighting Stalin and the destruction of the revolution. The introduction adds much to the book in bringing things up to date. I think this book is useful for historians, anyone wanting to know more about China and the revolution there, and any revolutionaries of today who want to learn from one of the best. It can be particularly useful to political minded workers and young people from Asia

What impresses me about this book is Trotsky's impassioned duty and determination to build a world revolution of the oppressed and to clear the way for the working people of China from the waste, confusion, and defeats that Stalinism of the Stalin and Mao varieties have imposed on them.

Thirty years ago many people would have thought reading a book about the liberation of a country from semicolonialism would no longer be necessary as we enter the 21st Century. However, it seems that lead by the USA, the imperialist powers of Western Europe and Japan are in a growing drive to deepen their control over countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Sadly, the lessons in this book drawn from the struggle of peasants and workers in China in the first 40 years of this century, are becoming more and more applicable around the world.

The Chinese Revolution was one of the great developments of the 20th century, and the challenges and lessons it provides remain of great importance today. Imperialism and imperialist war, colonialism, revolutionary Marxism vs. Stalinism and Maoism, concepts of armed struggle, mass struggle, of constructing a revolutionary party, the character of a workers and peasants government, of a workers-peasant alliance-- all were tested in the turbulent, living experience of social crisis, repression, war and massive worker and peasant uprisings.

This lengthy collection brings together the writings of Leon Trotsky on China from 1925 to his death in 1940. Trotsky was, along with V. I. Lenin, a central leader of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the early years of the Communist International. After the death of Lenin in 1924, Trotsky led the fight against the degeneration of that revolution and the rise of a conservative, privileged bureaucracy headed by Josef Stalin. Revolutionary policies in China at the time were at the heart of the differences between revolutionaries and Stalinists. Trotsky gives detailed and extensive analysis very useful today, both for the issues covered and as an example of how to use the Marxist method to orient revolutionary fighters in the living world.

The collection includes a substantial introduction by long-time Chinese revolutionary Peng Shu-tse, covering the history of China during these years, which I found useful for putting Trotsky's writings in context.

Also recommended: The Chinese Communist Party in Power, by Peng Shu-tse; The History of the Russian Revolution, by Leon Trotsky; and Capitalism's World Disorder, by Jack Barnes.

rotsky's Discussion of China is one of the most masterful discussions of the dynamics of revolution in a country underdeveloped and exploited by imperialism that has ever been made. It centers on the Chinese revolutionary events of the mid and late 1920s, though it continues into the 1930s when the Stalin Bukharin leadership in the Communist International forced the Chinese revolutionists to subordinate their struggle to a block with bourgeois militarist Chiang Kai-shek It is not surprising that when it was made, the founding central leaders of the Chinese communist movement were won to Trotsky's Left Opportunism. In letters and articles and political documents for the Russian Communist Party and the Comintern, Trotsky explains how the only road forward for Chinese workers and peasants was asserting their own power and independence and how only the struggle against capitalism could solve the problems facing China.

As such, it provides an adequate background to the middle class and Stalinist nature of the Chinese Communist party that headed the revolution in 1949. As such

It can be read now, as a new generation of fighting workers, peasants, and youth in China looks for real communist alternatives to both capitalism and the pseudo-Communism of China's Stalinist Communist party.


While this book is sometimes not directly available from Amazon, it is always available from BooksfromPathfinder, which you can reach by clicking on New and Used further up this page.

Wilma Fairbank catched my nurves of impression this time,when I found out there is a book described Liang and Lin's acheivement in English,the only one,an expensive one,but it worthes it.I decided to continually followed Lin's way,to do some research of classical Chinese architecture.I'd never said no to those difficulties since the obstancles always mislead my mind.There is one thing I hopefully didn't lost,a resoluted heart,nothing can move it.I don't care make more money or not,at least I mostly convinced myself to be a person have a pursuit of dreams.You could call me a freak,and I am still on the way to success.Lin and liang are the partners worked together to reach a goal.Unfortunatelly,I am an indepandent loner also emerged in the amazement of exploring a lost world.Thanks for Wilma's book,I could come trough the tunnel of history again.

when two people decide to join hands and make something happen,that kind of unity becomes so powerful. i think that's what makes Liang and Lin memorable. and Mrs. Fairbank's close relationship with them made their life story vivid to the readers. a great book and great people in it.

Lin & Liang are forrunners of contemporary Chinese architecture. Like most idealistic intellectuals of the period, they went out to learn from the west and returned back home to contribute what they had learned.

This is an important trend in modern Chinese history. The long list of intellectuals includes Sun Yat Sen, Liang Qi Chao(the father of Liang)Chao Yuan Ren, Zhou En Lai, Tang Xiao Ping,.... It was a traumatic period for modern China. It was a time of possibilities, opportunities and frustrations.

One could not imagine the archievement and contributions of modern China to the world without these intellectuals.

The stories as told by Madame Wilma Fairbank is descriptive, touching and informative at the same time. Mrs. Fairbank(wife of John Fairbank) is a poet and historian at the same time. The book (text and images)is western journalism at its best.

The most difficult period for Lin & Liang is not Sino-Japanese War period. Although physically, Lin suffered from fleeing around and illness, but their spirit were high and friends were always around.

The most difficult period was after the liberation. Lin & Liang were destined to work with Chairman Mao, the founder of PRC. Based on their fruitful research and intellectual mind, they come up with the conclusion and dedicated their lives to the preservation of Chinese artefacts, and in most cases, Chinese architectural heritage.

As detailed descripted and well put by Madame Fairbank in the book, Lin & Liang travelled all over China and had produced hundreds and thousands of research papers with surveyed plans and photos. Wilma should have known, she joined and lived with them more than once. The Liangs' ideal and proposals to preserve holistically the ancient city of Beijing must had been in conflict with Chairman Mao's ideas. As the founder of PRC, Mao of course, would have his own plans. He believes, to me wrongly, that "Man would defeat Nature". He would like to see factories and other new buildings rising on the horizons of Beijing, Nanjing and everywhere in China.

This should be a matter of opinion. But as we all know, for a long period of time in contemporary China, a different opinion with Mao would be interpreted as a revisionist liner against the Communist Party! That's why Liang suffered so much and Lin died too young to suffer with him.

This is an important historic lesson that we, as a human being should all learn and study. Through the process of modernization, how should we deal with our heritage and nature? Liang proposed to preserve Old Beijing holistically. Beijing, as observed by Liang rightly, is the most complete form of an ancient city in the world! He is not an old man keeping only the 'Olive Tree'. Lin and Liang are genuine Chinese Architects. They proposed to preserve the old city walls and towers so that they could become civi open spaces and landscapes. People can enjoy history and live in history walking through.

Liang's second wife, Madame Lin Zhu said recently,"In the civic society, Liang is respected by many." Well put Madame Lin. (Lin Zhu's piece is included in the book also very moving.)

The problem is, it takes a few thousand years to build a civi society and a civiization, only takes a few second to destroy them. Should we not give deep thoughts to it.

Anyone who want to know more about Liang Si-chen and Lin Hui-yin and their firends should read this book.

To be honest, I feel what make this book so interesting is the life story of Lin and Liang and their friendship with friends, especially the Fairbanks. The Architecture contents are good too, but the life stories of Lin and Liang, two most important pioneers in Ancent Chinese Architecture studies, make the book very charming and worth of reading.

You will know more about the history of 20th century China, before, during and after WWII. You will see how communists grab power in this used-to-be-great country and gradually turn these respectible scholars' life upside down. How they were changed from eager supporter of Chairman Mao's so called 'New China' into losing the minimal hope to live on. This is a great book, written by John F Fairbank's wife, to memorize their true friendship with Liang and Lin.

This is not just another book about architecture. This is a book written with life.

Adventure, courageous effort, dedication, humor, tragedy, magic, and enlightenment. Must reading for anyone interested in Tibetan Buddhism and Tantra in particular. Read the biographies of Naropa and Milarepa to get a larger picture of this lineage of masters. For those involved in Dharma practice reading these biographies gives a clearer sense of what hard practice is, and what a life in Dharma may be like for sincere practitioners. It is always refreshing to hear about the actions and words of truely clear headed masters.

Nearly every spiritual aspirant has read about Milarepa, the master yogi of Tibet. Now there is information about his guru Marpa, the translater and actually importer of Buddhism from India to Tibet. Marpa stands in the lineage of Naropa, Marpa, Milarepa, Gampopa and then the Karmapas. But Marpa was no regular saint or yogi. He was married and had an awkward personality. His tough and difficult character made it possible to persevere unbearable hardships of traveling, finding a guru in a remote country and following that gurus path. And it was no easy task to become accepted by Naropa as a pupil. And it was no easier to deal with his own pupil Milarepa. Marpas power has proved to outlast history: The Karmapas are still around and they are no easier to deal with today.

Marpa holds a rare and special place in the pantheon of historical Tibetan gurus as he is considered a father of tantric Buddhism in Tibet, particularly that of the Kagyu tradition (a practice lineage today headed by H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje). Marpas story is particularly relevant for Buddhist of today as he was a lay practitioner - as opposed to a monk - and thus proved that the highest realizations are achievable without the impositions of celebacy and monastic asceticism.

The book details his remarkable life and quest for enlightenment finally achieved through an unshakable faith in his teacher, the great Indian Mahasiddha Naropa. Marpa made three visits to India and spent a dozen years with Naropa to finally receive and realize the full breadth of the tantric teachings, the same teachings which he then translated, carried with him to Tibet, and transmitted to other great Tibetan saints such as Milarepa.

The story is by Western standards highly unusual and may be difficult to follow for non-Buddhists, although the translation is exceedingly clear considering the complexity of the content. Fortunately the book includes an outstanding glossary at the end, which comprehensively explains most of the important Buddhist concepts used in the narrative. This glossary is probably the best I have seen in terms of scope and content (incidentally it was written by the late great Chogyam Trungpa as was the preface).

On the other hand it is quite possible to enjoy the book as a tale of adventure and discovery with a spiritual twist, if one is not too taken aback by the use of technical terms in sanskrit and a host of Buddist concepts that may be difficult grasp.

For all Buddhist the book is clearly a must-read and very highly recommended.

Marpa the Translator brought Indian Tantric Buddhist traditions to Tibet and founded the Kagyu lineage. This biography deals with Marpa's journeys to India, his travails, his apprenticeship with Naropa and other Buddhist masters and his life and teachings in Tibet.

It recounts how Marpa's persistence helped him secure knowledge of Tantric tradtions and later spread Buddhism in Tibet. It details his relationship with his teachers like Naropa, Kukuripa, and others, particularly the special spiritual relationship he shared with Naropa.

The story of his journeys and apprenticeship is filled with interesting anecdotes, songs and humour and yet captures the spiritual essence of the teachings. Marpa literally sings his way to Tibet and back and breaks into songs (quite beautiful ones) to explain his learning or to acknowledge his humility.

Much of the later part of the book deals with his teachings in Tibet and revolves around his relationship with his disciples, his son, and his wife and the tragic story of his son's death which lead to his attainment of a higher understanding of transcendce of all things and universal compassion.

The biography contains beautiful descriptions of the transference of the soul from one body to another, travels, sceneries, and spiritual experiences. The book is free from heavy philosophical jargon and explains Tantric philosophy in a lucid manner.