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Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating Socio-Anthropological Info Source
Review: Have you ever wondered why some races get so big while others are so small? Have you ever wondered why modern ethnic divisions so closely follow the boundaries of nation-states? Hattaway doesnt attempt to answer these questions directly. But this book is a cornucopia of the relevant raw data, as concerns the vast area we now know as China. Centuries of absorptive imperial policy have erased millenia of fascinating political, cultural, and genetic history in China's core regions. In most parts of China, practically everyone is raised to think of themselves as simply part of the "Chinese" ethnic, cultural, and political monolith. Modern continuations of those imperial policies regrettably ban almost all politically non-motivated research, meaning very little accurate information is available. But at the edges of the empire, where the digestive processes have only had a few centuries to work, there is still a lot of colorful variety to be observed. And thankfully, there are still-independent neighboring nations from which to document those observations. From a vantage point in nearby Thailand, where many of the same ethno-genetic blocs are represented, Hattaway has been able to glean enough information to weave together a remarkably extensive picture of the ethnic situation within China, primarily its South and Southwest. The resulting tapestry is a valuable collection of information for anyone, whether their interest is in global evangelism like the author, or in more secular perspectives: Human anthropology, Southeast Asian history, minority affairs come to mind--anything that involves the relationships between genetics, geography, politics, and culture. The real world is much more complicated than the two questions I started out with would imply. Ethnicity and geography are of course much richer things than simplistic abstractions like race and nation allow for. I heartily commend Hattaway's effort to document that particular part of this world.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Socio-Anthropological Info Source
Review: Have you ever wondered why some races get so big while others are so small? Have you ever wondered why modern ethnic divisions so closely follow the boundaries of nation-states? Hattaway doesnt attempt to answer these questions directly. But this book is a cornucopia of the relevant raw data, as concerns the vast area we now know as China. Centuries of absorptive imperial policy have erased millenia of fascinating political, cultural, and genetic history in China's core regions. In most parts of China, practically everyone is raised to think of themselves as simply part of the "Chinese" ethnic, cultural, and political monolith. Modern continuations of those imperial policies regrettably ban almost all politically non-motivated research, meaning very little accurate information is available. But at the edges of the empire, where the digestive processes have only had a few centuries to work, there is still a lot of colorful variety to be observed. And thankfully, there are still-independent neighboring nations from which to document those observations. From a vantage point in nearby Thailand, where many of the same ethno-genetic blocs are represented, Hattaway has been able to glean enough information to weave together a remarkably extensive picture of the ethnic situation within China, primarily its South and Southwest. The resulting tapestry is a valuable collection of information for anyone, whether their interest is in global evangelism like the author, or in more secular perspectives: Human anthropology, Southeast Asian history, minority affairs come to mind--anything that involves the relationships between genetics, geography, politics, and culture. The real world is much more complicated than the two questions I started out with would imply. Ethnicity and geography are of course much richer things than simplistic abstractions like race and nation allow for. I heartily commend Hattaway's effort to document that particular part of this world.
Rating:
Summary: Great tool for praying and reaching the Chinese!
Review: If you have used Operation World to pray for peoples in the world, and you have a heart for the Chinese people -- you got to have Operation China! I am a Chinese from Taiwan, and honestly, I didn't know there are almost 500 people groups in China! This book introduces every people groups in China briefly. It talks about their location, identity, language, customs, religion, and Christianity influence and effort on each group. Best of all, I especially love the photo of each people group. Honestly, when I was just flipping through the pages and looking at those people's faces -- the book touches me so much and I was weeping... because I know that God had created them all and He loves them so much. But not many of them know who He is or even His existence. I was so humbled by God because of His greatness -- I'm a Chinese from Taiwan, but I'm only a small part of the 500 people groups who lives in China! This book helps me to understand the urgency of reaching those people groups and again shows me the heart of God -- as illustrated in Luke 15, that He would go for the 1 lost sheep and leave the 99 behind. God loves those minority in China as well... no matter how small a group they might be, they're still the 1 lost sheep to Him and He will go search for them until they are found. Praise God for the efforts that different people had put into this book!
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