Covering wide-ranging topics from the arts and entertainment to customs and traditions from the ancient imperial and modern eras, Historical Dictionary of Chinese Culture provides more than 300 separate entries along with a comprehensive chronology, glossary of Chinese cultural terms, and an extensive bibliography of Western and Chinese-language sources. Dictionary entries of the decorative and fine arts include ceramics and porcelains, handicrafts, jade and seal carving, jewelry, and painting. The literary subjects range from fiction to non-fiction, but especially poetry. Major entertainment venues of cinema and film, classical puppetry, and theater, both ancient and modern are also covered. In addition to the arts, the authors include major customary practices from childbirth and childrearing to marriage and weddings to funerals and burial practices. Other aspects of the culture are also examined, including crime, foot-binding, pornography, and prostitution, and the government policies aimed at their eradication. Throughout the text, Chinese-language translations of key terms are presented in italics and parenthesis, along with biographies of figures central to the creation of China’s magnificent cultural heritage.

As the world’s only English-language historical dictionary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), this book offers a comprehensive coverage of major historical figures, events, political terms, and other matters relevant to this unique period of modern Chinese history that had profound influence on social and cultural movements of the world in the 1960s and 1970s. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution covers its history through a chronology, an introductory essay, glossary, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about this important period in Chinese history.

When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) assumed power in October 1949 China was one of the poorest nations in the world and so weak it had been conquered in the late 1930s and early 1940s by its neighbor Japan, a country one-10th its size. More than five decades later, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is an emerging economic, political, and major military power with the world’s fastest growing economy and largest population (1.35 billion in 2015). A member of the United Nations Security Council since the early 1970s and a nuclear power, China wields enormous influence in the world community while at home what was once a nation of largely poverty-stricken peasants and urban areas with little-to-no industry has been transformed into an increasingly urbanized society with a growing middle class and an industrial and service sector that leads the world in such industries as steel and textiles while becoming a major player in computers and telecommunications. All the while the country has remained under the tight political control of a one-party system dominated by the Chinese Communist Party that despite periods of intense political conflict and turmoil governs China with a membership in 2014 of 88 million people—the largest single organization on earth. This third edition of Historical Dictionary ofthe People's Republic of China contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 700 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about China.

Taiwan is an island located off the east coast of southern China. It is the largest piece of territory under the jurisdiction of the “nation” known officially as the Republic of China. Taiwan is a place of contradictions. Its successful economic and political modernization have stimulated the imaginations of most observers. Still its nation-state status has been constricted and weakened. It covets and pursues peace; yet it is a vortex actor in global strategic/military competition. It is small; yet its importance far exceeds its size. It has long occupied a critical place in history; even though it has not sought this it appears inevitable that it will continue to be so. This fourth edition of Historical Dictionary of the Taiwan (Republic of China) covers its history through a chronology, an introductory essay, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 600 cross-referenced entries on important personalities, politics, economy, foreign relations, religion, and culture. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Taiwan.

"The history of the Chinese Cultural Revolution through a chronology, introduction, glossary, extensive bibliography, and more than 400 cross-referenced dictionary entries"--Provided by publisher.

This new reference work contains approximately 1500 entries covering Chinese civilisation from Peking Man to the present day. Subjects include history, politics, art, archaeology, and literature to name but a few.

Taiwan, an island located off the east coast of southern China, is the largest piece of territory under the jurisdiction of the "nation" known officially as the Republic of China. Constant debate over whether Taiwan is its own sovereign state, part of the Republic of China, or part of the People's Republic of China has been going on for years. With Chinese leaders in the People's Republic of China rejecting Taiwan's legal separation and vowing that they will resolve the "Taiwan issue" by military force if necessary and most citizens of Taiwan opposing unification with China in the short run, it would appear that Taiwan faces some tough decisions ahead. The third edition of the Historical Dictionary of Taiwan (Republic of China) offers insight into Taiwan's situation through a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, a map, a bibliography, and several hundred cross-referenced dictionary entries on important people, places, events, political parties, and institutions, as well as major political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of this island country. Whether or not Taiwan joins the People's Republic of China or gains its independence, Taiwan's outcome is of the utmost importance, and this reference provides the necessary information to understand its state of affairs.

Compiled by specialists from the University of Durham Department of East Asian Studies, this new reference work contains approximately 1500 entries covering Chinese civilisation from Peking Man to the present day. Subjects include history, politics, art, archaeology, literature, etc. The Dictionary is intended for students, teachers and researchers, and will also be of interest to the general reader. Entries provide factual information and contain suggestions for further reading. Chinese terms are in pinyin romanisation and characters are given for the subject headings. A name index and comprehensive cross-reference system make this an easy to use, multi-purpose guide to the student of Chinese in the broadest sense.

This reference book on Taoism, one of the major spiritual traditions of China, includes in its coverage both Taoist philosophy and Taoist religion. An introduction provides overall insight into Taoist development through the ages, while the dictionary itself is comprised of 275 entries that define Taoist concepts, scriptures, deities, practices, and personalities. Includes an extensive bibliography.