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 kind of primer on all things China, from art and science to religion and society. They have tried to offer here a panoramic view of the totality of Chinese culture, using only the most representative material, to introduce to the West the most typical aspects of Chinese civilization and life.

From Moon Cakes to Mao to Modern China: An Introduction to Chinese Civilization

History

Fayuan, Zhu

Qixin, Wu

Han, Gao

Asia

CN Times Books Inc.

Confucian Filiality is a wide-ranging work of scholarship on the role of filial piety in the Confucian value system. Gao approaches this core element of Confucian ethics with a fresh approach, synthesizing the classical Chinese research model and modern methodologies. Gao's analysis of Confucian filial piety from historical, societal, and philosophical perspectives enables a deeper understanding of this key Chinese moral value. At the core of Confucian Filiality, Gao provides the first English translation of the old script text ofXiaojing, or theClassic of Filial Piety.

Confucian Filiality

Politics & Social Sciences

Gao, Wang

Philosophy

Commonly known in the West as the "Little Red Book," Quotations from Mao Zedong contains a selection from Mao Zedong's political statements and speeches. From 1964 to 1976, Quotations was published in nearly 50 editions, in Chinese and in 37 other languages, becoming one of the most printed books in history. While most editions of Quotations from Mao Zedong were printed with a red vinyl cover, the CN Times edition is available in both standard trade paperback and standard ebook formats.

Quotations from Mao Zedong

Biographies & Memoirs

Zedong, Mao

Historical

Mao on Warfare compiles Mao Zedong's principal works on martial theory, including On Guerrilla Warfare and On Protracted War. In On Guerrilla Warfare, Mao explores China's long history of guerrilla warfare, beginning with the Chu and Han dynasties. Mao relates the expansion in the theories, tactics and strategies of guerrilla warfare as practiced by the People's Liberation Army in the Chinese Civil War. In On Protracted War, Mao analyzes the fundamental questions of warfare from the standpoint of dialectical materialism. Mao used On Protracted War to explain tactics developed in World War II and instrumental in China's campaigns against the Japanese occupation. On Protracted War also reviews strategies Mao employed in the Chinese Civil War. Mao on Warfare is of primary interest to military experts and scholars, as well as to casual readers with an interest in warfare in general and Chinese martial history in particular.

Mao on Warfare: On Guerrilla Warfare, On Protracted War, and Other Martial Writings

Leaders & Notable People

The moral and social philosophy of Confucius is an intrinsic element of the Chinese national character. This volume contains three renowned works translated by Gu Hongming: The Method of Higher Education: A New Translation, The Universal Order or Conduct of Life, and The Discourses and Sayings of Confucius (The Analects). Hongming, a renowned scholar of Confucius, sought to help the West better understand China through these works. His original texts of Confucius’s thoughts are collected here, and through them, the reader will come to a better understanding of both ancient and modern China.

Three Confucian Classics: The Gu Hongming Translations of The Method of Higher Education: A New Translation, The Conduct of Life, or the Universal ... and Sayings of Confucius (The Analects)

Mongming, Gu

In this essay collection first published nearly a century ago, Gu Hongming compares Chinese and European civilizations while enumerating the virtues of China’s traditional Confucian philosophy. Gu famously proposed applying Confucian solutions to the many problems faced by Europe in the early twentieth century. Originally published in English and quickly translated into German, French, and Japanese, The Spirit of the Chinese People was a sensation in the West, presenting the culture and people of China and making Gu Hongming a national hero.

The Spirit of the Chinese People: The Classic Introduction to Chinese Culture

Homing, Gu

Imperial Mausoleums and Tombs takes up the art, form, and layout of Chinese imperial mausoleums and tombs, a key element of the Chinese architectural tradition. As Chinese society became more advanced, the Chinese burial tradition grew in complexity. From simple graves to the construction of magnificent imperial mausoleums, the form and design of imperial burial sites were influenced by contemporaneous social conditions, state power, techniques and artistry. Imperial mausoleums were often constructed to simulate imperial palaces, providing a record of the architecture and technology of their time. In addition to the sarcophagus, mausoleums contained carvings, sculptures, paintings, and calligraphy. As a result, sites for emperors’ eternal rest became sacred art treasuries as well. Chinese burial systems were based on the idea that souls would not disappear, and that death meant the beginning of another life. Accordingly, many mausoleums combined spacious and mysterious underground palaces with burial chambers and impressive above-ground structures. Tragically, the majority of these have been destroyed, plundered, or have never been excavated. Imperial Mausoleums and Tombs details the design and construction of many imperial mausoleums and tombs, from the Qin, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. This volume explores their lavish appearance, colorful decoration, and exquisite interior and exterior finishes with 144 color photographs, 23 illustrations and figures, 2 charts, and 2 maps.

Imperial Mausoleums and Tombs: Resting Places for Imperial Rulers (10) (Library of Ancient Chinese Architecture)

Wang, Boyang

Royal Gardens explores the development of Chinese imperial gardens, from the Shang dynasty to the Qing dynasty. In ancient China, garden architecture developed from a primitive state to to a highly sophisticated endeavor, with natural beauty reigning as the main theme of garden building. The size and opulence of imperial gardens increased dramatically as time passed. Gardens were conceived as hunting grounds for emperors, but gradually evolved into sanctuaries for rest, relaxation and meditation. Therefore, imperial gardens are generally located in or near seats of Imperial power. As China developed politically and economically, the accumulation of wealth made the building of a great variety of gardens possible. In these gardens, royal families indulged in a variety of activities, such as playing chess, giving banquets, and holding hunting parties. Due to the passing of time and destruction from war, most of the imperial gardens no longer exist today. Some from the Ming and Qing dynasties have been well preserved, and many of those are depicted here, with exquisite photography and detailed descriptions. Royal Gardens includes 131 color photographs, 16 illustrations and figures, and 2 maps, including paintings and drawings of ancient gardens, layout plans of royal summer palaces, and gorgeous photography of the natural beauty of China. Cheng Liyao provides the reader with detailed descriptions of various imperial gardens, offering great insight into an important part of Chinese architecture.

Royal Gardens: Private Gardens of the Imperial Family (10) (Library of Ancient Chinese Architecture)

Crafts, Hobbies & Home

Liyao, Cheng

Gardening & Landscape Design

Private Gardens traces the origin and evolution of ancient China’s private gardens. In ancient China, private gardens were built for the personal enjoyment of aristocrats, government officials, merchants, and landed gentry. Gardens were also common in the residences of poets, artists, and hermits, providing them with sanctuaries for meditation and relaxation. Modeled after the imperial gardens, private gardens were mostly concentrated in cities and their suburbs, and they emerged in the 5th and 6th centuries. The most spectacular of these private gardens were built in Beijing and in the provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Private Gardens includes 148 color photographs, 21 illustrations and figures, 3 charts, and 2 maps, immersing the reader in the gardens of ancient China. Cheng Liyao explores the techniques of landscape architecture, including building rock gardens, placing stones and trees in harmony, and treating water surfaces. Private Gardens details the artistry of these man-made gardens, their layout and design, and explores how landscapes were created and how water was manipulated into forming streams and lakes. This book includes many of the famous gardens existing in China today, illustrating details of their construction, building form, and style. Winding walkways, ornamental windows, and masterfully planned scenery all serve to acquaint the reader with the splendour of the private gardens in China.

Private Gardens: Personal Gardens of Ancient China (10) (Library of Ancient Chinese Architecture)

Vernacular Dwellings traces the evolution of dwellings throughout ancient China, from the earliest cave dwellings occupied by nomadic tribes, to the traditional vernacular dwellings of the first pastoral communities. Examples of many different types of housing survive- a testament to the ethnic diversity and sheer size of Ancient China. Dwellings were often designed to harmonize with their surroundings, and each of the building cultures represented by the round buildings, cave-houses, siheyuan compounds and other dwellings are unique. As they developed over generations, traditional Chinese vernacular dwellings came to have a standardized form: a wooden-framed house surrounded by a court. The Chinese courtyard house is deeply embedded in Chinese culture and often serves as a source of inspiration for official architecture, such as palaces, official residences, temples, and mausoleums. Relatively unrestricted by formalities or regulation, dwellings could develop freely, resulting in a multiplicity of styles. Traditional vernacular designs began to disappear when western technical methods, such as the use of reinforced concrete, became popular in China. In Vernacular Dwellings, Wang Qijun discusses the techniques and materials used to construct traditional dwellings, from early mixed clay and wood construction, to the brick and concrete used in the modern era. He also explores the layouts of towns and villages in terms of feng shui, including the position of towns, the configuration of streets, and the placement of squares. This volume includes 121 color photographs, 86 illustrations and figures, and 2 maps. The photographs in Vernacular Dwellings illustrate, province by province, the unique and varying vernacular dwelling characteristics of China.

Vernacular Architecture: Domestic Spaces of Ancient China (10) (Library of Ancient Chinese Architecture)

Arts & Photography

Qijun, Wang

Architecture

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