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How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

From 16th to 18th centuries, countries of Western Europe consistently invaded North America, which used to be territory of Indians. The United States of America began to win Revolutionary War in 1776 and became leader of this land. until 2023, United States was founded just 247 years ago.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

His story is short and difficult to tell in detail, but History of China is required reading for middle and high school students, such as "Chu Qi", "Book of Songs", "Zizhi". Tongjian, Outline of National History, Five Thousand Years Up and Down, and other anthologies of poetry and history are countless.

Can't you put cart before horse and write about other countries more than your own?

Another point: these Chinese characters appearing in American history books are very personal and have created incomparable wealth for China's development and culture, while the United States has always admired strong personal heroism.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

Based on above two reasons, it's no surprise that China, with 5,000 years of history, is only 20 pages long in its textbooks.

And what characters are inscribed in American history books?

Confucius, founder of Confucianism

Confucius, founder of Chinese Confucian school, was born in 551 BC. and died in 479 BC. at age of 79 years.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

Starting from Tang Dynasty, more and more missionaries came to China. Confucius himself and his Confucianism also spread abroad through missionaries. Americans were heavily influenced by Confucianism and even respected .

The New York Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Washington Post and other major media outlets have written about Confucius.

They believe that Confucius is self-taught and introspective, respectful of others, and his culture is full of tolerance. The US House of Representatives even celebrated anniversary of Confucius's birth, and American essayist and thinker Waldo once said that Confucius is philosophical Washington.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

In addition to thinking, they are also very interested in official positions and study tours conducted by Confucius. In their articles, they wrote that when Confucius served as chief of bandits, he punished thieves and ministers according to law Law In eyes of Americans, Confucius is law Representative of peace and order is that a tall statue of Confucius still stands on lintel of United States Supreme Court.

Runner-up: First Emperor Yingzheng

He was first emperor in history of China, who, with help of thunder, pushed China to era of great unification and created first multinational centralized state.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

Regarding 247 years since founding of United States, there is an invariable rule - to be master of world.

Therefore, in their eyes, an emperor like Qin Shi Huang is undoubtedly best representative of United States. They only see most obvious part and want to see only that, such as complete control of power in their hands.

Another example is tyranny, burning of books and the burial of Confucianism.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

They couldn't see that it was a sorcerer who failed to purify elixir for Qin Shi Huang and fled with money, then spoke about reign and behavior of first emperor, which enraged him and buried him alive.

Another example: they only saw that Qin Shi Huang built Great Wall no matter what, but they didn't know that he built Great Wall to resist outside enemies and save country and people from suffering of invasion. .

Another example: they only saw that emperor in feudal era was so wise that he cultivated spiritual channels to improve water management, but they did not think that point of his actions was to benefit his own people.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

Three officials and nine ministers that he installed are converted to modern positions, first three are highest chief executive, highest military and political head and secretary of Disciplinary Committee; implementation of this official system can be controlled by government of country. more systematically and completely.

This method is same as American mode.

There are both advantages and disadvantages in Chinese historical records in works of Qin Shi Huang. The people of country will not ignore his mistakes because of his achievements and will not hide his great achievements because of his mistakes.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

But United States is different. They only promote political means and Qin Shi Huang's rule. As mentioned above, they don't think these starting points are for humans.

Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty and Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty

He was seventh emperor of Western Han Dynasty. During his reign at home, he appointed governors, set up an inspection system for selecting talents, and Xiongnu created an unprecedented vast Chinese territory.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

It is written in American textbooks that Liu Che rebuffed Huns, forcing Huns to flee to different parts of Europe, becoming a whip sent by God to punish Europeans, causing a mass migration of European population, and leading to destruction of Roman Empire.

They write that Xiongnu slapped Liu Che, and treasure sent by Silk Road was candy, so there is both love and hate.

Qin Shi Huang sowed in hearts of Americans seed of admiration for power and tyranny. In eyes of Chinese, Li Shimin, who governs diligently and loves people, is not as good as Yang Guang, who is also a tyrant in eyes of Americans. In their general history of China, they said that Yang Guang was a great king, but they had a general assessment of Li Shimin .

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

Some textbooks in Western countries also describe Yang Guang of Sui Dynasty rather than Li Shimin of Tang Dynasty.

But why was Li Shimin included in textbook? This is because Li Shimin created heyday of "Zhengguan government", which even West at that time could not easily match.

Because of this prosperous age, missionaries and traders from many Western countries flocked to Tang Dynasty, and these people returned to their home countries and brought with them culture of Tang Dynasty.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

Therefore, most American textbooks only write about prosperity and dynastic culture created by Li Shimin.

Empress Wu Zetian

Real name Wu ZetianWu Zhao was born in Shanxi and grew up in Chang'an.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

There is a book in US called Wu Zhao: China's Only Female Emperor. The author of this book is Luo Han, an expert on Wu Zhao. Culture. He praises her as a saint without a gender.

American textbooks contain not only legendary life of Wu Zetian, but also most intense peak of her feminism.

Zheng He, navigator

He was a Ming Dynasty eunuch. He entered Zhu Di's circle at age of 14 and gradually received Zhu Di's reuse. He accompanied him in battles and accumulated countless practical experience.

How do American history books describe China? Total 20 pages, 6 Chinese written

Thus, in 1399, Zhu Di, who by that time had become emperor, was appointed eunuch of imperial envoy, who led more than 20,000 warriors and more than 200 sea ships to march to West— a great sea voyage begins.

From 1399 to 1402, he traveled to more than 30 countries and regions, including Champa, Java, Siam, Ceylon, Malaysia and East Africa, and established friendly Chinese-foreign economic exchanges and international public order.

He made seven voyages to West and had profound exchanges with Western culture. His influence in Western world cannot be underestimated. Although United States did not exist at time, he was not praised in American textbooks. stingy, thinking that Zheng He's travels fit perfectly into American spirit of adventurism.

However, American textbooks only talk about Zheng He himself, and there is no mention of soldiers who followed him, and how many people died.

Of course, it must be same sentence. They defend individual heroism.

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