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The cover of The Evolution of Chinese National Character

The Evolution of Chinese National Character

Zhang Hongjie

Zhang Hongjie traces changing ideas of Chinese national character across dynasties, then asks whether better institutions can help citizens develop the habits of freedom.

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12 parts, about 27 minutes to read.

Why read it

  • Traces one writer's account of how aristocratic codes, imperial power and family hierarchy shaped public conduct across Chinese history
  • Shows why the Song period complicates a simple decline story by pairing stronger central authority with wider cultural life
  • Compares campaigns to remake citizens with the argument that participation in institutions can train civic habits

Who it is for

  • Readers of Chinese history and political culture
  • Readers interested in how institutions shape everyday conduct
  • Readers comparing gradual reform with campaigns to change beliefs

What the summary covers

  1. Zhang Hongjie's question about compliance1 min
  2. The visiting mission3 min
  3. Honor and hierarchy2 min
  4. The imperial break and its limits2 min
  5. Elite lineages4 min
  6. Conquest and tighter supervision2 min
  7. Looking behind Qin3 min
  8. Qin revisited2 min
  9. Should people change before their institutions?2 min
  10. Hu Shi learns from rules in use3 min
  11. The appeal of a complete cure2 min
  12. Afterword: the question behind the history1 min

Recommended by

  • Jiang HualiangLate pharmacologist and Chinese Academy of Sciences member
    作者从春秋到唐宋，再到明清，描述了中国人性格的变化过程，是一本全新视角的中国通史。

About the author

  • Zhang HongjieHistorical writer and member of the China Writers Association
    • 1972年生于辽宁建昌，蒙古族。
    • 1994年毕业于东北财经大学投资系，1996年开始文学写作，2003年加入中国作家协会。
    • 后来取得复旦大学历史学博士学位，并在清华大学做博士后研究。

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