THE PERIODIZA TION OF CHINESE HISTORY

As with the histories of all other countries, the history of China clearly follows a certain pattern, in one sense, and yet in another sense it defies all attempts at imposing any single pattern. Scholarly preference depends upon one's standpoint of historical analysis and the degree of generalization employed in that analysis. Because historians have applied different standpoints and different degrees of generalization, they have reached different conclusions regarding patterns of Chinese history. In general, historians have emphasized one of three patterns: repetitive dynastic or periodic cycles, continuous developments, and stagnation. All of these views have been reflected m different periodization schemes applied to Chinese history. The periodization of Chinese history has been a subject of discussion for centuries within China, but also outside China in modern times. Many schemes and views of Chinese history have been presented in various Western language works.