Mark Elvin Book order

Geographie und Geschichte, Kunst und Wissenschaft, Kaiserreich und Moderne

This book innovatively explores the experience of being Chinese since the early nineteenth century, positing that lives are shaped by stories—both inherited and self-created. The author interprets significant narratives that have influenced Chinese lives over the past two centuries, revealing a complex historical tapestry rather than a singular Chinese identity. It begins with Li Ruzhen's *Destinies of the Flowers in the Mirror*, reflecting the educated Chinese world before major Western influences. In contrast, Zhang Yingchang's *Our Dynasty's Bell of Poesy* captures the lives of peasants, women, artisans, soldiers, and prisoners. The 1930s bestseller *Tides in the Human Sea* illustrates the 'crisis of absurdity' during the onset of modernization, where feelings clash with traditional behaviors. Hao Ran's *Children of the Western Sands*, a popular Communist work from the early 1970s, invites empathy for Maoist idealism. Sima Zhongyuan's *The Bastard* interprets the Communist revolution through traditional religious lenses, viewing it as a punishment for societal transgressions. Finally, Yuan Ze'nan's *A Commonplace Fellow* reflects on the fading of Chineseness in a Chinese-American context, exploring the nuances of cultural identity.

Ilustrovaný průvodce světem Číny je osmým svazkem v edici Kulturní atlasy. Kniha přináší ucelený obraz na jednu z nejvýznamnějších kultur světa. Za publikací stojí autoři, kteří Čínu důvěrně znají. Caroline Blunden procestovala celou Číny, a zároveň vystudovala malířství na Akademii krásného umění v Pekingu. Mark Elvin vyučuje na oxfordské univerzitě čínskou historii.

A revised edition of this history of the world's oldest civilisation. The CULTURAL ATLAS series aims to evoke the spirit and vitality of the world's great civilisations, past and present, through photography, maps and supporting text.

A revised edition of this history of the world's oldest civilisation. The CULTURAL ATLAS series aims to evoke the spirit and vitality of the world's great civilisations, past and present, through photography, maps and supporting text.