Author Description

Transcending the rise and fall of dynasties, tracing the growth and formation of Chinese civilization through the currents of history. This book is an unusual excursion into Chinese cultural history. Professor Cho-yun Hsu moves beyond accounts that focus solely on the internal evolution of Chinese culture. He revisits early Chinese civilization, integrating recent archaeological discoveries to reshape our understanding of its development. Employing a big history perspective, Hsu reconstructs the dynamic interplay of diverse ethnic groups and cultures within and beyond China, highlighting the constant friction and fusion that shaped its trajectory. This insightful work reveals why Chinese civilization has endured despite numerous internal and external hardships and turmoils. It offers a nuanced and thought-provoking perspective on China’s past and its relevance to the present. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Professor Hsu’s expertise on China has developed over many decades. He brings his deep experience to join both textual and archaeological history, and here, in this important book, he offers a unique, individual analysis of China’s history. This revealing volume introduces the full range of China’s important development throughout dynastic rule. In the present day, Professor Hsu’s strong commitment to understanding and sharing China’s past to benefit the present shines through. —Jessica Rawson Professor of Chinese Art and Archaeology, University of Oxford In Reorienting China, Professor Hsu Cho-yun compellingly explores the rise and development of early China in ever-changing cross-cultural and environmental contexts. Both erudite and provocative, Hsu demonstrates a vision and methodology that will inspire anyone interested in China studies. —David Der-wei Wang Edward C. Henderson Professor of Chinese Literature,