This book traces the story of East Asia from the dawn of history to the present.

For decades, historians and societal forces have campaigned for rapprochement, reconciliation and dialogue between East Asian nations. This book is a result of these efforts. Debates regarding the interpretation of the modern history of East Asia continue to affect bilateral relations between the states of the region. History education has become a particularly controversial issue in this context. This book’s main message is that a common understanding regarding the history of East Asia is possible, even though some differences remain. It is not only a major contribution to reconciliation in the region, but as the first textbook on the history of East Asia written collaboratively by scholars from three East Asian countries, it is also highly recommended for use in an anglophone teaching environment. The authors are a group of historians, teachers and concerned citizens from China, Japan and South Korea.

Charles Holcombe begins by asking the question 'what is East Asia?' In the modern age, many of the features that made the region - now defined as including China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam - distinct have been submerged by the effects of revolution, politics or globalization. Yet, as an ancient civilization, the region had both an historical and cultural coherence. This shared past is at the heart of this ambitious book, which traces the story of East Asia from the dawn of history to the twenty-first century. The second edition has been imaginatively revised and expanded to place emphasis on cross-cultural interactions and connections, both within East Asia and beyond, with new material on Vietnam and modern pop culture. The second edition also features a Chinese character list, additional maps and new illustrations.

A History of Modern East Asia illuminates the history of this vast and crucial region over the last two hundred years, exploring its many cultures, societies, states and economies, in the first major work on the modern history of the region as a whole. Offers a comprehensive view of East Asia, including Southeast Asia as well as China, Korea and Japan Examines East Asia within the context of global history, building on recent scholarship in modern world history Introduces the innovative concept of interaction zone to define East Asia as a region of dynamic economic, political and cultural interaction rather than as a static and reified civilization Provides a narrative that helps readers understand how the region came to its current place in the world and what the future of East Asia may hold

Designed for the East Asian history course, this text features the latest scholarship on the region and offers a range of cultural, political, economic, and intellectual history. Coverage is balanced among East Asian regions, with approximately 20 percent of the text focused on Korea, an area that has become increasingly important in East Asian courses and in world politics. Special attention is devoted to coverage of gender and material culture-topics that are reinforced through the text's pedagogical features. Color inserts illustrate the rich artistic heritage of East Asia and bolster the coverage of material culture. Connections sections appear throughout the text and provide an international context for the history of East Asia. Some of the topics covered include Buddhism, the Mongols, Imperialism, and World War II. Each chapter includes primary source features that document, among other topics, culture or the arts. Biographical sketches highlight the lives of major figures in East Asian history.