What's new

Classical writings widely read among Asians

Astroboy

先輩
5 Dec 2007
1,264
25
58
Classical writings widely read among Asian intellectuals in these days.
http://www.nikkei.co.jp/neteye5/suzuoki/20071219n5acj000_19.html

Rise of China's military power is causing seismic change in the region. China has been putting more emphasis on Navy and developing carriers. It also showed its capability to destroy satellite by missiles, and Chinese submarine succeeded secretly to chase US-Navy Kittie Hawk the other day.

Under the circumstances, according to the article, there are some classical writings that have widely been read among Asian intellectuals related to security matters in these days, which is "The Great Illusion---A Study of the Relation of Military Power To National Advantage"

The Great Illusion was written by Norman Angel (British) in 1910 because UK felt rise of German military power. It is because many China watchers in Asia identifies China as Germany of some 100 years ago....

However, in Japan, "Kenkenroku" written by Mutsu and published in 1923 is read by Japanese intellectuals more than "The Great Illusion".
Mutsu was the lead Japanese negotiator in the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which ended the First Sino-Japanese War on 1894-1895. After retirement, He wrote his personal diplomatic memoirs Kenkenroku (テァ@テァ@ヒ弯) after the treaty was signed to explain his views and actions.
Mutsu Munemitsu - Wikipedia
Amazon product ASIN 0860083063
From Japanese perspective, Sino-Japanese war was the result of conflict between Japan and China over Korean Penisular. Japan was afraid that less-developed Korea may be conquered by Russia and then become a threat to Japan. China was afraid that Japan may establish its hegemony over Korean penisular and then Japan will trigger revolution in China (Qing dynasty).

Although Japan was replaced by USA after WWII, situation over Korean penisular remain unchanged. Namely, Less-developed country - North Korea - in the penisular, and USA is afraid of China's presence down to Pacifc, and China is afraid of revolution led by USA and its democracy.

However, South Korean have different views. It is said that "Lessons of the Past": The Use and Misuse of History in American Foreign Policy, written by Earnest Mat in 1972, has been read among SK intellectuals in these days. S Koreans are thinking that conflict between USA and China may occur again over the Korean penisular and Koreans may be tossed up and down by those superpowers again....

Which book you believe is the most appropriate for Asians to read ????
 
It is well known that China is an emerging superpower in terms of economy as well as militaristic power. Probably it is right. But when I think of China, I often remember the novel "The Good Earth" written by Pearl S. Buck, published in 1931 and awarded the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel in 1932.

It was about the story of poor Chinese pesant and its three-generation, being a fool of fate in the broad sweep of history. This book was very thick book but I read it in a few days when I was a kid.

More than a hundred years ago, China was already known as a superpower, while China was in the midst of chaos with plenty of poor pesant. Wealth gap was enormous. Human trafficking was very common, and China entered the era of revolution and war.

The novel of family life in village China became a best-seller upon publication and has been a steady favorite ever since. In 2004, the book was returned to the best seller list when chosen by the television host Oprah Winfrey for Oprah's Book Club. The novel described a non-Caucasian culture in detail and helped prepare Americans of the 1930s to consider Chinese as allies in the coming war with Japan........

I don't think the war with Japan is comining, but many of other key elements of that novel look similar to that of today.
goodE1-1.jpg


Don't you think so?
 
I think China's military establishment desires a strong sea power.Since 2004,its state media outlets have been promoting past maritime explorer named 鄭和 Zheng He.


* Between 1405 and 1433, the Ming government sponsored a series of seven naval expeditions. Emperor Yongle designed them to establish a Chinese presence, impose imperial control over trade, and impress foreign peoples in the Indian Ocean basin. He also might have wanted to extend the tributary system, by which Chinese dynasties traditionally recognized foreign peoples.

Zheng He was placed as the admiral in control of the huge fleet and armed forces that undertook these expeditions. Zheng He's first voyage consisted of a fleet of perhaps 300 ships (other sources say 200) holding almost 28,000 crewmen. These were probably mainly large six-masted ships - it is now thought that the large and flat nine-masted "treasure ships" were probably river ships used by the Emperor.

Zheng He - Wikipedia


Recent excavation of archaeological discovery of a Song merchant ship,another sign that China is serious of expanding its military might & commerce at sea.

complete news article : China raises sunken merchant ship after 800 years

Photo: design of Crystal Palace Museum housing the Song ship.
 

Attachments

  • 117916385861116077175164424873.jpg
    117916385861116077175164424873.jpg
    25 KB · Views: 119
These writings are mainly read by political & history academia professionals & common individuals have special interest.
 
Analects (of Confucius) has long been read among Asian.

The Analects of Confucius is widely considered to be the most influential text in the history of China and East Asia. It was written as a guide for governance. From the beginning of the Han Dynasty, all the Chinese dynasties for the next two thousand years have basically tried to govern the country according to the teachings of Confucius. And it was the basic philosophy/ethics of Chinese for more than 2,000 years.

However, China denied and destroyed Analects during Communists' Cultural Revolution of Mao's regime. Then outcome has turned out being Chaos. China Today is a full of lies, fabrications, pirate copies, and corruption, and reportedly people believe in money only.

I don't know whether Analects of Confucius is really best-sellers or not, but it is said that Chinese government try to rebuild "Chinese moral" based on Analects of Confucius again....
http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/feature/china2007/news/2007/CK2007122702175565.html

May not be too late, I hope.
 
Back
Top Bottom