The Intellectual in Modern Chinese History

A vivid account of Chinese intellectuals across the twentieth century that provides a guide to making sense of China today.

Timothy Cheek (Author)

9781107643192, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 5 January 2016

396 pages, 6 b/w illus. 1 map
22.6 x 15 x 2.3 cm, 0.63 kg

'This is a big book full of big ideas written in a generous spirit with an appealingly light touch. It is lucid and accessible and it moves us forward in the way that we understand intellectuals in modern Chinese history, the way we think about what modern Chinese intellectuals mean to 'us', and in urging that we go beyond merely working on Chinese intellectuals to working with them.' Timothy B. Weston, The China Journal

This vivid narrative history of Chinese intellectuals and public life provides a guide to making sense of China today. Timothy Cheek presents a map and a method for understanding the intellectual in the long twentieth century, from China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese war in 1895 to the 'Prosperous China' since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Cheek surveys the changing terrain of intellectual life over this transformative century in Chinese history to enable readers to understand a particular figure, idea or debate. The map provides coordinates to track different times, different social worlds and key concepts. The historical method focuses on context and communities during six periods to make sense of ideas, institutions and individual thinkers across the century. Together they provide a memorable account of the scenes and protagonists, and arguments and ideas, of intellectuals and public life in modern China.

Introduction: for the public good
1. Reform: making China fit the world (1895–1915)
2. Revolution: awakening new China (1915–35)
3. Rejuvenation: organizing China (1936–56)
4. Revolutionary revival: overthrowing the lords of nation-building (1957–76)
5. Reviving reform: correcting revolutionary errors (1976–95)
6. Rejuvenation: securing the Chinese dream (1996–2015)
Conclusion: intellectuals, China and the world
Who's who: intellectuals featured in the main text
Further reading
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural history [HBTB], 21st century history: from c 2000 - [HBLX], 20th century history: c 1900 to c 2000 [HBLW], Asian history [HBJF]