For decades, historians and societal forces have campaigned for rapprochement, reconciliation and dialogue between East Asian nations. This book is a result of these efforts. Debates regarding the interpretation of the modern history of East Asia continue to affect bilateral relations between the states of the region. History education has become a particularly controversial issue in this context. This book’s main message is that a common understanding regarding the history of East Asia is possible, even though some differences remain. It is not only a major contribution to reconciliation in the region, but as the first textbook on the history of East Asia written collaboratively by scholars from three East Asian countries, it is also highly recommended for use in an anglophone teaching environment. The authors are a group of historians, teachers and concerned citizens from China, Japan and South Korea.

Histories of East Asia traditionally emphasize China and Japan, and neglect Korea and Vietnam. Essentially, 20th century East Asia is re-written into the past, as though China and Japan was always the core of East Asian development. This is not at all how East Asia developed. Chinese prehistoric cultures became historic in the 18th century B.C.! Japan was not part of East Asia for over 2300 more years. By studying periods of Chinese unity and disunity, and their effects on China s neighbors, Korea and Vietnam, a distinct culture zone, East Asia, gradually emerged, and slowly included Japan. The main elements of East Asia cultural, social, political, philosophical, religious and linguistic were derived from China, but the others were not minor replicas of China. Each was unique: its people ethnically distinct, from China and each other; its native language, and linguistic blend with Chinese, also unique. Korea and Vietnam resisted Chinese colonization, but adopted and adapted advance Chinese elements to their own needs. Emerging later, Japan underwent wholesale adoption of Tang China s advances, replicated in the 19th century, when Japan was the first East Asian country to modernize. Spanning some thirty-eight centuries, from the 18th century B.C. to 2012 A.D., this diversity with common elements derived from China, is a major theme of this work. It is often overlooked by those who prefer general views, based on surface impressions, to more complex realities. The former often lead to mistakes; the latter become the basis for more sound understanding. After all, these four countries and people share the eastern end of the Eurasian continent, yet each country s geographic situation is also unique. As the twenty-first century continues to unfold, this new approach to East Asia should help to produce clearer and more accurate understanding of this important world region.

This book traces the story of East Asia from the dawn of history to the present.

Modern East Asia: A History explores the history of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam from the late eighteenth century to the present. The text presents information on each country individually and also demonstrates how historical trends within each nation are linked. The book begins with an introduction to cultural foundations and a brief history of East Asia in the seventeenth century. The volume progresses chronologically, beginning in 1830 with a discussion of the major crises that swept East Asia, including covering both domestic and international challenges. In proceeding chapters, readers learn about key events, ideas, conflicts, and negotiations that have shaped East Asia throughout history. They read about the termination of the feudal structure in Japan, French colonial conquest in Vietnam, the birth of modern nationalism in China, the events that led to Korea splitting into two separate nations, and more. Comprehensive and complete, Modern East Asia provides readers with a thorough exploration of the progression of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam throughout the modern period. The text is ideal for world history courses, especially those that focus on East Asia. Mary L. Hanneman is an associate professor of Asian studies and history at the University of Washington, Tacoma. She holds a doctoral degree in history from the University of Washington. Wayne Patterson is a professor of history at St. Norbert College. He holds a doctoral degree in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania. Yi Li is a history instructor at Tacoma Community College. He holds a doctoral degree in history from the University of Washington. James A. Anderson is an associate professor and the department head of the History Department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He holds a doctoral degree in history from the University of Washington.

Six contemporary historians trace the development of distinctive cultural, political, and social institutions in Southeast Asia

A History of Modern East Asia illuminates the history of this vast and crucial region over the last two hundred years, exploring its many cultures, societies, states and economies, in the first major work on the modern history of the region as a whole. Offers a comprehensive view of East Asia, including Southeast Asia as well as China, Korea and Japan Examines East Asia within the context of global history, building on recent scholarship in modern world history Introduces the innovative concept of interaction zone to define East Asia as a region of dynamic economic, political and cultural interaction rather than as a static and reified civilization Provides a narrative that helps readers understand how the region came to its current place in the world and what the future of East Asia may hold