Book excerpt: Major themes in the history of finance in China reflect the persistent tension between a powerful state guiding the economy versus vibrant market forces operating according to basic commercial principles. Included is the continuity and discontinuity of financial developments in imperial and modern history; creation of a modern banking system beginning in the late nineteenth century; and emergence of complex and sophisticated financial institutions and products since the introduction of economic reforms in the People’s Republic of China in 1978-1979. The Historical Dictionary of the Financial System in China contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 300 cross-referenced entries on important financiers, entrepreneurs, and government officials involved in finance, large state-owned banks (SOBs), state-owned enterprises (SOEs), hedge funds, exchange-traded funds, and asset-management companies. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Chinese financial system.