Table of Contents

Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgments; 1. The origins of Chinese civilization: Neolithic period to the Western Zhou dynasty (animal and human imagery in bronze vessels); 2. Philosophical foundations: the Eastern Zhou period; 3. The creation of the bureaucratic empire: the Qin and Han dynasties; 4. Buddhism, aristocracy, and alien rulers: the age of division (early Buddhist art); 5. A cosmopolitan empire: the Tang dynasty; 6. Shifting south: the Song dynasty (landscape painting); 7. Alien rule: the Liao, Jin, and Yuan dynasties (drama and the performing arts); 8. The limits of autocracy: the Ming dynasty (the kilns at Jingdezhen); 9. Manchus and imperialism: the Qing dynasty (working for a living); 10. Taking action: the early twentieth century (modern Chinese painting); 11. Radical reunification: the People's Republic (the cult of Mao); 12. Opening to the world: China since 1976 (Tibet); Epilogue; Chronology.

Promotional Information

In this sumptuously illustrated history, now in its second edition, Patricia Buckley Ebrey traces the origins of Chinese culture from prehistoric times to the present.

About the Author

Patricia Buckley Ebrey is Professor of History at the University of Washington and the author of multiple books and articles.