This book, written with a grand historical and narrative approach, integrates the five-hundred-year history of Chinese immigration to the world within the broader framework of the changing global landscape, offering profound insights. More importantly, while presenting a vivid panorama of five centuries of global Chinese immigration, the author powerfully demonstrates his key argument: the history of overseas Chinese is an integral part of Chinese history and an indispensable component of its study. This elevates the study of overseas Chinese to a new level. For centuries, immigrants and locals have been mutually "others," experiencing understanding and interdependence, but also competition and conflict.
本书以大历史、大叙事的手笔，将中国移民走向世界的五百年历史，融会贯通于同期世界格局发展变化的大框架中，读来令人领悟深远。更重要的是，作者在展示全球华人移民五百年历史精彩画卷的基础上，有力论证了其重要观点：海外华人历史是中国历史的题中应有之义，是研究中国历史不可或缺的组成部分。由是，海外华人研究被提升到新的境界。漫漫数百年，移民与本地人互为“他者”，彼此之间有理解有依存，但也有竞争有对抗。
本书以大历史、大叙事的手笔，将中国移民走向世界的五百年历史，融会贯通于同期世界格局发展变化的大框架中，读来令人领悟深远。更重要的是，作者在展示全球华人移民五百年历史精彩画卷的基础上，有力论证了其重要观点：海外华人历史是中国历史的题中应有之义，是研究中国历史不可或缺的组成部分。由是，海外华人研究被提升到新的境界。漫漫数百年，移民与本地人互为“他者”，彼此之间有理解有依存，但也有竞争有对抗。
