Knowing China

Annotation This Invaluable Book Offers An Insight Into China Through Its History, Culture, People, Economy, Education, Science And Technology, As Well As Government And Political System. The Author Also Compares The Twin Cities Of Hong Kong And Shanghai, And Describes Places Of Interest In The World's Most Populous Country. In Addition, He Offers A Glimpse Into The Delicate China-us Relations, Highlighting Partnership Opportunities Between The Two Giant Economies. The Book Is Based On The Author's Knowledge Accumulated Over Five Decades Of Research, Teaching, Traveling, Directing Projects On China, And Working With Chinese Government Officials, Educators, Academics And Entrepreneurs. 1. Some Facets Of China's History -- Shang, 1766-1121 Bc -- Advanced Culture And Rich Human Resources -- Zhou, 1122-211 Bc -- Golden Period Of Development Of Chinese Thoughts -- Qin, 200 Bc -- National Unification And Strong Government -- Han, 206 Bc-220 Ad -- Large Empire And Adoption Of Confucianism ; A Great Historian -- Three Kingdoms, 220-80; Jin, 265-420; And Succession Of Dynasties, 304-589 -- Tang, 618-901 -- Trade, Buddhism And Poetry -- Song, 960-1126 -- A Flourishing Capitalist Economy -- Yuan, 1279-1368 -- Rule By Mongols But Han Culture Survived -- Ming, 1368-1644 -- Overseas Explorations -- Qing, 1644-1911 -- Impact Of Western And Japanese Imperialism -- The Republic Of China, 1911 -- Political Disunity, Wars And Economic Progress -- The People's Republic Of China, 1949-present -- From A Planned To A Market Economy -- Two Disastrous Political Movements -- Economic Reform Initiated In 1978 -- 2. Culture And Daily Life -- Food And Cooking -- Calligraphy And Painting -- Handicraft, Furniture, China, And Other Forms Of Art -- Architecture -- Buildings And Gardens -- Martial Arts And Performing Arts -- Chinese Medicine And Ways Of Healing -- Literature -- Philosophy -- Confucian Philosophy And Daily Life -- Individual Conduct -- Family Relationship -- Social Order -- Concluding Remarks -- 3. The Economy -- China's Economy Before 1949 -- Chinese Economy At Present -- Size Of The Economy -- Accuracy Of Chinese Official Statistics -- Fundamental Factors Of China's Economic Growth -- High Quality And Abundance Of Human Capital -- Market Institutions -- Availability Of Modern Technology To A Latecomer -- Income Inequality -- Strength And Weaknesses Of China's Economic Institutions -- The Banking System -- The State Enterprises -- Moral Basis Of China's Legal System -- Social Network -- Guanxi -- Respect For Patents And Intellectual Property Rights -- China's Legal And Economic Institutions -- 4. The Chinese People -- Who Are The Chinese -- The Chinese In Mainland China -- Ethnic Diversity And Discrimination -- Status Of Women -- Effect Of The Cultural Revolution On Behavior -- Abuse Of Economic Power -- Chinese Outside Of Mainland China -- Overseas Chinese In General -- Chinese In Hong Kong -- Chinese In The United States -- Chinese In Taiwan -- China's Population Problem -- The Chinese Government Considers A Large Population A Problem -- How Many Chinese Are Too Many -- Can China Afford To Have More Children -- A Large Population Has Its Advantages -- More People Means More Power And Influence -- Favorable Scale Effects Of A Very Large Population -- 5. Education, Science And Technology -- Historical Background Of Formal Educational Institutions -- Education In The People's Republic Of China -- Education Reform After 1978 -- Quality Of University Faculties -- Institutional Characteristics Of China's Universities -- Non-government Educational Institutions -- Family Education And Self Education -- Distinguished Features Of Chinese Students -- Science -- Technology -- 6. Government System And Performance -- How Is The Chinese Government Organized -- How Good Is The Chinese Government -- Freedom -- Elections And Participation In Government Administration -- What The Government Does For The People -- Personal Experience Working With The Chinese Government -- On Corruption -- On Political Reform -- 7. Hong Kong And Shanghai : Two Modern Cities -- Hong Kong -- Shanghai -- 8. A Country For Tourists -- China's Geography -- A Map Of China -- Natural Beauty -- Guilin, Huangshan, Wuyishan, Along The Yangtze -- Historical Sites -- 9. Us-china Relations -- The United States As A World Power Before And After 9/11, 2001 -- The Basis Of Us-china Relations -- Us-china Relation In The Power Structure Of East Asia -- Possible Conflict With China Over Taiwan -- China Not A Threat To The United States -- Economic Competition From China -- Us-china Partnership. By Gregory C. Chow. Includes Bibliographical (p. 231-233) References And Index.