PDF Buddhism: The Illustrated Guide by From Oxford University Press in History

Description

To Western eyes; China is one of the most mysterious and intriguing of all civilizations. The legacy of its long dynastic rule; extending back more than 3;000 years; includes fascinating contributions to philosophy; religion; art; science; and mythology that continue to influence the modern world. China explores the ideas and achievements of this unique culture through a combination of authoritative; accessible scholarship and magnificent imagery. Drawing on the most recent discoveries and theories; the book presents China's history; society; and beliefs from the legends of prehistory to the end of imperial power in 1912. It investigates the key cultural; spiritual; and artistic traditions of this vast civilization and describes the country's major scientific and technological innovations; such as gunpowder; printing; and the compass. An investigation of trading routes; both by land and sea; challenges the conventional view of China as an isolated; insular civilization; stressing instead the impact of its sophisticated society upon the world. A final section discusses the continuing legacy of the imperial period through the turbulent years of the twentieth century up to the present day. A wealth of color photography and imaginative artwork; together with a lively and authoritative text; vividly evokes the pinnacles of Chinese civilization as well as the realities of everyday life; from life in the Imperial court to the most rural villages.