Chinese in America by Chang

From Liya K.

Iris Chang managed to greatly define two worlds filled with diverse customs and cultures yet with a luscious history that compares the two and seems to live on. The rich history of China may seem delicate and exotic to Western views, yet Chang manages to describe why it is a land very much complicated and compares it to the much known ups and down's of America's history.

Western China is known for its most memorable inhabitants including the Mongols and Tibetans of the past in lands of deserts and mountains. Eastern China holds onto two major rivers that are counted on for survival. North Central China consists mainly of the Gobi Desert and the South is China's beautiful countryside with rich lands for cultivation. America is divided and has been divided for its entire history based on North, South, East and West. The Eastern Coast is known for its domination of the trade market and the West for its Gold. The South contributed its part with plantations and agriculture.

The main thing that brought together the people from all diverse regions in China was not the spoken language but the written language which consists of 3,000 characters. In America, the national language is English and is expected to be learned by whoever enters the country.

The Manchu vs. Han sounds very much like White America vs. Minorities or even White America vs. Native Americans. History included forbidden intermarriage and vigorous and intensive measures taken out on the lesser population because of a ruling power. Women were excluded from tests that allowed some leeway into the system which sounds much like years of being excluded from voting rights. Outfits of Chinese officials who have made it into higher class can be compared to the rich class of modern America or even those of the past.

Everything from ancient ports and trade can be compared between the two countries. Similarities between the economies and ruling classes compared to the peasants and slaves. They still exist in modern times but in different forms, different titles.

"Children were told that 'ministers and generals are not born in office'- they had to earn their way to the top." Chinese were given tests to determine whether they can rise in their social status and class. Hard work would cause a positive outcome. In America, hard work is also known to bring success. Chang gives us an overview of the lives Americans and Chinese faced and their similarities, not so much of Chinese Americans. In short, the author compared two of the largest countries to ever dominate the social, economic and agricultural world.

If China is the third largest country in the world with such a rich history and many resources, why is it they cannot adapt to economic markets of today and use their resources to expand industries that will give their people the opportunity to stay within their borders and not have to suffer to find new beginnings in a country that is very much similar indeed?