While it is not widely known; Islam first arrived in China in the 7th century CE and rapidly became an integral part of China’s social fabric. By 996 CE; Muslims had established a presence in Beijing (which we call “Peking†because of its classical resonance); and so began a process of blending so far-reaching that today; casual observers of northern China; whether Chinese; Muslim or Western; might be completely unaware of their existence. Loosely themed around the Five Pillars of Islam; The Perfumed Palace explores the life and culture of the Muslims of China’s capital city who; over the centuries; have developed such a harmonious synthesis of two great civilizations. Accompanying the text are more than 100 color photographs taken by photographer Lukas Nikol on visits to the Muslim Quarter in Peking and to the Muslim villages that dot the countryside in its outlying counties. The photographs encompass everything from daily life; festivals; markets; schools; mosque architecture and numerous other leitmotifs of the capital’s Muslims. Several 1930s black-and-white photographs from the Harvard-Yenching Library add a further historical dimension to this visual depiction of Muslim Peking. The book is completed by specially commissioned reproductions of sini calligraphic scrolls; a form of Arabic calligraphy that incorporates Chinese-style brush strokes in a vertical format; like traditional Chinese writing. These breath-taking combinations of Arabic and Chinese calligraphy are an art form unknown outside China.
#101852 in Books Osprey 1997-09-15 1997-09-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 .38 x .1 x 7.22l; .77 #File Name: 185532688496 pagesReference Book
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The deciding campaign...By HMS WarspiteIn the fall of 1781; six years into the Revolutionary War; an American army led by General George Washington joined with a French expeditionary force under General Rochambeau to trap the British army of Lord Cornwallis at the small Virginia port of Yorktown. The fate of Cornwallis's force was sealed when a French Naval Squadron under De Grasse stood off a Royal Navy rescue fleet. Yorktown ended up being the decisive military campaign of the war; although it took another year or so to negotiate a peace treaty."Yorktown 1781" is an Osprey Campaign Series book; authored by Brendan Morrissey with illustrations by Adam Hook. The author takes a long and thoughtful approach to Yorktown; walking the reader up through the preliminary fighting in Virginia while describing the near-stalemate that existed in the larger conflict. The decisive naval actions at sea get appropriate attention; and it isn't until two thirds of the way through a concise account that the reader arrives at Yorktown itself for the siege. This is a very readable narrative; much enhanced by a nice selection of period and modern illustrations; photographs; and some nice maps and diagrams. This book was first published in 1997; but the Yorktown battlefield remains wonderfully intact and available to visit as described here. Recommended as a very adequate introduction to a key campaign.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy William L Hickmangreat buy0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. this book (and the others in the series I've read so far) are great reads! They include battleground layoutsBy Katrina DeeFor anyone interested in details; this book (and the others in the series I've read so far) are great reads! They include battleground layouts; breakdowns of the main players and fascinating trivia. As a historical fiction writer; I am very happy to have found it.
