This book unearths a forgotten history of exchange and enlightenment between China and the West, told through vivid examples drawn from the world of poetry, the philosophy of culture and religion, and the realm of international communication. Across chapters that cover an extraordinary range of cultural terrain, from an examination of the parallel expatriate experiences of the British critic and poet William Empson and the Chinese writer Xu Zhimo, to a study of the influence of Christian thought on the evolution of Confucianism, authors Li Zhimin and Daniel Braun rethink the contemporary paradigm of western hegemony and international division that shapes our senses and studies of the East and the West alike, in order to present an image of modern China that is richly hybrid in its blend of cultures, histories, and traditions. This book is immersed in the cultures and literary traditions of China and the West, and written for specialists of the regions and general interest readers alike.

At a time when it is more important than ever for nations and cultures to find common ground, Li Zhimin explores the fundamental values shared by China and the West, and the possibility of learning from each other, to establish a basis for mutual understanding, respect and harmony.

Professor Neil Roberts, Emeritus Professor of English literature at the University of Sheffield 

China Being Led and Leading is an illuminating and engaging introduction to the sometimes occluded encounters between Chinese and Western literature, science, religion, and poetics over the past century. Li Zhimin and Dainel Braun offer a compelling and original perspective on the evolution of Chinese culture.

Professor Charles Bernstein, Donald T. Regan Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania

This book unearths a forgotten history of exchange and enlightenment between China and the West, told through vivid examples drawn from the world of poetry, the philosophy of culture and religion, and the realm of international communication. Across chapters that cover an extraordinary range of cultural terrain, from an examination of the parallel expatriate experiences of the British critic and poet William Empson and the Chinese writer Xu Zhimo, to a study of the influence of Christian thought on the evolution of Confucianism, authors Li Zhimin and Daniel Braun rethink the contemporary paradigm of western hegemony and international division that shapes our senses and studies of the East and the West alike, in order to present an image of modern China that is richly hybrid in its blend of cultures, histories, and traditions. This book is immersed in the cultures and literary traditions of China and the West, and written for specialists of the regions and general interest readers alike.

LI Zhimin is "Guangzhou Scholar" Distinguished Professor of English at School of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou University. He serves as President of Foreign Literature Society of Guangdong Province.

Daniel Braun earned his PhD from Princeton University in 2019. His research and teaching focus on modern poetry in English, and the long history of poetics.