Customer Reviews

China: Land of Dragons and Emperors

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A story of China from ancient China to present-day China in one book, by Adeline Yen Mah, describes many interesting facts about China. It goes through every important dynasty of ancient China, including the most famous people, capitals, inventions, and extra facts and stories mentioned in the reading for each dynasty. This book shows you many beliefs in China too: like lucky numbers, colors, and even unlucky words. It explains everything up to the communist government of today, where no more emperors rule. China: Land of Dragons and Emperors is a good book for those who want to understand this world from a different perspective.

Book Review by Sarah Mar (Marsarah@gmail.com)

If you want just one book that provides not only insight into China's rich history, but also offers a glimpse of its traditions and beliefs (such as why the 2008 Beijing Olympics opened on 8/8/08 at 8 pm), Adeline Mah's "China, Land of Dragons and Emperors" would be it.


This non-fiction book reviews the last 2200 years of China's past. It is a relatively brief, but comprehensive coverage of a long and diverse history. After introducing the First Emperor, who unified China and is mostly known for building the Great Wall as well as the over 7,000 Terra Cotta Warriors in his enormous tomb, six major dynasties are highlighted, each with a noteworthy and descriptive heading:

The Founding Dynasty (Han), The Golden Dynasty (Tang), The Divided Dynasty (Song), The Mongol Dynasty (Yuan), The Eunuchs' Dynasty (Ming), and The Crippled Dynasty (Qing). The abdication of the last emperor in 1912 ended this dynastic system which endured for over 2,000 years.

Best-selling author, Mah, concisely reviews each period with salient clarity. Each episode with an opening remarks, to give reader a preview of the era that is about to be learned. I especially like the remarks from 1912 to Today's capital City: Beijing


"After WWII... the most powerful man was Mao Zedong who unified the country but caused millions of deaths and great suffering. After Mao, China opens its doors, and transformed itself into a modern nation" This illustrates how succinctly the essence of just one time-period can be characterized.

This book is an easy read and a unique resource for anyone interested in China's rich history but daunted by its lengthy past.

Enjoyed this concise overview of China. Better than a travel guide, it gives the reader an elementary understanding of the people and events that have shaped China's hixtory. In short sections, one can learn a great deal. and can pick it up and lay it down without having to go back and refresh one's memory. Highly recvommend it.

I found this book at a used book store and picked it up because it looked interesting and an easy read. I teach world history and i will tell you this book is amazing. I read it in one evening.

The book is broken down into each of the dynasties, gives a short and concise history of each dynasty, and important people in each dynasty. It weaves in action and adventure that will draw in both adults and students. This book does a great job highlighting China's technological impact. Most westerners believe that they invented paper and the printing press, but in face it was the Chinese. It highlights the important emperors, the women behind them, love, betrayal, Mongolian and Manchurian invasion, isolationism, and communism.

This book is especially great for students who get confused about the dynasties. This book even gives maps and timelines to even further condense thousands of years of history. I will definitely be reading excerpts from this book to my students!