"Journey at a thrilling clip across the epic history of China-through millennia of early innovation to modern dominance"-- As we enter the “Asian Century,” China increasingly demands our attention—as an economic powerhouse, a beacon of rapid modernization, and an assertive geopolitical player. Yet, from kung fu to tofu, tea to trade routes, and sages to silk, Chinese philosophy, commerce, and innovation have influenced our world for thousands of years. Linda Jaivin distills China’s vast history into a short, freshly relevant account that crisscrosses this much-storied land and introduces such unforgettable personalities as: Confucius, intrepid traveler and moral adviser; Li Bai, great Tang poet and celebrity of his time; Empress Dowager Cixi, effective ruler of the Qing for nearly 50 years; and Mao Zedong, communist revolutionary and founder of the People’s Republic. Globally minded readers will find everything they need to know about this rising superpower: the rarely told story of women in China, from the earliest warriors to twentieth-century suffragettes; China’s path from its tribal origins to the modern Communist Party under Xi Jinping; and the historical specters of corruption and disunity that continue to haunt the nation today. Provided by publisher.

Introduction --Origins : An egg hatches and a civilization is born -- The Zhou : From ideal rule to warring states -- The Qin : Unification, tyranny, and all under heaven -- The Han : Intrigue, innovation, and a brief interregnum -- The great disunity : Three kingdoms, two women warriors, seven sages, and a five-mineral powder -- The Tang : Golden age to everlasting sorrow -- The Song : Proto-Socialists, Neo-Confucians, and urban living -- The Mongol Yuan : From "glorious slaughter" to the splendid city -- The Ming : Splendor and decay -- The Manchu Qing : The rocky road to modernity -- The Republic : High hopes and vicious betrayals -- Japanese invasion and civil war : The Republic disintegrates -- The Mao years : Continuous revolution -- The reform era : Prosperity and its discontents -- The new era of Xi Jinping : Rise of the Wolf Warriors.