Reform for Strength

Name: Reform for Strength
ISBN: 9787514330731

Xiao Dongfa / 杜友龙Modern Press · ChinaMay 2025

3.0

Word count: 73K words
Chapters: 24
ISBN: 9787514330731

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Summary

This book focuses primarily on reform movements and efforts at strengthening the nation through innovation across successive dynasties. It covers the Guan Zhong reforms, which greatly boosted the power of the State of Qi; the Shang Yang reforms, which gave rise to Qin, the first state of China's feudal society, and established a centralized autocratic system; the Fan Zhongyan reforms, centered on overhauling the bureaucracy; and the Ming dynasty's Single Whip tax reform, which introduced taxation primarily in money and facilitated the growth of the commodity economy.

Editor's review

Authored by Professor Xiao Dongfa and published by Modern Press, Reform for Strength focuses on the sweeping transformations in modern Chinese history. Rather than a simple chronicle of events, it examines in accessible prose the clashes and struggles among different classes and visions at key historical junctures, from the Self-Strengthening Movement to the Hundred Days' Reform. Xiao Dongfa, a seasoned historian, combines scholarly rigor with readable narrative, untangling complex historical threads with clarity and paying particular attention to the intellectual sources and social forces behind reform. Readers will gain a vivid sense of the hardships and twists along the road to 'strength,' as the reformers' ideals, compromises, and frustrations come alive on the page, offering valuable insight into China's distinctive path to modernity. More than a history book, it is a mirror that prompts us to ponder the enduring tension between reform and tradition, ideal and reality, in any era. For readers who wish to go beyond bare facts and grasp the logic of history and the complexity of human nature, this book offers rich nourishment.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a strong interest in modern Chinese history, especially late Qing reform
Readers who enjoy tracing intellectual currents and the drivers of social change within historical narratives
Readers seeking to deepen their understanding of reform, innovation, and institutional change through historical cases
Readers looking for a well-grounded, balanced history that combines depth with readability

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light entertainment or purely narrative historical fiction
Readers expecting a highly specialized, detail-driven academic monograph

Reading tips

Read through the book first to grasp the overall arc, then closely read and reflect on chapters of particular interest (such as the 'Petition of the Examination Candidates' and the 'Hundred Days' Reform')
Use maps or chronological tables as aids while reading to visualize the spatial and temporal connections between events
After reading, try comparing the historical logic in the book with phenomena in contemporary society; you may find new insights

About the publisher

Modern Press China · Founded in 1982

Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.

版权信息
序言
上古时期——革故鼎新
齐国管仲改革
郑国子产改革
魏国李悝变法
楚国吴起变法
韩国申不害变法
赵武灵王改革
秦国商鞅变法
中古时期——与民更始
北魏孝文帝改革
北周武帝改革
唐代永贞革新
近古时期——推行新政
后周世宗改革
北宋庆历新政
北宋王安石变法
金朝金世宗改革
元代忽必烈改制
近世时期——矫国更俗
明代张居正改革
清代洋务运动
清代戊戌变法

FAQ

Is the book's historical perspective conservative or radical?

The author's perspective is balanced and objective, affirming the reformers' exploration and courage while analyzing their limitations and the constraints of the era. It avoids simple praise or blame and focuses on presenting history's multi-faceted complexity.

Does the book cover so many figures and events that it is hard to read?

The book does cover a rich array of figures and events, but the author organizes them thematically with clear narration and provides ample background on key figures and events. With some basic knowledge of modern history, readers should not find it difficult.

Is this book suitable as an introductory read on modern reform?

The book is detailed and analytically deep, better suited to readers who already have a basic grasp of modern history and wish to deepen their understanding. Complete beginners are advised to start with a more general survey history first.

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About the author

Xiao Dongfa Author · China · 1949–2016

Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.

杜友龙 Author

Du Youlong is an author about whom limited public information is available; his biography, nationality, and dates of birth and death remain unclear. Judging from the 18 works included in the library, he is an author concerned with traditional Chinese culture and historical themes. Representative works include Ancient Music's Enduring Fragrance, Classics of Ancient Drama, Folk Entertainment, The Peaceful Prosperous Age, Splendor of Chinese Painting, and Reform for Strength, covering fields such as music, opera, folk customs, painting, and historical change. His works commonly appear in categories such as culture, art, historical reading, and inspirational growth, with writing that emphasizes informative overview and accessible expression for general readers interested in traditional culture. Given the lack of direct information about the author, his creative direction can only be inferred from these subjects, and a full assessment of his personal experience and academic background is not yet possible.