Peking Story
Published on 7. May 2020
176 pages
978-1-78060-192-2 (ISBN)
Description
In 1949, soon after the arrival of communism, David Kidd's Chinese fiancée, the daughter of an ancient Mandarin family, telephoned to say that her father was dying and that they must marry immediately. At first the couple were able to continue their privileged lifestyle, a remnant of an old and exquisite culture. But the new proletariat was rapidly suppressing the ancient traditions. Spies watched them from the roof, then confiscated their sets of mahjong; an aunt was sent on a mission to re-educate prostitutes; and the family's final magnificent party was invaded by the police. Eventually their entire way of life, and the thousand-year-old culture on which it was based, was destroyed by the totalitarian regime.
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Person
David Kidd (1926-1996) was an American-born writer, teacher and connoisseur who devoted his life to experiencing the culture of China and Japan. In Kyoto, he was the founding director of the Oomoto School of Traditional Japanese Arts.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Introduction
- Dragons, Pink Babies, and the Consular Service
- White Funeral, White Socks
- All the Emperor's Horses
- Criminals, Cadres and Cooks
- Red Gates and Water Devils
- The Sea of Wisdom
- Silver Pins and Blood-Red Skirts
- The Ancestors
- Lily
- Dogs, Mah-jongg and Americans
- Houses and People and Tables and Chairs
- A Gift of New Vases
- Copyright
- Dragons, Pink Babies, and the Consular Service
