The Cambridge History of China

The Cambridge History of China is a monumental, multi-volume scholarly series published by Cambridge University Press that provides a comprehensive narrative and analytical history of China from the Qin dynasty to the modern era. Conceived in the 1960s under the general editorship of John K. Fairbank and Denis Twitchett, it represents a collaborative effort by leading international sinologists to synthesize Western and Chinese historical scholarship. The series is widely regarded as the most authoritative and detailed reference work on Chinese history in the English language, covering political, institutional, social, economic, and intellectual developments across millennia.

Overview and Publication History

The project was initiated in the mid-1960s by historians John K. Fairbank of Harvard University and Denis Twitchett of Cambridge University, with the first volume appearing in 1978. Its publication was a direct response to the growing academic interest in Chinese studies during the Cold War and following the Cultural Revolution, aiming to provide a foundational resource for students and scholars. The editorial board has included prominent figures like Albert Feuerwerker and Roderick MacFarquhar, overseeing contributions from experts across North America, Europe, and Asia. The series is published by Cambridge University Press as part of its prestigious line of historical reference works, with volumes released progressively over decades rather than in chronological order of the history they cover.

Volumes and Editorial Structure

The series is organized into fifteen planned volumes, divided chronologically and thematically between the "Imperial China" and "Modern China" sections. The Imperial China volumes, edited initially by Denis Twitchett, cover periods from the Qin dynasty and Han dynasty through the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty. The Modern China series, overseen by John K. Fairbank and later Roderick MacFarquhar, addresses the period from the late Qing dynasty to the death of Mao Zedong, including the Republican era, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the establishment of the People's Republic of China. Each volume features chapters authored by specialists on specific topics, such as Frederick W. Mote on the Yuan dynasty or Jonathan Spence on the Kangxi Emperor, with extensive bibliographies and maps.

Major Themes and Scholarly Contributions

The work is distinguished by its integration of traditional Chinese historiography with modern Western analytical frameworks, examining themes like state formation, bureaucratic development, and foreign relations. It provides in-depth analysis of key institutions such as the Imperial examination system, the Grand Canal, and the Tributary system of China, while also exploring social history, including the roles of eunuchs, gentry, and peasant rebellions like the Taiping Rebellion. The modern volumes critically assess the impact of events such as the Opium Wars, the Xinhai Revolution, the Long March, and the Great Leap Forward, drawing on archival research from the First Historical Archives of China and other sources.

Reception and Academic Influence

Upon publication, individual volumes were met with widespread critical acclaim in journals like The Journal of Asian Studies and Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, praised for their depth, clarity, and synthesis of research. The series has become an indispensable standard reference in university libraries worldwide, frequently cited in major works by historians such as Paul A. Cohen, Joseph W. Esherick, and William T. Rowe. It has profoundly shaped the curriculum of Chinese history courses at institutions like Stanford University, the University of Oxford, and University of Tokyo, setting the benchmark for comprehensive historical scholarship in the field.

Related Cambridge Histories and Series

This series is a flagship component of Cambridge University Press's extensive portfolio of historical reference works, which includes The Cambridge History of Japan, The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia, and The Cambridge History of the Cold War. It is conceptually related to other major collaborative projects like The Cambridge Ancient History and The Cambridge Modern History, sharing a commitment to multi-perspective, authoritative synthesis. The approach has also influenced subsequent large-scale projects on regional studies, such as the History of Imperial China series published by the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Category:Book series about China Category:Cambridge University Press books Category:History books about China