The Chinese Among Others: a History of Modern Chinese Immigration

"Chinese Among Others: A History of Modern Chinese Immigration" uses a grand history and grand narrative to integrate the 500-year history of Chinese immigrants to the world into the larger framework of the development and changes of the world pattern during the same period. It is a profound read. More importantly, Professor Kong, on the basis of showing a wonderful picture of the five-hundred-year history of Chinese immigration around the world, effectively demonstrated his important point: the history of overseas Chinese is the proper meaning of Chinese history and an indispensable part of the study of Chinese history. As a result, overseas Chinese research has been elevated to a new level. From the colonial rulers to the enslaved subjects, from the ruling group in charge of the nation-state after independence to the intellectual elite filled with nationalist passion; from the bossy wealthy people to the ordinary people who are dedicated to supporting their families, there is an intricate interactive relationship between the "Chinese" and the surrounding "others". As outsiders, overseas Chinese need to know and understand the "other" and coexist with them; and the latter also constantly examines these foreigners from afar: are they new friends who can live in peace and seek common development, or are they aliens with ulterior motives? Do they bring new interests and opportunities, are they potential troublemakers, or are they simply sworn enemies? For hundreds of years, immigrants and locals have been "others" to each other. There is understanding and dependence on each other, but there is also competition and confrontation. In the book "Chinese among Others: A History of Modern and Modern Immigration in China", Professor Kong once again demonstrated the social psychological analysis method he skillfully used in "The Soul Calling" to analyze the "other" in which Chinese immigrants are exposed.