Historical China: From The First Emperor To Its Last

For those of us in the United States of America, whose first immmigrant ancestors settled here in the early 1600's, it is hard to imagine a country with over 4000 years of written history. Yet, China has had several of its ten dynasties with histories longer than all that of the USA.

The last emperor, Puyi, was forced to abdicate in 1912 by forces that created the Republic of China. He was allowed to live in the Imperial Palace in Beijing until 1924, but 4000 years of rule by the "Sons of Heaven on the Dragon Throne" had come to an end.

Until Mao Zedong's 1949 declaration of the People's Republic of China (Communist China), there were periods of civil war, occupation by the Japanese, and many political intrigues which followed the abdication of the last emperor.

The extremes of the cultural revolution (from approximately 1967 to 1976) resulted in the destruction of many historical sites and temples, pilfering of books, jewelry, art from private homes, and death to many opposing factions.

Starting in about 1997, China has begun to open up economically to the outside world and to encourage entrepreneurship among its own citizens. Among the many sayings of Deng Xiaoping (leader during the 1979 "normalization" with the US), are: "To get rich is glorious" and "Some people must get rich first".

The "modern" Republic of China in recent years has increased world trade, has built many architecturally significant structures in the major cities, and in many ways begun to open up to a more democratic, capitalistic, orientation. But, as the world's oldest existing state, China has and will continue to play a major role in world economics and politics, regardless of how other's perceive them.

And now, with the Summer Olympics starting in Beijing on August 8 of this year, China will get increasing visibility in the world community. I was in Beijing just after the announcement was made that they would be getting the 2008 Olympics. The flurry of activity which began then has now culminated with some amazing new structures.

Unfortunately, many of the Hutongs (older traditional residential areas) had to be torn down to accomplish this. But, that's a story for another time and place.