China: An Interpretive History - by Joseph Levenson & Franz Schurmann (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

China: An Interpretive History offers a compelling exploration of the origins of Chinese civilization, delving into the fascinating intersection of historical fact and cultural narrative. Beginning with the discovery of "Peking Man," this book examines the deep geological and evolutionary roots that predate Chinese history and raises profound questions about the nature of historical continuity. By tracing the line from prehistoric human remains to the emergence of a distinctly Chinese cultural identity, it illustrates how history, as a retrospective framework, imposes meaning on ancient artifacts and events, bridging the abstract with the culturally specific.

The book's thought-provoking narrative does not merely recount events but interrogates the very concept of history itself, distinguishing biological evolution from cultural heritage. It invites readers to consider how "Peking Man," an evolutionary figure, becomes a historical one only through the lens of later cultural achievements and societal developments. This dynamic interplay between geography, anthropology, and the shaping of historical consciousness makes this work an essential resource for understanding how civilizations root themselves in the past while projecting their unique identities into the present.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1969.