New Book Reveals Story Of China’s Founding Fathers
Matthew Miller, a co-author, with Liel Leibovitz, of the new book “Fortunate Sons,” was interviewed on March 21st by Allen Cardoza of Answers4thefamilyblog.com on L.A. Talk Radio. The full name of the book is “Fortunate Sons: The 120 Chinese Boys Who Came to America, Went to School, and Revolutionized an Ancient Civilization.”
In the 19th Century, 120 Chinese boys were sent to study in America. “Fortunate Sons” is the true story about their experiences and how they went home to influence the development of modern China.
Toward the close of the nineteenth century, China sent a select group of boys to America to learn the ways of the West. Their mission was to modernize the antiquated empire. They were sent to learn how to defend China from foreigners invading its shores.
Researching diaries, letters, and numerous first-person accounts, “Fortunate Sons” reveals an amazing story, weaving the dramas of diverse lives caught in the momentous thrust of a nation reinventing itself.
In 1854, Jung Wing graduated from Yale. He was he first Chinese student to graduate from an American university.
Yung returned to China. Qing dynasty officials noticed his American education. They were impressed by his English-language abilities.
China’s ruling class recognized that they needed to modernize their military. They enlisted Yung’s help to buy machines from Massachusetts. But Yung suggested establishing an engineering school so young Chinese could learn industrial methods of the West.
The Chinese students were generally well treated by Americans they encountered, a sharp contrast to how Chinese in the American West were being treated at that time.
Class separated the two groups. The mission students were scholars and leaders, selected for their potential. In contrast, the West Coast Chinese were either desperate merchants or peasants.
The students returned to a crumbling China. The empire was in disarray. It had been beset by growing internal factionalism. Four decades earlier, European powers had claimed territory and won concessions.
The Chinese ruling class gave the mission students bureaucratic appointments. Later, these students began to rise to positions of greater authority.
Learn more about “Fortunate Sons”. Stop by Allen Cardoza’s site where you can find out all about Matthew Miller and what he has to say.
March 23, 2011 | Posted by Allen Cardoza
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