Gaisetsu Chugoku Kindaishi (A Concise History of Modern China)

Speaking with today's university students, we find that interest in studying or traveling in China has declined markedly. Yet, this does not mean that their interest in China itself has diminished. I believe that one of the important responsibilities of scholars, is to provide younger readers with introductory works, which are both accessible and intellectually substantial. There are many ways to approach contemporary China; however, this volume seeks to offer a historical perspective through which readers can better understand the country, as it is today.
 
At first glance, turning to history may seem an indirect way to make sense of contemporary China. However, one occasionally encounters popular commentary that draws simplistic parallels between the authoritarian rule of Xi Jinping, and the emperors of imperial China. Although it is certainly problematic to ignore present-day China on its own terms, it is equally misleading to draw a straight line from contemporary politics to distant historical traditions. Motivated by these concerns, this book aims to present a clear and coherent account of modern Chinese history which illuminates the historical foundations of China today.
 
One of the central themes of the volume is the development of political ideas and institutions, after the establishment of the Republic of China in the early twentieth century, which recognized the people as the holders of sovereignty. Although the People's Republic of China founded in 1949, differs fundamentally from the Republican regime in its governing principles, both share the defining characteristic of being republican polities rather than hereditary monarchies. From this perspective, the volume emphasizes a historical interpretation that does not bypass the Republican era. Focusing on the relationship between the state, society, and the people, it provides an overview of modern Chinese history while highlighting both the continuities and transformations that have shaped contemporary China. Unfortunately, we were unable to cover every important topic in a single introductory volume. To compensate for this limitation, we have included eight thematic essays which explore a wide range of issues in greater depth.
 
This volume brings together the work of 19 specialists. To ensure that it is read as a coherent introductory text rather than as a collection of independent essays, the editors played an active role in shaping the individual chapters. Whether this editorial approach has been successful is ultimately for readers to decide. However, I sincerely hope that the volume will be well-received by a new generation of readers. I also recognize of the generosity of the contributors, who willingly set aside their own stylistic preferences, in support of the shared editorial vision.
 

(Written by IENAGA Masaki, Professor, School of Arts and Sciences Division of Global Social Sciences, Tokyo Woman's Christian University / NAKAMURA Motoya, Professor, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences / 2026)