China: A Macro History

Rating:
Summary: A must-read for people who would like to understand China
Review: As a Hong Kong Chinese, I find this book unputdownable. Except for the fact that the Taiwanese-style spelling of the names of Chinese historcal figures a bit hard to grasp (to me), it does not in anyway discount the readability because Ray Huang did not let any contemporary political situation/ideology to hinder his anaylsis of Chinese History on a Geo-political, fiscal policy and monetory policy grounds. Indeed, KMT or not, Communist or not, the Ruling class's primary concern is on how to achieve en effective governance over the vast number of ruled. The central theme of the book is powerful, well presented, and logical. Interestingly, Milton Friedman , in his book "Money Mischief", has discussed the monetory policy (Gold standard ) in the Western world from 1830 - 1930 which has impacted on China directly and significantly, which echoes Ray's finding.
Indeed as advocated by Ray Huang in this book, time for the Chinese to depart form the traditional chinese views on our history (moral vs immoral; rural vs urban; poor vs rich). We should analyse our hisotry based on issue of effective governance (e.g. what is it? To promote well-being of people or of hardliners with iron-fist and tanks?)
Alas, Ray has passed away in 2000. I would like to convery my thankfullness for what he left to us.

Rating:
Summary: Get something less patriotic
Review: If you think think David McCullough or Edmund Morris offer reasonable, objective histories of America, you'll love Ray Huang.

I had to put it down after I had gotten barely a third of the way through when for the second time he suggested that (pre 1000AD) China had tried representative government. The first time he claims this was for the Han Dynasty, even using the word "elect" in quotes. Of course, he offers no substantive explanation for this farce upon his readers. That's like suggesting that in the 13th century the British got representative government. Nobles (and no one else) being treated better than dung is not what I call representative government.

He regularly says that a historian should not moralize, and yet he moralizes frequently in this book.

Where is the macro in his macro history? It's just a confused and confusing tale. One moment he chooses to go into minutiae and the next zip over most other parts without telling his reader why. Honestly, it does not give you any 'sense' for Chinese history.

His view toward Tibet, et al is basically 'manifest destiny'. Ok, then, let's discuss it. But here again he is not a dispassionate historian.

Read Patricia Buckley Ebrey's "The Cambridge Illustrated History of China" for an excellent overview of Chinese history. "A History of Chinese Civilization" by Jacques Gernet is also a very good, albeit much longer and more detailed, introduction.

Rating:
Summary: An overwhelmingly inspiring reading experience
Review: it's a very good book but too difficult for me to read

Rating:
Summary: Don't expect to read one book and get the whole picture.
Review: Please don't expect to read this book and get the whole picture of China's three or four thousand years' history.

I am a Chinese/Taiwanese. And I thank Dr. Huang for his great insight.

His book helped me to understand why the communists would take over mainland China so easily around 1949.

Rating:
Summary: a worthwhile summary of lifetime's work
Review: Ray Huang's "China: A Macro History" kept me up for a few nights in a row. Dr. Huang posed an extremely ambitious goal to explain fundamental differences of Western and Chinese civilizations, and to explore trends of Chinese government, military, cultural and religious institutions as they develop from legendary to modern times. The book is organized in chapters, each covering roughly a time span of the major dynasty of the Middle Kingdom. Concentration is more on trends (thus the title word "macro") then on events, more on developments of concepts rather then careers. People and events are represented inasmuch as they represent the underlining trend. As such every dynasty rise and eventual fall is represented, with credits due to each for the developments of Chinese nation. The institution of monarchy is a fascinating blend of ritual, unreal and fantastic, and idealistic, with an impressive organizational achievement in management of the country with the base of millions of agrarian households.

The only grievance I have with the book is that understandably enough Dr. Huang had to skip over a lot of material (or he would risk leaving us with yet another "The Decline and fall of the Roman Empire"); however in doing so he is rarely consistent, e.g. not explaining the elemental precepts of Confucianism, organization of Chinese army and bureaucracy; and fundamental principles behind state examinations. All those, however, can be gotten from other sources, and as such will tempt the reader to explore more.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly Conceived
Review: This is a good book for starters and experts alike. It offers many well-reasoned opinions that are both unique and persuasive. The author avoids getting too carried away by trivial and confusing details, and focuses on various major trends and forces that have come to shape China.

Rating:
Summary: History in a big picture
Review: This is a good book on Chinese history. It show us 3000 years history in a single book. The author tried to discover the secret of evolving of Middle Empire, and the result can be got in the book.

Rating:
Summary: Probably the best book (so far) to understand Chinese
Review: Whoever wrote this book must not only have substantial academic background for one; really experienced the hardship of Chinese life both mentally and physically for two; and most importantly the author must deviate from the traditional Chinese historians' point of view (I am not trying to judge who is right or wrong here). A lot of us who learned Chinese history, most likely we dissect this whole culture dynasty by dynasty - be it a political issue or an economical event. The biggest question we keep asking was why the Chinese, considered as the hardest working group of people on earth, always ended up being one of the poorest and most miserable group of people in history. In this book (and other books by the same author), Mr. Huang tried to show that consistently lacking solid source for tax income is the key for most of the problems. What makes the whole theory interesting is that every generation seems to be trying hard to deal with this issue but failed eventually. You have to read this book to understand why all efforts failed. Most importantly, where is China heading today? Why Deng's Open Door Policy will undoubtfully failed just like all the endeavors for the past 2500 years before 1950 even if they try hard enough, on the other hand, the same policy in late 1970's can easily boost Communist China (Communist? Aren't they suppose to be all collapsed by now?) to become the such a huge economical powerhouse. Want to know the answer? This is the best book I've read for past 10 years. Enjoy!