Chinese Characteristics

Book Review

Chinese Characteristics (1894) was the most widely read American work on China until Pearl Buck's The Good Earth (1931). It was the first to take up the task of analyzing Chinese society in the light of "scientific" social and racial theory.

--Lydia Liu, Professor of Columbia University

Book Introduction

Chinese Characteristics was written by a highly observant American missionary--Smith. He has lived over fifty years in China. This book was published firstly in 1890 in China, presents the social life and personal character traits of the typical Chinese. In this illustration edition, nearly 100 old photos added, aiming to let reader to understand China more directly and truthfully. Lu Xun--the most prominent Chinese cultural critic of the early twentieth century--urged his students to study and ponder Smith's idea, which was widely debated in Chinese student circles.