Summary of Key Points
This article introduces two new books: one is a memoir by American journalist Carl Crow, "The Follower of Marco Polo," which recounts his 25 years in China from 1911 to 1937 (from a journalist to the owner of an advertising company, witnessing major events such as the Xinhai Revolution, warlord conflicts, and the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War); the other is "South of Jiangnan: The Lost Yanzhou Prefecture" by scholar Yang Bin, which focuses on the ancient Yanzhou Prefecture in Zhejiang (the area around Qiandao Lake today). Through both a micro and a macro perspective, these books explore the historical and cultural significance of these regions. They use "small stories" (individual experiences or local histories) to illustrate the broader trends of their times (China's modern transformations and global cultural connections).
Detailed Analysis
1. Individuals and Places as Mirrors of the Times
Carl Crow's experiences serve as a "personal version of China's modern history": He arrived in Shanghai just three months before the Xinhai Revolution, witnessing the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. He later founded an advertising company during Shanghai's economic boom but became a penniless refugee during the Anti-Japanese War. His story intertwines major historical events with his personal life (entrepreneurship, travel, rescuing hostages), allowing readers to feel the turbulence of those times from the perspective of an ordinary person.
Yanzhou Prefecture, on the other hand, represents "a local version of China's historical changes": It was a prominent administrative region during the Tang and Song dynasties and is often mentioned in literature. Its status was abolished during the Republic of China era, and when a hydroelectric dam was built, the ancient city was submerged under Qiandao Lake. The fate of Yanzhou reflects broader national political and economic developments—like a mirror reflecting the turns in Chinese history.
2. The Power of Marginal Perspectives
When Carl first arrived in Shanghai, he was called "Griffin," an outsider, which gave him the ability to observe China objectively, noting details such as the chaos during warlord conflicts and the Chinese people's attitudes towards Western goods. Yanzhou Prefecture's location made it somewhat marginalized: it was not part of the traditional Jiangnan region (the Suzhou-Hangzhou area) nor the heart of Fujian-Zhejiang culture, leading to its neglect by scholars. However, this marginality has preserved unique stories and traditions—such as the dialect of the Nine Surnames Fishermen community and the resistance of widow Wang Wu.
3. The Importance of Documentation
When Carl fled Shanghai, he lost all his wealth, but his writings (including "Forty Million Customers" and "The Follower of Marco Polo") ensured that those events were not forgotten. Yanzhou Prefecture's history was even more directly preserved: although the city physically disappeared under the water, Yang Bin's research and interviews with locals have brought it back to life through written accounts—describing its prosperity in ancient times, foreign travelers' experiences during the Yuan Dynasty, and the connections between Vietnam and Yanzhou. This shows that only by documenting history can we prevent it from being completely lost.
4. Cross-Cultural Wisdom
Carl's success as an advertiser stemmed from his understanding of Chinese culture. He incorporated traditional Chinese elements into Western advertising (e.g., creating calendars with images of ladies and landscapes) to appeal to local tastes. Similarly, Yang Bin uses a cross-cultural approach in writing about Yanzhou, considering it within a global context (such as the experiences of Russian envoys and the religious connections with Vietnam). This highlights that understanding cultural differences is essential for gaining a more comprehensive view of both business and history.
The value of these books lies in their ability to convey broader lessons through small, personal stories and local histories—helping us understand China's and the world's past.