Diana Lary - Chinas Civil War (New Approaches to Asian History)

University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom

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Diana Lary 2015

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First published 2015

Printed in the United Kingdom by Clays, St Ives plc

A catalogue record for this publication is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-1-107-67826-2 Paperback

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This book is dedicated to the many Chinese who believed in progress and change for the country they loved, but, after the Civil War, were denied the chance to contribute their talents. They were persecuted in China, or forced to leave or to stay away from the country.

I have had the idea of this book in my mind for a long time, ever since I first realised what an enormous impact the Civil War had had on Chinese society. But the war was so complicated, and so full of contradictions, that it has taken me until the last stage of my career to feel able to write it. Over that long time many people have helped me with the writing, by telling me of their own experiences, and by helping me with the research for it.

I have learnt most of all from my beloved teacher Jerome Chen (Chen Zhirang), whose own life was so influenced by the war. I will never be able to thank him enough for all the help he has given me. As a scholar and as someone who lived through the war his knowledge and insights have been invaluable to me.

In Beijing in 19641965, several people whose lives were changed by the Civil War gave me my earliest understanding of the effects of the war: Cao Richang, Selma Vos Tsao, Peng Ping, Pi Ge, Tang Kai, Yang Xianyi, Gladys Yang. These people were devoted to the creation of the new China, and paid very high prices for their devotion. All of them were cruelly victimised in the Cultural Revolution.

Over many years in Beijing and in Haadchao Samaran, Endymion Wilkinson has been a wonderful source of knowledge and the most perceptive and challenging person with whom to discuss ideas.

In Beijing over the past three decades many people have helped me. Wang Bingsheng introduced me to chengyu , a field in which he is a master. Li Zongyi, who died much too young, and Qi Wenxin have given me deep insights. Yang Tianshi has been a constant help and advisor.

In Hong Kong, Hai Chi-yuet, David Jones, C.C. Kwong, Kenzie Kwong, Willy Lam, Gianni Mok and Elizabeth Sinn have all given me help and helped me to an understanding of Hong Kongs experience during and after the Civil War.

In Fujian, Li Minghuan and Wang Lianmao have helped me to understand the impact of the Civil War on Overseas Chinese.

In Vancouver, Alison Bailey, Phoebe Chow, Chu Shao-kang, Peter Eng, Colin Green, Jing Zhichun, Judy Lam Maxwell, Jing Liu, Joanne Poon, Shaun Wang, Alexander Woodside, Wu Yang, Dominic Yang, Helen Yu, Henry Yu, John Yu and Eleanor Yuen have all helped me in different, invaluable ways.

In Cambridge, Marigold Acland and Lucy Rhymer, at Cambridge University Press, have been the most astute and helpful of editors.

I give all these people my deepest thanks. My thanks go too to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, whose financial support made this project possible.