Alasdair Clayre (1935–1984)

A leisurely, well rounded amble through the culture and history of one of the most enigmatic civilizations of the world, China. Over some 280 pages (including the index and endnotes), the book traverses various facets of the Chinese entity, including some discussion of the post-Revolution period and the excesses of the 'Great Leap Forward' and the 'Cultural Revolution'. The composite nature of the cultural values and practices is well brought out, showing the different priorities of the Confucian, the Buddhist, and the Daoist streams, but also how these three are not necessarily mutually irreconcilable. Like most Eastern societies, the common people usually follow their favourite parts of each of these. However, among the three, it is apparent that the Confucian approach is more particular and exacting, especially when bolstered by the Legalist approach, and it seems that the Communist regime has adopted this general approach, resulting in massive impositions on the people, millions of unnecessary deaths, untold suffering and disruption, and violent changes in policy. We still are unable to understand why China stands so far out from the normal course of humanity, and whether they will succeed without giving space to ordinary democratic liberties and diversities.… (meer)