Why read The Gate of Heavenly Peace?

Book cover of The Gate of Heavenly Peace: The Chinese and Their Revolution

Book description

"A milestone in Western studies of China." (John K. Fairbank)

In this masterful, highly original approach to modern Chinese history, Jonathan D. Spence shows us the Chinese revolution through the eyes of its most articulate participants-the writers, historians, philosophers, and insurrectionists who shaped and were shaped by the turbulent…

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Asian history

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Gate of Heavenly Peace as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Laura Hostetler

Author

Recreating the experience of a variety of Chinese literary figures whose lives collectively spanned most of the 20th century, Jonathan Spence helps his reader to understand how and why individuals from across the political spectrum were drawn to the goal of recreating a strong and unified China, and were willing to sacrifice themselves—and fight against each other—in its pursuit. A cultural rather than a political history, we nonetheless begin to understand the power that politics has to shape lives and constrain the possibilities open to individuals, especially during times of significant upheaval.

From Laura's list on The best reads for understanding geo-politics and the rise of the nation state in China from the late Ming - 20th century.