MAY HOLDSWORTH Bücher

Women in Tang society enjoyed experimenting with ways to enhance their charms. Not only enthusiastically adopting fashion styles of foreigners who thronged the capital of Chang'an, they were also some of the earliest cross-dressers in history. Through a close-up look at excavated pottery figures and surviving gold and silver objects, a picture emerges of a remarkable open society in which women took an active part. The Close-Up series is the very first of its kind to give you fascinating, concise introduction to over 100 individual aspects of China and its to peoples, past and present. Each topic is presented by chosen experts in their fields who write with brevity for the intelligent reader. Illuminating text is supported by the work of international photographers, with maps and diagrams, to give a Close Up picture that satisfies curiosity while encouraging further reading. Together, the titles build up an encyclopedia covering every wonderful aspect of China, a vast country that is only now revealing its true mystery and magnificence.

This concise volume is about the entombed terracotta army of China's First Emperor, which was discovered in 1974, and was widely acknowledged as 'the archaeological find of the century'. The astonishing artifacts for the afterlife for an emperor over 2,000 years after his death, Qin Shihuangdi had unified China by brutally conquering other states in a series of swift campaigns. Paradoxically, he had ordered the burning of books and the executiion of scholar while standardising the written script. He had ordered the dismantling fortifications and city walls, yet at the same time ordered the Great Wall to be built. This concise and lavishly illustrated volume shows the paradoxical tyrant and reformer of the astounding, great mausoleum.

Covering all the major sites of the city, this guide offers a broad range of practical information, such as how to pronounce Chinese names, where to shop, advice on conducting business, and suggested excursions outside the city. Also included are excerpts from literature on Shanghai by such noted writers as Nien Cheng, Anchee Min, Orville Schell, and J.G. Ballard. 39 illustrations, 7 maps.