China and the Chinese

Herbert Allen Giles (1845-1935) devoted years to diplomacy in China and became Cambridge University’s second professor of Chinese in 1897. His remarkable body of work spans the Chinese language, literature, history, and philosophy. This captivating series of lectures, delivered at Columbia University in 1902 to commemorate the establishment of a Chinese professorship, aims to ignite a deeper and more systematic exploration of Chinas rich cultural tapestry. While many of Giles insights resonate with contemporary audiences, others serve as poignant reminders of the significant transformations China has experienced since the days of the Manchu Qing dynasty. (Summary by David Barnes)