A Brief History of China

A Brief History of China is a general history of China written by the eminent historian Lü Simian. The book is divided into two parts. The first discusses political history from ancient times through the 1930s, tracing the origins of the Chinese people through legends and archaeological evidence and following China through the revolution of Lü Simian’s own era. It offers a Systematic account of historical development and change. The second part focuses on the idea of “great culture,” examining cultural phenomena across eighteen topics: marriage, clan systems, political systems, social classes, property, government offices, elections, taxation, military systems, criminal law, industry, currency, clothing and food, housing and transport, education, language, scholarship, and religion. Together, these topics illuminate every aspect of Chinese social life.