The Civilization of China

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Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - It is a very common thing now-a-days to meet people who are going to "China," which can be reached by the Siberian railway in fourteen or fifteen days. This brings us at once to the question - What is meant by the term China? Taken in its widest sense, the term includes Mongolia, Manchuria, Eastern Turkestan, Tibet, and the Eighteen Provinces, the whole being equivalent to an area of some five million square miles, that is, considerably more than twice the size of the United States of America. But for a study of manners and customs and modes of thought of the Chinese people, we must confine ourselves to that portion of the whole which is known to the Chinese as the "Eighteen Provinces," and to us as China Proper. This portion of the empire occupies not quite two-fifths of the whole, covering an area of somewhat more than a million and a half square miles. Its chief landmarks may be roughly stated as Peking, the capital, in the north; Canton, the great commercial centre, in the south; Shanghai, on the east; and the Tibetan frontier on the west.

📖 Summary

Herbert A. Giles presents a comprehensive historical overview of Chinese civilization in his classic work, designed to introduce readers to the vast and complex world of the East. Written during an era when travel to Asia was becoming increasingly accessible via modern innovations like the Siberian railway, the book bridges the geographical and cultural gap between East and West. Giles immediately addresses the fundamental question of what constitutes China, looking beyond modern political boundaries to examine the massive territorial expanse that historically encompasses Mongolia, Manchuria, Eastern Turkestan, Tibet, and the core Eighteen Provinces. Spanning an area more than twice the size of the United States, this vast region houses diverse landscapes and peoples. However, Giles wisely narrows his primary analytical focus for the reader, explaining that a true study of the manners, customs, and modes of thought of the Chinese people requires concentrating specifically on the heartland of the Eighteen Provinces. Throughout the pages of this concise yet informative volume, the author guides the audience through the foundational aspects of Chinese society. Readers are invited to explore the historical depth of a civilization that has endured for millennia, shaping the spiritual, philosophical, and social frameworks of millions. By examining the interplay between geography and culture, Giles highlights how the immense scale of the Chinese domain influenced its political centralization and regional diversity. The book serves as both a geographical primer and a cultural introduction, offering valuable insights into the everyday life and intellectual traditions of a monumental civilization. Whether viewed as a historical artifact of early twentieth-century scholarship or as a foundational text for understanding Eastern heritage, the work provides a clear and accessible entry point into a rich historical narrative that continues to resonate with modern readers seeking to understand the roots of global history.

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