Language Chinese Publication date 1988 ISBN 7-5363-0422-6 Genre History | Publisher Guangxi National Press Pages 882 Originally published 1988 Page count 882 Country China | |
Media type Print (Paperback, Hardcover) | ||
General History of the Zhuang (Traditional Chinese: 壯族通史; Simplified Chinese: 壮族通史; pinyin: Zhuàngzú tōng shi) is an academic book which relatively systematic and comprehensive response Zhuang history written by Chinese historian Huang Xianfan. The first draft completed in 1981 and after finishing by Huang Xian Fan’s students published by the Guangxi National Press in 1988. The work won the 1990 Highest Prize for Social Sciences of the Guangxi. "It is the first General History of the Zhuang in Chinese history and considered is the most innovative, scientific and academic theoretical value for the classical history book of the 20th century in China".
Contents
Contents and argument
"This book is based on a wealth of historical materials, explores in detail the origin of the Zhuang and has a comprehensive introduction to the Zhuang’s various historical periods of political, economic and cultural aspects of development. It provides a great deal of valuable information for research into the history of the Zhuang. The book has a very high value of academic research, the accumulation of values and deep historical and practical significance".
Huang's major argument in the book is that he had consistently argued against ethnical chauvinism. He believed that the crux of ethnic problems was caused by ethnic inequity, which had a major influence on ethnic conflicts in history. Professor Huang advocated the equality of each of the world's ethnic groups and a "spiritual civilization with scientific attitude" on ethnic studies. By active practice, he became a forerunner of the Zhuang studies in the 20th century. People therefore called him a master of Zhuang studies.
Huang Xianfan had always emphasized "the importance of independent academic research", and of pioneering studies, academic freedom as his lifelong aspirations. His academic principle was to "stay honest and not obey the authorities". He believed that the motto of academic research was "no authorities, no ends, no prohibitions". Professor Chen Ji Sheng pointed out: "the connotation of Professor Huang's academic theory was to connect traditional Chinese history studies to western new history theory in order to complement his favorite Puxue of Qing dynasty, Gu Yanwu's theory of Jing Shi Zhi Yong with modern American Robinson's New History".