Jews in Old China by Sidney Shapiro was originally published by Hippocrene Books in 1984 with considerable success. It was then translated in Hebrew and published in Israel in 1987. This newly expanded edition offers a rich exposition, according to the Chinese investigations, on the origins of these Jewish migrants --when and why they came, the routes they followed, where they settled, and descriptions of their religious and social lives under the Hans, the Mongols and the Manchus. This book provides a wealth of information about the conflicts, contributions, adaptation and ultimate assimilation of the Jews in China.
The book delves into family names, occupations and biblical references, but its most fascinating aspect has to do with the decline and death of Kaifeng that once was a most vibrant community…. -- Herb Hain, Los Angeles Times
... a scholarly but unpretentious and readable book… impressive, covering the religious history, economic and social and political activities of the Jews and their eventual assimilation into China…. -- David Crook, Beijing Review
... a fascinating foray into history…. -- Richard F. Shepard, The New York Times Book Review
... Your book is well written and…deserves to be very well received by the American, Chinese, and Jewish press. Congratulations. -- Letter, in English, from Xia Nai, President of the Institute of Archeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
... unusual... technique combining summary, translation, and your own analyses. I congratulate you on…an effective and very informative presentation.... -- Letter from Arthur W. Hummel, Jr., American Ambassador to China
The essays are written by Chinese, not Western, scholars, many of whom did their research at Shapiro's behest, and focus on many ancient communities of Chinese Jews, not just Kaifeng, which was the largest.... -- AMT, Hadassah Journal
Product Details
Paperback: 269 pages
Publisher: Foreign Languages Press; new edition
Publish Date: Dec. 2007
Language: English
Price: 88 yuan
(China.org.cn January 8, 2008)
