Featuring the distinctive heights of Chinese culture, this book presents the readers with authors' insights into the concepts and passions of the Chinese nation over the past 5,000 years. On reading through this historical range of remarkable creativity and flair for innovation, still evident today in living artistic masterpieces and folk traditions, the readers interested in the Chinese culture will soon acquire a better understanding of the cultural character, life views, aesthetic pursuits and national spirit of the Chinese people, through every work of art or architecture, a fascinating story or legend
Part 1: Wisdom and Beliefs.
Chapter 1: Confucian Thought on Heaven and
Humanity.
Chapter 2: Laozis Philosophy of Non-action.
Chapter 3: Emphasis
on Change.
Chapter 4: Sunzis Art of War: Source for All Books on War.-
Chapter 5: Subtle Enlightenment of Chan Buddhism.
Chapter 6: The Temple of
Heaven: Reverence with Awe and Gratitude.
Chapter 7: Eco-awareness in
Traditional Chinese Culture.- Part 2: Creativity and Exchange.
Chapter 8:
Chinese Characters: Poetic Symbols.
Chapter 9: The Four Great Inventions and
Their Impact on Civilizations.
Chapter 10: The Silk Road.
Chapter 11:
Traditional Chinese Medicine: Overall Balance for Health.
Chapter 12:
Openness of the Tang Dynasty.
Chapter 13: Zheng Hes Voyages to the Western
Seas.
Chapter 14: The Great Wall.
Chapter 15: The Forbidden City: Glorious
and Awe-inspiring.- Part 3: Art and Aesthetics.
Chapter 16: Music: Govern
the Country, Nourish the Mind.
Chapter 17: Spiritual Essence in Bronze
Wares.
Chapter 18: A Silent Army.
Chapter 19: The Eternal Smile of Buddha.-
Chapter 20: Flying Strokes of Calligraphy.
Chapter 21: The Charm of Ink and
Wash.
Chapter 22: Tang Poetry: Pinnacle of Chinese Poetry.
Chapter 23: Ci
Poetry of the Song Dynasty: Chanting of the Soul.
Chapter 24: Novels of the
Ming and Qing Dynasties: Appreciate Life Through Art.
Chapter 25: Porcelain:
Calling Card of Chinese Culture.
Chapter 26: Gardens South of the Yangtze
River.
Chapter 27: Peking Opera: Artistry of Performers .
Chapter 28:
Splendid Folk Arts.- Part 4: Folk Customs.
Chapter 29: Urban Customs in A
Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival.
Chapter 30: Customs and Charms of Old
Beijing.
Chapter 31: Modern Glamor of Old Shanghai.
Chapter 32: Traditional
Costumes.
Chapter 33: Culinary Delights in China.
Chapter 34: Life with
Fragrant Tea.
Chapter 35: Truth Hidden in Wine.
Chapter 36: Civil
Residences in Deep Alleys.
Chapter 37: Martial Arts and Cuju.
Chapter 38:
Weiqi: A Game of Wits.
Ye Lang, professor of philosophy at Peking University, former director of the Fine Arts Studies and Education Research Center of Peking University, and former president of the Beijing Philosophy Society. His works include Beauty in Imagery, Elements of Aesthetics, An Outline of the History of Chinese Aesthetics, and Aesthetics in Chinese Novels.
Zhu Liangzhi, professor of philosophy at Peking University and director of the Fine Arts Studies and Education Research Center of Peking University. His works include Ten Lectures on Chinese Art Theory, The World of Traditional Chinese Painting, Research on Shi Tao, Research on Badashanren, and Fifteen Lectures on Chinese Aesthetics.
