Dragons in Diamond Village: Tales of resistance from urbanizing China

• Main Author: WATTERS, Casey Gene
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2016
• Subjects: Asian Studies; Political Science
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/1777
• Institution: Singapore Management University

The traditions and lifestyle in rural Chinese villages are often overshadowed by the extreme urban growth China is experiencing. Journalist Bandurski (editor, Univ. of Hong Kong’s China Media Project) here describes the lives and struggles of Chinese villagers. The book depicts the interwoven relationship between history and culture. The author presents a series of stories from Xian Village in Southern China where villagers struggled to protect their land in the face of development. The title comes from a story of resistance during the Dragon Boat festival and because “the dragon is a symbol of courage, perseverance, strength and wisdom, of nation and community, of the endurance of the culture and the people.” This accurately captures the image Bandurski paints of the people of Xian Village. The narratives are entertaining and often read more like a novel in which, by the end, readers feel like part of the village. VERDICT: This well-written and entertaining book will appeal to many readers.