Probing the relationship between socialism and governance, the author offers a new perspective for understanding Chinese politics since 1949. China's politics can be roughly divided into two periods - the Maoist period (1949-1978) and the Dengist Period (since 1978) - characterized as Revolutionary China and Reformatory China. These two periods are better understood when they are compared with each other. For, to study an epoch, we need a logic that transcends that epoch. A comparative approach is very helpful in uncovering the deeper meaning of Chinese revolution and Chinese reforms.

Using the key concept 'two worlds of life' (Experiencing World and Meaning World), the author argues that there is a sharp discrepancy between the two worlds of life in all the self-claimed 'socialist' countries. Although the Meaning World is 'socialist', the Experiencing World cannot be adequately understood as being socialist. 'Socialism' has become an ideational veil which masks the true nature of the Experiencing World. After the 'socialist' revolution, the chain of the concept of 'socialism' awaits the proletariat. Only through Entborgenheit can we understand the true nature of the Experiencing World of all 'socialist' states.

It is argued that the concept 'real socialism' is still misleading, for such a 'socialism' is still unreal; that the concept 'state socialism' is no more than a confusing concept and needs also to be rejected, for there is not such a thing as state socialism in our experiencing world. We had neither 'real socialism' nor 'state socialism', we had only statism in our experiencing world.

The Maoist Chiina was a schizophrenic case of 'socialism', due to the inherent conflict between statism in the Experiencing World and 'socialism' in the Meaning World. All the Communist states created a Janus-faced creature, with one face being statism and the other face being 'socialism'. This is caused by the pathology of treating statization of means of production as socialization of means of production. Dengist China initiated a de-statization process, but this process is not socialization either.

Olivia C. Ogren and her family were Swedish missionaries serving with the China Inland Mission during the fateful Boxer summer of 1900. Now available in English for the first time, this is her personal account of the trials and suffering they experienced as they fled from their mission in the northern Shansi town of Yongning. Beset by Boxer rebels, local bandits, starvation and sickness, the Ogren family would be asked to pay the ultimate price for their service to the people of Shansi.

"The whole situation had become extremely dangerous. One could hear the noise on the street. We realized that the people had become even more conscious of us as foreigners and we were the target of their deviltry. Drought and famine had been the threat to life in China from the beginning, so I cannot say it caused the Boxer Rebellion. Undoubtedly, the floods and famine of this time were two of the matches that ignited this holocaust. But there were other reasons and I will leave that to the historians. However, to tell what I heard, saw and experienced is another matter. That was too vivid and terrible for me ever to forget."

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About the Tranlator

Samuel Ogren, Sr. (1899-1988) was born in China, as was his younger sister Ruth, to Swedish missionaries Olivia and Per Alfred Ogren. Their father died from wounds inflicted by the Boxers in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion. Their mother, Olivia C. Ogren, wrote this book in 1901 recalling their harrowing escape from the Boxers.

Samuel Ogren, Sr. eventually settled in Delray Beach, Florida where he is believed to have been Delray's first registered architect. He maintained his practice from 1924 until 1950 when he semi-retired to Windermere, Florida. He designed numerous residential and commercial buildings, among which is the Delray High School designed and built in 1925. It was later placed on the National Register for Historical Places. It was restored and is part of what is known as Old School Square.

Mr. Ogren was also an accomplished classical pianist.

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Catalogue Information

A stratagem is a strategic plan that contains a trap or a ruse for the enemy.The Thirty-six Stratagems was a unique collection of the most cunning and subtle stratagems in the Chinese culture. Since there are hundreds of philosophical aphorisms and heroic exploits in Chinese history, and many of them have heavy content of strategic measures, obviously the number of stratagems is more than thirty-six.

A systematic classification of these stratagems based on basic behaviors can give more perspective to these strategic acts. The authors have identified twenty-eight basic behaviors in these stratagems, and forty-two stratagems to illustrate these behaviors as a way of thinking. For each stratagem, its theme, its source, a few illustrations from stories or events of Chinese origin or from other countries, and comments are presented. In the last chapter, the Sun Tze's teachings in The Art of War that might have indirectly influenced the stratagems are summarized.

Walt Roberts, newly-appointed professor of Central Asian Studies, is about to embark on another trip to China, but this time, the focus will be on not only the Silk Road but also include the eastern portion of the web of trading routes. What will he, Tara, his girlfriend, and his group of six students encounter along the way? The Ten Thousand Things is the story of their journey.

Walt's mismatched group of amateur intelligence gatherers added a tiny fragment to the accumulating evidence of Chinese capabilities. His experience barely touches on this field which, increasingly, is in the daily news. But why say more?

The author, Brooks Tenney, a former engineer with Chance Vought Aircraft, GE, and Xerox, was Project Engineer for the Tektite Program (NASA, US Navy, Dept. of Interior). After designing an undersea habitat, he lived underwater for two weeks with an international team; later receiving the Navy's Meritourious Public Service Citation. Today he writes for a newspaper in upstate New York. His two recent novels are Killing Mauritius, describing fundamentalist terrorism, and New Silk Road, dealing with Central Asia's drug traffic.

A book of commentaries on The Dragon-Wisdom Cards Of Ancient China, being the teachings which explain and reveal the hidden messages behind the The Tao (the ancient Chinese spiritual teaching which means The Way) The commentaries throw light on the psychological and spiritual states which these ancient pictures of the mythical gods and goddesses, dragons and demons, of ancient China portray in brilliant graphic colour. The images themselves are not shown but can be obtained from the author. Mark Kumara suggests that all humans will, at one time or another, face all these different states on their path toward Self-realisation.

In the late 70’s China was an awakening giant; decades of depressing self sufficiency theories left the country technologically, industrially and agriculturally backward. By 1975, Chou En Lai and Deng Tsao Ping recognized a renaissance of technology and open economy was required Achieving those goals required engagement with the U.S. to replicate, leapfrog and provide a starter engine. The engine which had accelerated the West’s economies was the ubiquitous computer. How was China to get one?

The United States strictly controlled the export of computers to the Communist world, particularly since the Korean War.

The world leader in computers, IBM, was sought and responded. This book presents IBM and China’s one year 1977 struggle in Beijing to write a contract that unleashed IBM’s, China’s and the U.S.’s restraints on computer exports and delivered China’s first large-scale computer in 1978. The book presents the basis for China’s ensuing economic boom. It tells a story of humor, strife and of lasting personal bonds. It reveals the mishaps of cross-cultural negotiation. And… it reveals how the Chinese plan for modern computer education was hidden in computer purchase.

Three Chinese engineers – Messer’s Wu, Mu and Shu - and two American IBM’ers enabled that deception and bridged the cultural gap. IBM now has thousands of employees in its Greater China organization and billions in revenue. China has a thriving Information Management industry and connection to the world through the internet all starting with this seed.

In the late 70’s China was an awakening giant; decades of depressing self sufficiency theories left the country technologically, industrially and agriculturally backward. By 1975, Chou En Lai and Deng Tsao Ping recognized a renaissance of technology and open economy was required Achieving those goals required engagement with the U.S. to replicate, leapfrog and provide a starter engine. The engine which had accelerated the West’s economies was the ubiquitous computer. How was China to get one?

The United States strictly controlled the export of computers to the Communist world, particularly since the Korean War.

The world leader in computers, IBM, was sought and responded. This book presents IBM and China’s one year 1977 struggle in Beijing to write a contract that unleashed IBM’s, China’s and the U.S.’s restraints on computer exports and delivered China’s first large-scale computer in 1978. The book presents the basis for China’s ensuing economic boom. It tells a story of humor, strife and of lasting personal bonds. It reveals the mishaps of cross-cultural negotiation. And… it reveals how the Chinese plan for modern computer education was hidden in computer purchase.

Three Chinese engineers – Messer’s Wu, Mu and Shu - and two American IBM’ers enabled that deception and bridged the cultural gap. IBM now has thousands of employees in its Greater China organization and billions in revenue. China has a thriving Information Management industry and connection to the world through the internet all starting with this seed.

In the late 70’s China was an awakening giant; decades of depressing self sufficiency theories left the country technologically, industrially and agriculturally backward. By 1975, Chou En Lai and Deng Tsao Ping recognized a renaissance of technology and open economy was required Achieving those goals required engagement with the U.S. to replicate, leapfrog and provide a starter engine. The engine which had accelerated the West’s economies was the ubiquitous computer. How was China to get one?

The United States strictly controlled the export of computers to the Communist world, particularly since the Korean War.

The world leader in computers, IBM, was sought and responded. This book presents IBM and China’s one year 1977 struggle in Beijing to write a contract that unleashed IBM’s, China’s and the U.S.’s restraints on computer exports and delivered China’s first large-scale computer in 1978. The book presents the basis for China’s ensuing economic boom. It tells a story of humor, strife and of lasting personal bonds. It reveals the mishaps of cross-cultural negotiation. And… it reveals how the Chinese plan for modern computer education was hidden in computer purchase.

Three Chinese engineers – Messer’s Wu, Mu and Shu - and two American IBM’ers enabled that deception and bridged the cultural gap. IBM now has thousands of employees in its Greater China organization and billions in revenue. China has a thriving Information Management industry and connection to the world through the internet all starting with this seed.

In the failed East African state of Somalia, piracy has become a dominant factor in the economy. Bordering one of the world's busiest waterways—with steady traffic coming and going through the Suez Canal—Somalia's north shore, once famed as the “Incense Coast,” provides a dependable parade of suitable victims. Maritime nations have powerful naval contingents in the region; but, lacking legal justification for preemptive action, they are paralyzed and ineffective.

News media are hungry for stories and photographs of pirates, and Jitka Malecek, a freelance photographer with prior experience in East Africa, has a plan for obtaining them. Somalia acts as a magnet for her, drawing the aggressive young photographer inexorably into the action.

Commander Vance Morrisette of the U.S. Navy, a former SEAL, has worked in the region before. Morrisette is given a covert assignment to join a civilian security firm, providing protection against piracy. These contractors are constrained to employ nonlethal techniques against heavily armed pirates who have no such restrictions. Chafing under rules of engagement that handcuff law-abiding nations, Morrisette contemplates more violent alternatives. When Jitka Malecek disappears into lawless Somalia, he must take matters into his own hands and track her down before her time and luck run out.

In the failed East African state of Somalia, piracy has become a dominant factor in the economy. Bordering one of the world's busiest waterways—with steady traffic coming and going through the Suez Canal—Somalia's north shore, once famed as the “Incense Coast,” provides a dependable parade of suitable victims. Maritime nations have powerful naval contingents in the region; but, lacking legal justification for preemptive action, they are paralyzed and ineffective.

News media are hungry for stories and photographs of pirates, and Jitka Malecek, a freelance photographer with prior experience in East Africa, has a plan for obtaining them. Somalia acts as a magnet for her, drawing the aggressive young photographer inexorably into the action.

Commander Vance Morrisette of the U.S. Navy, a former SEAL, has worked in the region before. Morrisette is given a covert assignment to join a civilian security firm, providing protection against piracy. These contractors are constrained to employ nonlethal techniques against heavily armed pirates who have no such restrictions. Chafing under rules of engagement that handcuff law-abiding nations, Morrisette contemplates more violent alternatives. When Jitka Malecek disappears into lawless Somalia, he must take matters into his own hands and track her down before her time and luck run out.

In the failed East African state of Somalia, piracy has become a dominant factor in the economy. Bordering one of the world's busiest waterways—with steady traffic coming and going through the Suez Canal—Somalia's north shore, once famed as the “Incense Coast,” provides a dependable parade of suitable victims. Maritime nations have powerful naval contingents in the region; but, lacking legal justification for preemptive action, they are paralyzed and ineffective.

News media are hungry for stories and photographs of pirates, and Jitka Malecek, a freelance photographer with prior experience in East Africa, has a plan for obtaining them. Somalia acts as a magnet for her, drawing the aggressive young photographer inexorably into the action.

Commander Vance Morrisette of the U.S. Navy, a former SEAL, has worked in the region before. Morrisette is given a covert assignment to join a civilian security firm, providing protection against piracy. These contractors are constrained to employ nonlethal techniques against heavily armed pirates who have no such restrictions. Chafing under rules of engagement that handcuff law-abiding nations, Morrisette contemplates more violent alternatives. When Jitka Malecek disappears into lawless Somalia, he must take matters into his own hands and track her down before her time and luck run out.

“He who knows not the stratagems is respectable, but he who plays no stratagems in spite of knowing them deserves more respect.”

In 36 Stratagems Plus, authors Douglas S. Tung and Teresa K. Tung provide a unique collection of ancient Chinese tactics that describe some of the cunning and subtle stratagems—a strategic plan that contains a trap or a ruse for the enemy. Many of these stratagems had their origins in events that occurred during the Warring States Period (475-221 BC) and the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) in China.

This collection includes sixty stratagems that illustrate the enlightened exploitation of strategic power. For each stratagem, the Tungs present an eclectic discussion of its theme, the classic Chinese case supplemented by two international cases to illustrate the use of these strategic acts by other nationalities. They then trace its source which is usually the exploit of some of the Chinese generals, statesmen, and ordinary people. The source may be from The Art of War.

36 Stratagems Plus demonstrates that it is not the quantity of stratagems that matter, but rather the way in which they are deployed.

Walt Roberts, newly-appointed professor of Central Asian Studies, is about to embark on another trip to China, but this time, the focus will be on not only the Silk Road but also include the eastern portion of the web of trading routes. What will he, Tara, his girlfriend, and his group of six students encounter along the way? The Ten Thousand Things is the story of their journey.

Walt's mismatched group of amateur intelligence gatherers added a tiny fragment to the accumulating evidence of Chinese capabilities. His experience barely touches on this field which, increasingly, is in the daily news. But why say more?

The author, Brooks Tenney, a former engineer with Chance Vought Aircraft, GE, and Xerox, was Project Engineer for the Tektite Program (NASA, US Navy, Dept. of Interior). After designing an undersea habitat, he lived underwater for two weeks with an international team; later receiving the Navy's Meritourious Public Service Citation. Today he writes for a newspaper in upstate New York. His two recent novels are Killing Mauritius, describing fundamentalist terrorism, and New Silk Road, dealing with Central Asia's drug traffic.

Walt Roberts, newly-appointed professor of Central Asian Studies, is about to embark on another trip to China, but this time, the focus will be on not only the Silk Road but also include the eastern portion of the web of trading routes. What will he, Tara, his girlfriend, and his group of six students encounter along the way? The Ten Thousand Things is the story of their journey.

Walt's mismatched group of amateur intelligence gatherers added a tiny fragment to the accumulating evidence of Chinese capabilities. His experience barely touches on this field which, increasingly, is in the daily news. But why say more?

The author, Brooks Tenney, a former engineer with Chance Vought Aircraft, GE, and Xerox, was Project Engineer for the Tektite Program (NASA, US Navy, Dept. of Interior). After designing an undersea habitat, he lived underwater for two weeks with an international team; later receiving the Navy's Meritourious Public Service Citation. Today he writes for a newspaper in upstate New York. His two recent novels are Killing Mauritius, describing fundamentalist terrorism, and New Silk Road, dealing with Central Asia's drug traffic.

A look at China, it’s people and the state of the nation. Often very funny yet highly serious and sometimes shocking.