I didn't see any posts here about the civil war between Nationalist China(Kuomintang, the Republic of China) and Communist China(People's Republic of China).
So I guess I'll start one myself.

It all happened when Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek of the Nationalists turned hostile to the Communists. The Nationalists killed a lot of Communists in Shanghai. Also, General Chiang used his best troops to fight the Communists when the Japanese were invading China. Chiang was badly criticized for doing that. During the Japanese invasion to Mainland China, the civil war between the Nationalists and Communists ended temporarily, but the Communists got some time to rest and to grow stronger when the Nationalists were desperately retreating further inland. Finally after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing, Nationalist China regained all Chinese territories. The Communists were now stronger than ever, and the people were also beginning to believe their ideas. The Communists then rose up and kicked the Nationalist government out of Mainland China.

Chiang Kai-shek and his men fled to Taiwan, and vowed to invade Mainland China in the future. Nationalist China lost her final chance to invade Mainland China when the world started to recognize Communist China as the rightful government of China.

Generally, there are two Chinas today. The Republic of China in Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China in Mainland China. The President of the Republic of China now is Mr. Chen Shui-bian from the Democratic-Progressive Party, and the President of People's Republic of China is Chairman Jiang Zemin from the Communist Party.

Which China is the rightful government? I would say Communist China because Communist China is obviously way stronger and it controls most of China. However, I personally don't like the people who call themselves Communists when they act like Capitalists.

About Chairman Mao Tse-tung and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, I would say, Chiang was a better leader. Chiang was maybe a bit too aggressive to the Communists, but he was generally a great leader. Without him, the Nationalists couldn't possibly accomplish the Northern Expedition successfully, because even Dr. Sun Yat-sen himself failed to do it. Some people criticized Chiang in World War II, because he was retreating inland. In fact, the Japanese were much stronger than the Nationalists. If Chiang's troops were mainly used to fight the Japanese, they would be destroyed. Mao was not such a great leader. His two policies, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution both greatly damaged China's economy, education, culture, and etc. It was estimated that 70 million Chinese were killed during Mao's reign. My friends from Beijing don't like Mao Tse-tung, as well as my Mandarin teacher(from China too).

I would disagree on the relative "greatness" of Chiang and Mao. You did not touch on the important issue of corruption in the Kuomintang under Chiang, which has been acknowledged as the major factor in the loss of support from the population at large. When the US poured in aid to the KMT the money lined the pockets of the likes of the finance minister, Soong, who when he saw the writing on the wall fled to the States returning the dough to its source but securely in his own pockets.

China at the time of WWII and after was a country with a large population and immense poverty. You have glossed over the fact that Moa and the communists did much to "normalise" life for the peasants. If one digs enough one will always find negatives in a great man's career but for me the positives definitely outweigh the negatives for Mao and the reverse is true for Chiang.

1) Who were the ten official presidents of Nationalist China?
(Hint: Not necessarily ten persons)

2) What is the currency in Nationalist China?

3) What is the currency in Communist China?

4) Who was the last emperor of China?

5) How many times did the revolutionaries revolt before the Qing Dynasty was overthrown?

6) For number 5, when did it happen?

7) What was the former name for the Kuomintang?

8) How many people were killed after the Rape of Nanjing?

9) Who were the three leaders of Communist China?

10) What are the capital cities of both Communist and Nationalist China?

You are right.
The Kuomintang was very corrupt under Chiang. He was also criticized for his dictatorship. I also forgot to mention that Chiang didn't rule according to Dr. Sun's "Three Principles of the People". But his effort to unify the country at the beginning was significant.

I don't like Communist China for three reasons. First, the Communists changed the Chinese writing. This made it even harder to learn the Chinese language! Second, it was that "Long live Chairman Mao" slogan I heard somewhere. Lastly, Communist China always made false statements and used propaganda to fool the people. Communist China had never had Taiwan in the past, and the Republic of China is still in existence. How could the Communists possibly claim Taiwan? :mad:
This is the reason I don't like Mao, although he contributed much to China.:mad:

Ahh...yes.
Despite the fact that the Kuomintang actually contributed much to China, the Communist government completely neglects the Kuomintang leaders! As for Nationalist China, it now has democracy so I think it's okay.

Originally posted by goododa
Ahh...yes.
Despite the fact that the Kuomintang actually contributed much to China, the Communist government completely neglects the Kuomintang leaders! As for Nationalist China, it now has democracy so I think it's okay. Actually, recently, the CCP is rehabilitiating and recognizing some Nationalist generals for their role in the anti-Japanese war. Like the renaming of some street and mainfares in some Chinese cities after them. Also the CCP is refurnishing Chiang's original mansion somewhere in the Yangzi, to be used as a future museum (?). And like when Marshal Chang (the one who kidnapped Chiang in Xi'an and leader of the Manchurian army in the Nationalist forces) died recently, Jiang Zemin and China were generally full of praise for him and mourned his passing. More so than the Taiwanese did.

Originally posted by goododa
You are right.
The Kuomintang was very corrupt under Chiang. He was also criticized for his dictatorship. I also forgot to mention that Chiang didn't rule according to Dr. Sun's "Three Principles of the People". But his effort to unify the country at the beginning was significant.

I don't like Communist China for three reasons. First, the Communists changed the Chinese writing. This made it even harder to learn the Chinese language! Second, it was that "Long live Chairman Mao" slogan I heard somewhere. Lastly, Communist China always made false statements and used propaganda to fool the people. Communist China had never had Taiwan in the past, and the Republic of China is still in existence. How could the Communists possibly claim Taiwan? :mad:
This is the reason I don't like Mao, although he contributed much to China.:mad: Personally, Chiang wasn't corrupt. However it was cos the Japanese had invaded and uprooted the Nationalists fr its economic stronghold along the Yangzi. The Nationalists lost uncountable nos of good men and women and also its best military units there. When Chiang retreated to Chongqing, he got surrounded by local warlords (who were very corrupt) and things generally went downhill fr there. So blame the monstrosity that's Communist China on the Japanese!

I don't know why you dislike qiandizhi so much; they are much easier to read and write than the older fangdizhi. To the extent Spore (and Msia somewhat) adopted them eons ago. They make learning the Chinese ideograms much much easier. :confused:

'2) What is the currency in Nationalist China?'

New Taiwanese dollar. Yuan in Chinese. Short-form TWD. Or NT$.

'3) What is the currency in Communist China?'

Yuan.

'4) Who was the last emperor of China?'

Pu-yi.

'5) How many times did the revolutionaries revolt before the Qing Dynasty was overthrown?'

Many many times if you count Koxinga, the peasant rebels, the Taipings, Sun's group and so on. I think you mean the modern revolutionaries? Then once or twice I think. Not sure.

'7) What was the former name for the Kuomintang?'

Tung-men Hui.

'8) How many people were killed after the Rape of Nanjing?'

Unknown. The Chinese said 300000. The Japanese said none (some of them) or a lot lesser. Go figure. Who knows?

'9) Who were the three leaders of Communist China?'

Be more precise. I take it you mean at one time. Then Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Lin Piao (or Liu Shaoqi).

'10) What are the capital cities of both Communist and Nationalist China?'

For the Commies, at Beijing always since 1949. For the KMT, at Nanjing till 1949 and then Taipei ever since.

Actually there has been an intense discussion on the Taiwanese question before. At this thread, starting on this page : -

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=7674

It's buried somewhere inside the thread. Dun ask me why it's there. :)

Also another thread on the civil war betw the Commies and the KMT : -

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=6508&pagenumber=1

Originally posted by goododa
First, the Communists changed the Chinese writing. This made it even harder to learn the Chinese language!


WRONG. It makes it easier to learn. You know there is a reason they call it "simplify form":p

And you know why it's change? One reason is that it's easier:D


Second, it was that "Long live Chairman Mao" slogan I heard somewhere.


Muhahaha


Lastly, Communist China always made false statements and used propaganda to fool the people. Communist China had never had Taiwan in the past, and the Republic of China is still in existence. How could the Communists possibly claim Taiwan? :mad:


Communist China never had Taiwan = True
Taiwan is part of China = True
It's not about communist, it's about a nation. Idelogy means little here. That's why there is why China has this one country multi government thing. So far it work ok(not perfect) in HK


This is the reason I don't like Mao, although he contributed much to China.:mad:

I don't really like what he did in Big Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution, but that's about it. whether he's a righteous man is debatable, he's nevertheless a great leader. He's a good leader because his goal is his people. The reason he failed twice is that he tried too hard without forseeing the consequence



BTW, have a look at my thread:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7826

and BTW, don't miss up your ideology and history

Communist China won in the nationalist China vs Communist China conflict, since you are talking about a 50 years old conflict

Fact: there were two China before 1972 but now there is only one China

Fact2: every country in some way manipuate citizen's mind, include yours and mine. Maybe you like to call it "propaganda", but I think "media" is more suitable

goododa: where do you live?

My street address is 29** E 1st Ave, Vancouver:p

Currently I'm a senior in Van Tech, next year I'm going to UBC :D

Originally posted by cataclysm
goododa: where do you live?


Burnaby

Originally posted by Knight-Dragon
I don't know why you dislike qiandizhi so much; they are much easier to read and write than the older fangdizhi. To the extent Spore (and Msia somewhat) adopted them eons ago. They make learning the Chinese ideograms much much easier. :confused:

I think Simplified Chinese is jiantizi and Traditional Chinese is fantizi...:)
I dislike the Simplified form because I need to learn both forms.
And if I want to visit Chinese sites I need to install both BIG5 and GB codes. It's quite annoying.:mad:
Another reason I dislike jiantizi: The simplified characters were a disaster to Chinese culture...:(
Just like the Libian in Han Dynasty...:(

Originally posted by goododa
I think Simplified Chinese is jiantizi and Traditional Chinese is fantizi...:)
I dislike the Simplified form because I need to learn both forms.
And if I want to visit Chinese sites I need to install both BIG5 and GB codes. It's quite annoying.:mad:
Another reason I dislike jiantizi: The simplified characters were a disaster to Chinese culture...:(
Just like the Libian in Han Dynasty...:( Well, excuse me but I have never learnt Chinese so effectively I am illiterate in Chinese. :) Anyway, it's a matter of getting used to. Most Msians can read both anyway. All you need is practise.

Anyway if you're concerned bout Chinese culture, maybe it'll help if you know there are tens of thousands of characters not used in modern times, although they are commonly used thru out Chinese history (depending). :crazyeyes

What's the Libian in the Han dynasty? :confused:

Originally posted by Knight-Dragon

Anyway if you're concerned bout Chinese culture, maybe it'll help if you know there are tens of thousands of characters not used in modern times, although they are commonly used thru out Chinese history (depending). :crazyeyes

What's the Libian in the Han dynasty? :confused:

Libian means change into Lishu.
During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese writing was changed into Lishu.
But the person who did it (a scholar but I dunno his name) was not so learned, that he messed up with the rules. (The Chinese had certain rules regarding new characters and writings) So the Libian made it harder for the Chinese scholars nowadays to decipher or read ancient documents.:scan:
For example, Chinese never knew the elements on the Periodic Table in the ancient times so obviously there were no appropriate characters to represent the elements, but Chinese scientists could look up the rules, and make new characters according to the rules.
The Simplified characters were indeed easier, but they were even worse than Lishu. The characters were completely different from their original forms, and no longer systematic. This was a major impact on the Chinese culture. Maybe after a few millennia, the scholars would not be able to read ancient writings!

I have to add my voice to the "Simplified Chinese" is easier camp. For the absolute beginner, the task is certainly less daunting and if you only want to visit the Peoples's Republic or read its publications and books, Big5 is not required. For most outsiders, this is the destination of choice rather than Taiwan. Sheer size and numbers I'm afraid. ;)

hehe, image someone who could read acient Chinese writing but couldn't handle modern Chinese writing. That would be cool:D

It will be like understand every line Shakespear wrote without knowing anything on this forum:p

Originally posted by cataclysm
It will be like understand every line Shakespear wrote without knowing anything on this forum:p

Very apt analogy and quite close despite the difference between an alphabetic and an ideographic language. :goodjob:

What does that make Hong Kong then? It is technically part of China, but doesn't exercise communism (thank God)...

Originally posted by rmsharpe
What does that make Hong Kong then? It is technically part of China, but doesn't exercise communism (thank God)... Nowadays esp over the past few yrs, all of China doesn't exercise communism. It's all rampant market capitalism now but w/o strong rule of the law. ;)