I picked up this book because recommendations often mentioned “failure” and “autobiography.” Its author, Huang Renzong, also wrote another book I wanted to read, The Fifteenth Year of Wanli. That caught my interest. But as I read, I did not spend much time thinking in terms of “success” or “failure.” Other things interested me instead. For example, my earlier understanding of modern Chinese history had largely come from studying history, though I later encountered various perspectives. This book gave me another one. It also prompted thoughts about professors, life, views of history, and so on. Even things outside the main subject have substance of their own.

On Chinese History

China’s predicament?

Focus on: What exactly did we do wrong? Why did we suffer such humiliation in modern times?

A broad historical perspective: everything has its reasons. Individuals, even great figures, cannot change the overall direction.

What is history really like? Why do we try to understand it? Why do those who tell it do so? All of these affect the history we think we know. Why do I want to understand history? Beyond simple curiosity, I want to connect it with the present: to use what has remained unchanged through history to understand today, anticipate the future, and build my own picture of the world.

Chinese history, modern Chinese history. Following the divisions in history books, the last period of comparable historical significance was the Spring and Autumn period, when ancient China moved from a slave society to a feudal society (although “feudal society” should not be used to describe ancient China). I wonder how world history books a few centuries from now will describe China’s changes during this period, or the broader historical era around it.

Returning to the book: the father of Huang Renzong, author of Yellow River, Green Mountains, was an early member of the Tongmenghui and served as chief of staff to the commander-in-chief of the Guangdong Army. Later, having “had enough of revolution,” he returned to his hometown in Hunan, married, and had children. From then on, he intended his descendants to pursue engineering and technical careers rather than military or political ones. After various difficulties, Huang Renzong’s younger brother eventually earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering at Stanford. So, at a time when education was far from universal, both children in the Huang family continued their studies despite the family’s poverty. When full-scale war against Japan broke out, Huang Renzong joined the army. Disliking the guerrilla approach, he chose the Central Military Academy in Chongqing. He later went to the Burma front as a staff officer and did not experience brutal combat. Japan then surrendered, and civil war began. While in Japan, Huang Renzong was forced out of the military on suspicion of defection. He eventually went alone to the United States to attend university, already 34 years old. He worked while studying and, after much effort, obtained a professorial qualification, only to be dismissed by his university at 60—a tremendous humiliation for a scholar. He later became well known when his books sold well, although their arguments remained highly controversial in academic circles.