Barbarians and the Birth of Chinese Identity

March 15, 2017
A cartoon history of the tumultuous 450-year period in Chinese history known as the -Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.-Using common-era dating and (excepting -Confucius-) Pinyin transcription for names, Liu begins the third of a four-volume history with a quick thematic recap of early Chinese civilization and the arrival of the Liao dynasty in 907. He then carries readers through to the capture of the Yuan (Mongol) capital by an unidentified -rebel army- in 1368. Though he takes only rare side glances at cultural or scientific highlights (such as the inventions of gunpowder and paper currency), he pauses in his account of successive, sometimes overlapping rises, falls, and major battles to describe Neo-Confucian precepts in some detail, as keys to understanding enduring aspects of Chinese character and outlook. In the monochrome art, dialogue more often runs to such lines as -We lost the Silk Road, let's make up for it through sea trade- than personal interchanges. Still, the combination of silhouettes--often threatening, martial ones--with open-faced, expressively individualized figures of many social classes adds dramatic tension while neatly balancing the big-picture narrative. There's a lot to absorb even in this abbreviated form, but the visual approach lightens the load considerably. (maps, diagrams, recommended reading) (Graphic nonfiction. 11-14)

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May 1, 2017

Gr 5 Up-The third volume of this series on Chinese history quickly summarizes the previous installments before starting its coverage of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907-960 CE), the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), and the Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368 CE). While addressing political and geographic upheavals, Liu reveals just enough information to make readers aware of the devastating effects of being conquered, without getting into details that might be too upsetting for younger audiences. He also touches on the theory that the practice of foot-binding was started to protect women, as the custom rendered them unable to ride a horse, making them harder to kidnap as trophies of war. Liu focuses on the foreign invasions that mark this period and the resulting academic, governing, and economic changes that were made to give the people a sense of Chinese cultural and national identity. Overall the text is clear, with a few stumbles during descriptions of dynastic upheavals and border wars, which are somewhat light on information. Character comments and antics in the artwork add humor, which readers will appreciate. The author's comedic tone and tendency to stick to key moments and broad trends help him keep a lively pace even when covering dry subjects. VERDICT Like previous installments, this volume features uncluttered artwork and lucid explanations, making it a wonderful and enjoyable option for middle and high school readers seeking a general overview of Chinese history.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

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