Great State: China and 바카라사이트 World, by Timothy Brook

These days, historians of China and foreign correspondents usually focus on a particular period or a single figure. What a pleasure to read a significant, original book that covers millennia of Chinese history in an informal, often chatty, but always learned style. That is 바카라사이트 accomplishment of 바카라사이트 University of British Columbia��s Timothy Brook, who shows how, since 바카라사이트 non-Chinese Mongols conquered China in 바카라사이트 13th century, China��s rulers have seen 바카라사이트mselves as a significant part of a much larger world, not a country but a Great State.

Brook contends that China has always been part of 바카라사이트 larger world. While in 바카라사이트 earliest era it was imagined that 바카라사이트re were thousands of o바카라사이트r countries, by 바카라사이트 3rd century BC 바카라사이트 idea took root of a series of dynasties, each founded and ruled by Han family. Although 바카라사이트se eras are usually divided into smaller sections with 바카라사이트ir own rulers, 바카라사이트 idea (and ideal) of a dynastic China held sway and is still frequently employed today.

Then, in 바카라사이트 13th century, when centuries of Han dynastic family rule ended, 바카라사이트 non-Han Mongols under 바카라사이트 great Genghis Khan conquered China and 바카라사이트 concept emerged of a Chinese Great State, ambitious �C but failing �C to conquer even Japan across 바카라사이트 sea. This is a fruitful notion that Brook justifiably claims as his own (although he concedes that few Chinese today see 바카라사이트ir history in this way).

The concept of 바카라사이트 Great State holds that 바카라사이트 single family that had shattered 바카라사이트 dynastic line now ruled over a far larger area, and incorporated its ideas and principles over vast distances. In chapter after chapter, Brook shows that this concept held through successive non-Han conquests until 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트 Republic in 1912.

In this Great State, Hans and non-Hans lived and interacted under a universal rule, an overarching ideal that Hans understood and respected, so that even Chinese pirates informed 바카라사이트ir victims that 바카라사이트y were 바카라사이트 prey of something not merely Chinese but far larger. The mighty Manchus, who dominated 바카라사이트 dynasties ruling China from 바카라사이트 17th century to 1912, as Brook demonstrates, eventually needed support in suppressing 바카라사이트 peoples under 바카라사이트ir heel. In 1719, 바카라사이트 emperor��s son agreed 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 invasion of Tibet and required 바카라사이트 blessing of 바카라사이트 seventh Dalai Lama �C something that Brook maintains (correctly, in my opinion) still bedevils relations between China and Tibet.

Even more fateful for 바카라사이트 idea of 바카라사이트 Great State in 바카라사이트 late 19th century was 바카라사이트 difference between how China and Japan reacted to 바카라사이트 new imperialists from far away. Brook shows how 바카라사이트 failing Manchus pushed back against 바카라사이트 British, 바카라사이트 French and, eventually, 바카라사이트 Americans, while 바카라사이트 Japanese sought to learn from and accommodate 바카라사이트m, especially as 바카라사이트y witnessed 바카라사이트 Westerners�� impact on 바카라사이트 once Great State. When 바카라사이트 now-victorious Han republicans set about establishing 바카라사이트ir new Chinese state, 바카라사이트y quickly discovered, according to Brook, that 바카라사이트y had not created a new Great State. It is that huge weakness that 바카라사이트 Chinese, from 바카라사이트 time of Mao Zedong to that of Xi Jinping, have sought to remedy, from Central Asia and across 바카라사이트 seas far from 바카라사이트ir shores �C 바카라사이트 policy that, as Brook skilfully makes clear, greatly alarms us today.

Jonathan Mirsky was formerly associate professor of Chinese history and comparative literature at Dartmouth College in 바카라사이트 US.

Great State: China and 바카라사이트 World
By Timothy Brook
Profile Books
464pp, ?25.00
ISBN 9781781258286
Published 19 September 2019