If one wants to look at history in a real way they should be able to see what had taken place in the past. Then it depends on what era of history you are looking at. Since living and working here in China my interest in Chinese history has been expanded greatly while realizing that what I did learn if anything about Chinese history was not fully revealed nor did those who taught it gave us students a clear picture. I can understand today and at this present time just how much I did miss out.
I read a book entitled, "1421" by a guy named Mencius who hails from England. he presents a clear and very convincing picture that what we kids learned in school was not that truthful let alone more informative. He reveals that Zheng He a very famous admiral had huge fleets of ships roaming all over the seas and mapping as well. Maybe Columbus did discover a few islands in the southern Carribean Seas but He discovered them way before he did plus many other island . He drew detailed maps and coastal areas for future explorers to go and rediscover as they wish. I liked this book and think it is really well worth reading. I am convinced even more people were sailing around the world years before others and yet we seldom even hear about it for some strange reason. I wonder what else will be discovered.
Then I have been readingan informative book by Iris Chang "Chinese in America." I am about half way through this informative historical book dealing with the early Chinese and how they had to face hardship, cruel treatment by those who lived around them and tried to gain acceptance into a new world. They came over during the Gold Rush days and yes settled in Calif and worked hard. Some did mining but others lived and worked in related industries in order to makea decent living. They faced more discrimination and at times had to pay even higher fees for things they needed. This book tells how in great detail they survived and made it.
Of course many came over to study at private schools on the east coast getting a better education and totake back what they learned back to China and teach. Others remained and built good businesses. Some opened up restaurants and created more great edible foods that we love today. Many who remained sent money home to their familes in China so they could survive as well. Others had a hard time in getting permits at that time to remain in the states. A lot of people did not like the Chinese thus tried to persuade the leaders to enact tough laws so that the Chinese had a difficult time remaining.
Iris Chang wrote another book that deals with the Chinese. It is "Rape of Nanjing." I have not read it as yet but have visited this city and seen the areas where the Japanese took over and killed so many people plus rape, looting as well as burning peoples homes. The japanese by far were more destructive than other people who had their roles in the great war. It is hard to fully believe even today with so much hard and very convincing evidence that the Japanese still today do not really acknowledge this did take place and deny such claims. sad indeed but even sadder it will take a lot of hard work to get them to fully admit to the mistakes that hey did do. Maybe America was just in dropping the bomb on Hiroshima but they should of dropped one right on the lap of the emperor and make him realize what took place.
