Kingdom Of Characters by Jing Tsu

Have you been watching the opening ceremonies at the Olympic Games? If so, you likely saw and heard Jing Tsu who was providing cultural commentary and insight. She is the author of a new book, titled KINGDOM OF CHARACTERS. This rather scholarly text takes a chronological approach to covering “The Language Revolution That Made China Modern.”  Beginning roughly a century ago when literacy was reserved primarily for the elite, Jing Tsu discusses technological advances in typewriters and telegraphs through, of course, computers and the digital age.  Along the way, she introduces readers to key individuals, some of whom pushed for the use of Mandarin as the national language and others who were instrumental in devising means for encoding the many symbols and characters of the Chinese language. As Jing Tsu notes, “The ability for China to export its language for universal use was seen as an important condition for changing the narrative, giving it a platform to tell its own story. To use language as a soft power, it was essential to take charge of one’s own communications technology.” Yes, it is fascinating to reflect on how “more than a century’s effort at learning how to standardize and transform its language into a modern technology has landed China here, at the beginning – not the end – of becoming a standard setter.” KINGDOM OF CHARACTERS received a starred review from Kirkus.