{"product_id":"yuan-shikai-1","title":"Yuan Shikai","description":"\u003cp\u003eStatesman or warlord? Yuan Shikai (1859–1916) has been both hailed as China’s George Washington for his role in the country’s transition from empire to republic and condemned as a counter-revolutionary. In any list of significant modern Chinese figures, he stands in the first rank. Yet \u003cem\u003eYuan Shikai: A Reappraisal\u003c\/em\u003e sheds new light on the controversial history of this talented administrator, fearsome general, and enthusiastic modernizer. Due to his death during the civil war his actions provoked, much Chinese historiography portrays Yuan as a traitor, a usurper, and a villain. After toppling the last emperor of China, Yuan endeavoured to build dictatorial power and establish his own dynasty while serving as the first president of the new republic, eventually going so far as to declare himself emperor. Drawing on previously untapped primary sources and recent scholarship, Patrick Fuliang Shan offers a lucid, comprehensive, and critical new interpretation of Yuan’s part in shaping modern China. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Patrick Fuliang Shan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43572654866614,"sku":"9780774837811","price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0251\/4980\/0541\/files\/9780774837811_7d0ba7f1-793d-4cd1-8468-ae6f027f28f4.jpg?v=1727875558","url":"https:\/\/combined-academic.myshopify.com\/products\/yuan-shikai-1","provider":"Combined Academic Publishers - Mare Nostrum Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}