A Thousand Pieces of Gold: Growing Up Through China's Proverbs

by Adeline Yen Mah

Book Overview

In this poignant memoir the New York Times bestselling author of Falling Leaves , Adeline Yen Mah, provides a fascinating window into the history and cultural soul of China. Combining personal reflections, rich historical insights, and proverbs handed down to her by her grandfather, Yen Mah shares the wealth of Chinese civilization with Western readers. Exploring the history behind the proverbs, she delves into the lives of the first and second emperors...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060006412
• ISBN13: 9780060006419
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 251 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Chinese History made Fascinating

Adeline Yeh Mah is an amazing author as her autobiography "Falling Leaves" reveals. This book weaves the meaning of various chinese words and expressions into her personal story in such a way that the reader more clearly understands the historical context and contemporary meaning of each. Very very enjoyable and informative reading!

Nice read for a "guai low"

I'm an overseas Chinese. I tried reading this book through the eyes of a "guai low" (foreigner) to see if it was a book that would open the eyes of the westerner to the thoughts of a Chinese.If you aren't Chinese, grew up in a western civiliation, and want to try to understand something about how the Chinese think, this is a great introductory book.What I felt could have been done better is the explanation of the proverbs (cheng yu). I feel strongly about this possibly because Chinese proverbs has defined my life and values. Then again, that might have made the book unnecessary lengthy and boring.There are 3 stories in this book. That of the first emperor of China - Chin Shih Huang, Mao Ze Dong and the author herself. All 3 are important stories. Kudos to the courage of Adeline. Only another Chinese can understand what it took to write her books.

Two Chapters in Chinese History Brought Together

Having just read her other book, "Falling Leaves", I was instantly struck by how well the two books go together. Anyone who has read "Falling Leaves" and loved it should read this book. In it she ties ancient and recent Chinese history together in an enjoyable and approachable way while including more detail from her own life.I have read many other books on China. Most of them have been dry and unexciting. This book, however, brings Chinese history to life and applies it to the modern world. Finally I understand why Mao Zedong and the first emperor of China are so often compared. Yen Mah brings it all together and binds it with proverbs that I well remember hearing from my own travels in China.If you are a student of Chinese history, or you're simply curious, definately read this book. It will bring you in and give you a unique insight into not only China of the past, but China now and in the future.

Universal Truths

Adeline Yen Mahs latest book is a perfect interweaving of personal reminiscence and ancient Chinese history. She has translated accounts from Shiji, a historical record published in China in the last century BC and therefore referring to events in the two centuries before that, and related them to contemporary events in her own life. Accounts of the First and Second Chinese Emperors, their wars and the intrigues of their courtiers, are interspersed with original proverbs which are depicted in the Chinese script. This English reader, relying on the English translations of these proverbs, was impressed with their universal truth. Why should that be a surprise when human beings worldwide are a single species with emotions and actions that are universal? William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe sixteen centuries later, encapsulated similar human frailties in their plays. Even the characters of the two Emperors, the weaker following the stronger, show parallels in English history: for example, the weaker Edward II followed Edward I, the weaker Richard II followed Edward III, the weaker Henry VI followed Henry V. There is a lot of Chinese wisdom in these texts. - Paula Alderson

Universal Relevance

A thousand pieces of gold: Adeline Yen Mah's latest book is a perfect interweaving of personal reminiscence and ancient Chinese history. She has translated accounts from Shiji, a historical record published in China in the last century BC and therefore referring to events in the two centuries before that, and related them to contemporary events in her own life. Accounts of the First and Second Chinese Emperors, their wars and the intrigues of their courtiers, are interspersed with original proverbs which are depicted in the Chinese script. This English reader, relying on the English translation of these proverbs, was impressed with their universal truth. Why should that be a surprise when human beings worldwide are a single species with emotions and actions that are universal? William Shakespeare, sixteen centuries later, encapsulated similar human frailties in his plays. Even the characters of the two Emperors, the weaker following the stronger, show parallels in English history: for example, the weak Edward II followed Edward I, the weak Richard II followed Edward III and the weak Henry VI followed Henry V. There is a lot of Chinese wisdom hidden in these texts.Paula Alderson ...