Granet’s original work delves deep into the religious and spiritual customs of ancient China by analysing their festivals and songs from the Book of Odes including the original Chinese script. This translation, originally published in 1932, aimed to present Granet’s observations to a wider English readership by omitting the Chinese characters and providing an in-depth insight into one of the most important early civilisations. This title will be of interest to students of Asian studies.
A History of Ancient Chinese Music and Dance describes the history of music and dance in ancient China in the past five thousand years in the forms of poems, music and dance. It includes court music and dance, music and dance in drama and folk music and dance. It covers historical and professional knowledge such as music, dance, poetry and drama. The book consists of eleven chapters, from ancient times to the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. In each chapter, there are historical background, music and dance works, people, events, and related poetry and images. The Yellow Emperor created tonality for wind instruments. Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun invented musical instruments qin and se. Duke of Zhou made system of rites and music. Apart from these, music, dance and acrobatics in the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty, grand compositions in the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty and music and dance in drama in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty can all lead us to the long developing process of ancient music and dance. The book was the Project of 2003 National Tenth Five-Year Plan for Art Science in China. It was co-funded by the National Publishing Fund and “China Classics International” of the General Administration of Press and Publication.
Describes ten Chinese traditional festivals: the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Head Festival, Clear and Bright Festival, Double NInth Day, Laba Festival, and Kitchen God Day.
Ancient China and Greece are two classical civilisations that have exerted far-reaching influence in numerous areas of human experience and are often invoked as the paradigms in East-West comparison. This book examines gender relations in the two ancient societies as reflected in convivial contexts such as family banquets, public festivals, and religious feasts. Two distinct patterns of interpersonal affinity and conflict emerge from the Chinese and Greek sources that show men and women organising themselves and interacting with each other in social occasions intended for collective pursuit of pleasure. Through an analysis of the two different patterns, Yiqun Zhou illuminates the different socio-political mechanisms, value systems, and fabrics of human bonds in the two classical traditions. Her book will be important for readers who are interested in the comparative study of societies, gender studies, women's history, and the legacy of civilisations.
This beautifully illustrated Chinese cookbook features all the most popular feast and festival food along with a wealth information. It is often said that the Chinese live to eat. Happily for them, the rich culinary tradition of China is largely inspired by a calendar year filled with a generous round of joyous occasions--festivals, reunions, weddings and anniversaries--for eating, drinking and making merry. And, of course, for paying homage to the gods and ancestors. Food, fittingly, is a combination of flavors and symbols (wealth, happiness, luck, prosperity), a spiritual celebration and an earthly pleasure. Chinese Feasts & Festivals, S.C. Moey has assembled a number of facts and fancies as well as a collection of festival specialties for the Chinese food lover to read and enjoy or, if the spirit takes flight, cook up a feast that will impress both mortals and ancestors and win the approval of the gods. Authentic Chinese recipes include: Drunken Chicken Steamed Duck with Bamboo Shoots Five Spice Rolls Spicy Sichuanese Lamb Sweet and Sour Fish Chinese Lettuce Leaf Cups Yangzhou Fried Rice Sweet Red Bean Pancakes Steamed Rice Flour Cupcakes New Years Cakes
This is Volume III of nine in series on the Sociology of Culture. Originally published in 1949, this is a study of the play-element in culture and is translated from the German edition.
An essential reference for all game designers, this 1938 classic is “a fascinating account of ‘man the player’ and the contribution of play to civilization” (Harper’s). In this classic evaluation of play that has become a “must-read” for those in game design, Dutch philosopher Johan Huizinga defines play as the central activity in flourishing societies. Like civilization, play requires structure and participants willing to create within limits. Starting with Plato, Huizinga traces the contribution of Homo Ludens, or “man the player” through Medieval Times, the Renaissance, and into our modern civilization. Huizinga defines play against a rich theoretical background, using cross-cultural examples from the humanities, business, and politics. Homo Ludens defines play for generations to come.
The Rough Guide to Taiwan is the ultimate travel guide to this fascinating island, with clear maps, full Chinese and pinyin translations and detailed coverage of all the top attractions and a host of lesser-visited sights. Discover Taiwan's highlights with stunning photography and information on everything from the island's magnificent national parks and tranquil hot spring resorts, to its most lavish temples and the mind-blowing National Palace Museum. Find practical advice on what to see and do in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, relying on up-to-date descriptions of the best hotels, bars, clubs, shops and restaurants for all budgets. Explore Taiwan's fabulous culinary scene, from the top boutique restaurants to the best local street food, and learn how to make the most of Taiwan's gasp-inducing hinterland; Alishan, Kenting, Yushan, Sun Moon Lake and the offshore islands are described in detail and made easily accessible, even for non-Chinese speakers. Originally published in print in 2011. Now available in ePub format.
Begins with the linguistic and intellectual foundations of Chinese literature and moves successively through verse, prose, fiction, drama, and commentary and criticism; it then closes with popular and peripheral manifestations. A special feature is the focus on such contextual subjects as the history of popular culture, the effect of religion upon literature, the role of women, and relationships with non-Sinitic languages and peoples.
