Vernacular Industrialism in China - (Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia Un) by Eugenia Lean (Hardcover)

The book "Vernacular Industrialism in China" is a groundbreaking study that sheds new light on the industrialization of early twentieth-century China.

Through the fascinating story of Chen Diexian, a maverick entrepreneur and literary celebrity, the author Eugenia Lean reveals how unlikely individuals devised unconventional approaches to industry and science outside of conventional venues.

By tinkering with chemistry in his private studio, copying foreign technologies, and translating manufacturing processes from abroad, Chen's activities exemplify "vernacular industrialism," the pursuit of industry and science outside of conventional venues.

This book challenges conventional narratives that depict China as belatedly borrowing from Western technology and offers a new understanding of industrialization, going beyond material factors to show the central role of culture and knowledge production in technological and industrial change.

With its focus on light industry and consumer goods, "Vernacular Industrialism in China" is an important contribution to the fields of business and economic history of modern China.

The book's richly researched argument and elegantly crafted narrative make it an essential read for students of modern Chinese history and general readers interested in business history, knowledge production, science, and industry.