A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations

Scholars of East Asia Schirokauer, David Lurie (both Columbia U.), Miranda Brown (U. of Michigan), and Suzanne Gay (Oberlin College) present a textbook for an introductory survey of the histories of the two countries, within the standard dynastic framework where it applies. They cover the classical civilization of China; China and Japan in a Buddhist age; new institutions, elites, and discrepancies; the last dynasties; China and Japan in the modern world; and East Asia since World War II. Some students will find all they need in this one course, they say, while other will use it as a stepping-off place for more specialized study. Dates noted for earlier editions are 2003 and 2006. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)