Synopses & Reviews
In From Moon Cakes to Mao to Modern China a team of experts describe iconic elements of Chinese life such as language, festivals, dragons, the Great Wall, tea, Beijing opera, qipao, Taoism, Chinese martial arts, poetry and literary classics like Book of Songs and A Dream of the Red Chamber, figures such as Confucius and Lu Xun, as well as a reading of the legends such as Pan Gu separating the sky and earth and Nu Wa creating the human race. Between these covers readers, whether students, travellers, or simply interested, will find a guided tour to the highlights of Chinas dazzling five thousand year old civilization - an excellent introduction to the breadth and power of Chinas culture.
Review
"Nearly anyone, even those with just a small interest in China, will find much to learn and enjoy here." --Library Journal
Synopsis
To understand China, we need to step into the palace of her culture and explore her rich history. With this in mind, a group of scholars from China and America have put this book together as a primer on all things China, from art and science to religion and society. In this book they offer a panoramic view of Chinese culture, using only the most representative material to introduce the West to the most typical aspects of Chinese civilization and life.
About the Author
Editors Zhu Fayuan, Wu Qixing, Xia Hanning, and Gao Han are all scholars and experts in the analysis of traditional Chinese culture.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
The Origins of Chinese Characters ~ Names ~ The Traditional Calendar ~ The Emperors Yan and Huang ~ The Cowherd and the Weaving Maid
Chapter 2 The Dragon ~ The Four Great Inventions ~ Yellow River Culture ~ Lao Tzu ~ The Book of Songs
Chapter 3
The Yangtze River ~ Han Attire ~ Capital Cities ~ Money ~ The Great Books
Chapter 4
Gardens ~ I-go ~ Schooling ~ A Dream of Red Mansions ~ The New Culture Movement
List of Important Terms
Index