General History of Modern East Asia

General History of Eastern Asia in Modern Times - 19th Century and the Present

Is East Asia in crisis now?!
Reexamining East Asia's history and tracing the root causes of war and conflict: "East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia, which rose through the ages in human history, have formed our regional world. Now, it is in crisis!"
"A General History of Modern and Contemporary East Asia" was written by an editorial committee consisting of seven Japanese scholars: Haruki Wada, Kenichi Goto, Yoichi Kibata, Shinichi Yamamuro, Kagetatsu Cho, Satoshi Nakano, and Makoto Kawashima. The first volume covers the period from the 19th century to the 1930s; the second volume covers the period from 1935 to the present, connecting important events and turning points between countries in modern times, covering major historical events.
After World War II, we expected a peaceful era without war. Instead of peace, we remain mired in chaos. Taiwan, Japan, China, South Korea... the nations, ethnic groups, economies, and politics of East Asia have been entangled in numerous intertwined issues through the intertwined evolution of modern history. This situation persists to this day, not only influencing the current situation but also intertwining with other regional powers, such as the North Korea issue, the US-China rivalry, territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas, the Sino-Japanese and Sino-South Korean confrontations, and so on. Why is this happening?
To truly understand the "why" of our times and circumstances, we must broaden our perspective, moving beyond a singular or binary perspective and instead examining the comprehensive historical landscape and its dynamics from a regional perspective. Only then can we fully understand the origins of our current problems, how we might develop in the future, and what future directions lie ahead.
Reexamining history isn't about settling old grudges or finding means of revenge, but about truly possessing an image of East Asia. Only then can we find a sound historical position amidst East Asia's crises and forge a unique historical landscape. More importantly, we can build peace on the basis of reconciliation and cooperation.
Every time we revisit history, it is like polishing a mirror, reflecting the past, present, and future.
Recommended by both domestic and international critics: Wang Wenyue, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at National Chi Nan University; Tsuyoshi Nojima, Senior Media Professional and Writer; Zhao Zhongqi, Associate Professor of the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at National Chi Nan University; Lan Shiqi, Associate Professor of the Department of History at National Chengchi University; Luo Shijie, Associate Professor of the Department of History at National Taiwan University (in alphabetical order)

2024-03-28

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