The Calamity of Taxation

Chen HengqingNanhai Publication Company · ChinaSep 2023

3.3

Word count: 661 words
Chapters: 2

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Summary

This book is The Scourge of Taxation, by Chen Hengqing.

Editor's review

Judging by its title, The Scourge of Taxation discusses the troubles and consequences brought by taxation and belongs to writing on social reality. Chen Hengqing lays out his narrative around this theme in a short, direct, easy-to-read volume. Its value lies in bringing an issue easily glossed over by grand narratives down to concrete people and events, showing readers how taxation lands in reality and affects the circumstances of ordinary people. The book's strength is its concrete angle of entry; it does not evade contradictions and can create intellectual tension within a short space. As for reading settings, it suits readers concerned with social issues who are willing to think one layer further after reading the news, and it can also serve as a discussion-class prompt. A note: the book leans toward presenting and feeling phenomena rather than policy analysis or data-based argumentation; readers expecting a complete institutional overview and solutions may find it insufficient. It offers a sense of the problem, not answers.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Ordinary readers concerned with social reality issues who like concrete narration
Humanities and social science learners who need classroom discussion material
Non-specialist readers curious about the relationship between taxation and daily life
Those used to short pieces who are willing to think independently after reading

Not a good fit for

Researchers expecting systematic policy analysis and data-based argumentation
Readers hoping for clear solutions and practical recommendations
Those who prefer light entertainment and do not wish to engage with real-world contradictions

Reading tips

Before reading, think of a taxation-related case you have heard of and enter the reading with that question in mind.
After each section, jot down your questions in a few sentences; after finishing, look back and see whether they have changed.
Read alongside news reports or people's experiences around you to discern the book's narrative angle.
After finishing, try writing a short review specifying exactly what you agree and disagree with.

About the publisher

Nanhai Publication Company China · Founded in 1988

Nanhai Publication Company is a comprehensive publisher known for its literature and arts titles, covering fields such as classical poetry, martial arts fiction, and folk literature. Judging from the more than 1,600 books in the database, the company has released classical poetic works including the Nineteen Old Poems and the Nine Songs, as well as multiple volumes of Huanzhulouzhu's series The Swordsmen of Mount Shu, along with related writings by authors such as Guan Hanqing, Qu Yuan, Zuo Si, and Wang Zhihuan. Its publishing character lies in balancing the organization of classic texts with the dissemination of popular literature, placing poetry anthologies alongside long martial arts novels and presenting a relatively diverse literary profile. Public information is limited, and further details about its editorial practices and series planning remain to be supplemented.

版权信息
征税祸

FAQ

Does this book mainly discuss the tax system?

It does not focus on an institutional overview. It emphasizes presenting the concrete impact of taxation in reality and the troubles it causes, at the level of phenomena. For professional content such as tax structure and rate design, readers need to consult policy analysis materials separately.

Do I need an economics background to read this book?

No. The language is direct and does not rely on professional models or terminology, so ordinary readers can read it smoothly. Its focus is not technical analysis but the presentation of concrete circumstances, so lacking an economics background does not hinder understanding the main thread.

Are the book's views objective?

From the available information, the book carries clear real-world concern and presents contradictions and troubles in its narration, so it should not be read as a neutral data report. Readers are advised to keep their own judgment and compare the book's claims with other information sources to form an independent view.

Is it suitable as classroom discussion material?

Yes. It is short and its issues are concrete, making it easy to spark discussion. Teachers, however, need to supplement background materials and materials offering different perspectives, so that discussion does not remain confined to the book's single narrative.

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About the author

Chen Hengqing Author · Chinese · 1844–1920

Chen Hengqing (1844–1920), courtesy name Zijiu, was a native of Weixian in Shandong (present-day Weicheng District, Weifang). A late Qing official and scholar, he passed the provincial examination in 1873 and the metropolitan examination in 1886. He served successively as a secretary in the Ministry of Works, rising through the Waterways, Construction, and Colonization Departments, and later held posts as Supervising Censor of the Ministry of War, Investigating Censor of the Henan Circuit, and Chief Supervising Censor. In 1908 he was appointed prefect of Jinzhou. He retired at sixty and wrote works including Jianshu Xian Notes (also known as Jili Qingtan) and Unofficial Gleanings of the Late Qing. His extant writings are considerable, with 154 titles held in our collection, many drawing on folk literature and Eastern philosophy. They touch on modern upheavals such as the militia conflicts, the Boxer movement, and the Nian rebels, as well as rural tales and social types like foxes and swindlers, and social issues such as Manchu-Han differences, bearing the documentary flavor of note-style historiography. Public information is limited, and his literary standing and influence await further study.