Village Life In China A Study In Sociology

The author had spent more than 20 years working and living in China developing a great respect for the Chinese, their customs, lifestyle, and philosophy. He thought that Chinese villages were a microcosm of the whole of the empire and he was certain that China would be a big player in the 20th century and later, but also realized that some things about their lifestyle would have to change, stating this as a prime reason for writing the book. In the foreward, he uses the phrase 'the Chinese problem' recognizing the fact that a better understanding of the Chinese was needed in the Western world.