China has become accessible to the west in the last twenty years in a way that was not possible in the previous thirty. The number of westerners travelling to China to study, for business or for tourism has increased dramatically and there has been a corresponding increase in interest in Chinese culture, society and economy and increasing coverage of contemporary China in the media. Our understanding of China’s history has also been evolving. The study of history in the People’s Republic of China during the Mao Zedong period was strictly regulated and primary sources were rarely available to westerners or even to most Chinese historians. Now that the Chinese archives are open to researchers, there is a growing body of academic expertise on history in China that is open to western analysis and historical methods. This has in many ways changed the way that Chinese history, particularly the modern period, is viewed. The Encyclopedia of Chinese History covers the entire span of Chinese history from the period known primarily through archaeology to the present day. Treating Chinese history in the broadest sense, the Encyclopedia includes coverage of the frontier regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, Xinjiang and Tibet that have played such an important role in the history of China Proper and will also include material on Taiwan, and on the Chinese diaspora. In A-Z format with entries written by experts in the field of Chinese Studies, the Encyclopedia will be an invaluable resource for students of Chinese history, politics and culture.

Presents a representative cross-section of entries on all aspects of the history and culture of China. Alphabetically organized, the entries include* major cities and provinces* historical eras and figures* government and politics* economics* religion* language and the writing system* food and customs* sports and martial arts* crafts and architecture* important Chinese figures outside of mainland China* important Westerners in China.

Charts Western influence and national development. Beginning with the mid-19th century, when China encountered the West and began to enter the modern age, this encyclopedia offers an overview of the world's largest and most populous nation. The coverage includes not only major political topics, but also surveys the arts, business, literature, education, journalism, and all other major aspects of the nation's social, cultural, and economic life. The encyclopedia also offers significant material on such often neglected subjects as women and minorities, modern drama, Sino-French War, the federalist movement, overseas Chinese, Mongolian independence, and more. Special emphasis throughout is on the dramatic changes that have taken place in the country since the end of World War II. Provides an overview of the modern era. The entries are written by China specialists, who are thoroughly familiar with every aspect of the nation and its peoples. While history predominates, the articles cover all academic fields and include considerable material on recent decades as well as on earlier periods. There are entries on national political leaders and key thinkers, major events and trends in the nation's history, institutions, organizations, and currents of thought that led to the emergence of the modern nation. The encyclopedia's longer essays offer detailed and insightful surveys of censorship, important eras, literary movements, powerful social groups, anti-imperialism campaigns, Five Year Plans, the Sino-Vietnamese War, economic breakthroughs, and other vital topics. The coverage is informed by a thorough exploration of the historical role of Chinese nationalism, a potent force that was shaped by the need to retain national unity and independence under foreign assault.

In 800 expert-written articles, The Berkshire Encyclopedia of China provides unrivaled insight into Chinese history and culture today, including everything from "Adoption" and "Banking" to "Wound Literature" and "Zhou Dynasty." It has been compiled with strict rules about balance and objectivity by a publisher committed to providing truly global perspectives that will empower 21st-century students, global citizens, and leaders in business and government. The five-volume Berkshire Encyclopedia of China is truly a 21st-century work with its coverage of environmental issues, global economics, online communications, and the latest political developments. While these volumes include many articles about Chinas earliest historygoing back 5,000 years and even further into the pastthe Encyclopedia of China is focused on the events, concepts, and people that matter today. The authors of its 800 articles are scholars at major Chinese and Western universities and research institutes. The accessibly written and lavishly illustrated articles range from 600 to 6,000 words. Article titles appear in English and in Chinese with pinyin transliterations and tones to help those studying the language, while primary text sidebars add historical perspective. The Berkshire Encyclopedia of China provides unrivaled insight into Chinas past, present, and future. The Berkshire Encyclopedia of China is specifically intended to help students and professionals who need to improve their knowledge of the arts, belief systems, business, communications, demographics, education, law and politics, minority groups, natural resources, regional and international relations, social welfare, and technology. The Encyclopedia of China is extensively illustrated from museum and library archives and a wide variety of other sources, including the extensive collection of photographer and Chinese art specialist Joan Lebold Cohen. - Publisher.

This new reference work contains approximately 1500 entries covering Chinese civilisation from Peking Man to the present day. Subjects include history, politics, art, archaeology, and literature to name but a few.

This Is China contains, in brief, everything we need to know about 5,000 years of history, 30 years of "opening," and a future that promises to shape the 21st century for all of us. Drawn from the vast resources of the Berkshire Encyclopedia of China, this concise 120-page book is recommended for classroom use, curriculum development, and student review.

First Published in 1979. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.