Frank Ching

Frank Ching is a Hong Kong-based journalist, author and commentator who has written extensively on Chinese politics, history and international relations since the 1970s. His weekly columns have appeared in publications including the South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, and The Japan Times. Among his most notable works is "Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family" (1988), which traces his own family lineage through Chinese history using the Qin family genealogical records. The book provides insights into Chinese society, culture and political developments across nearly a millennium. Ching served as The Wall Street Journal's first Bureau Chief in China, opening its Beijing bureau in 1979 following the normalization of U.S.-China relations. His tenure coincided with China's early reform period under Deng Xiaoping, allowing him to document significant changes in Chinese society and policy. His other books include "China: The Truth About Its Human Rights Record" and "Hong Kong and China: For Better or For Worse." Ching continues to analyze and write about contemporary Chinese politics, U.S.-China relations, and developments in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Frank Ching's books receive high marks from academic readers but some criticism for density and dry writing style. On Goodreads, his book "China: A New History" averages 3.8/5 stars across 98 ratings. Readers praise: - Detail and thoroughness in covering Chinese history - Well-researched with extensive citations - Clear explanations of complex political events - Balanced perspective on controversial topics Common criticisms: - Too academic for casual readers - Dense prose can be difficult to follow - Limited coverage of cultural/social topics - Some textbook-like sections On Amazon, "Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family" has 4.3/5 stars from 31 reviews. Readers note it effectively traces one family's history but can get bogged down in genealogical details. Several university course reviews indicate students find his work informative but challenging, with one noting: "Comprehensive but you really have to focus while reading - not a casual history book."

Ancestors: 900 Years in the Life of a Chinese Family A historical account tracing the author's family lineage through Chinese history using the Qin family genealogical records, spanning nearly a millennium of Chinese society and culture.

China: The Truth About Its Human Rights Record An examination of China's human rights practices and policies based on documented evidence and historical records.

Hong Kong and China: For Better or For Worse A detailed analysis of the relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China, exploring their political and economic connections.

Jonathan Spence A Yale historian who wrote extensively about Chinese history and culture from the Ming Dynasty through modern times. His works like "The Search for Modern China" combine scholarly research with narrative storytelling similar to Ching's approach.

John King Fairbank Pioneer of Chinese studies in America whose works examine China's interactions with the West and modern transformation. His book "China: A New History" covers similar themes to Ching's writing about China's development and international relations.

Jung Chang Author who combines personal family history with broader Chinese historical narratives in works like "Wild Swans." Her research methodology and focus on family records parallels Ching's work in "Ancestors."

Sterling Seagrave Investigative journalist focused on East Asian politics and power structures across multiple generations. His work "The Soong Dynasty" uses family history as a lens to examine Chinese politics, similar to Ching's approach.

Ezra Vogel Scholar who documented China's reform era and wrote extensively about East Asian modernization. His work "Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China" covers the same period Ching reported on as WSJ Bureau Chief.