From the Yangtze to the Yellow River, China is traversed by great
waterways, which have defined its politics and ways of life for
centuries. Water has been so integral to China's culture, economy, and
growth and development that it provides a window on the whole sweep of
Chinese history. In The Water Kingdom, renowned writer Philip Ball
opens that window to offer an epic and powerful new way of thinking
about Chinese civilization.
Water, Ball shows, is a key that unlocks much of Chinese culture. In
The Water Kingdom, he takes us on a grand journey through China's past
and present, showing how the complexity and energy of the country and
its history repeatedly come back to the challenges, opportunities, and
inspiration provided by the waterways. Drawing on stories from travelers
and explorers, poets and painters, bureaucrats and activists, all of
whom have been influenced by an environment shaped and permeated by
water, Ball explores how the ubiquitous relationship of the Chinese
people to water has made it an enduring metaphor for philosophical
thought and artistic expression. From the Han emperors to Mao, the
ability to manage the waters ― to provide irrigation and defend against
floods ― was a barometer of political legitimacy, often resulting in
engineering works on a gigantic scale. It is a struggle that continues
today, as the strain of economic growth on water resources may be the
greatest threat to China's future.
The Water Kingdom offers an unusual and fascinating history,
uncovering just how much of China's art, politics, and outlook have been
defined by the links between humanity and nature.
