تاریخ فرهنگ و تمدن چین

DK Eyewitness Books

by Arthur Cotterell, مهراوه جوان (Translator)

China, the world's oldest empire. This informative book will tell you of it's beginning and the end of the empire.

Genres: History, China, Nonfiction, Childrens, Picture Books, Art, Reference

112 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Arthur Cotterell, former Principal of Kingston College in London, has spent many years combining senior educational management with historical research. He is the respected author of more than thirty books, and is now writing on the Chinese empire, from the history of which he considers one can learn as much about leadership as from Ashridge or Harvard.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very excellent teaching book. The Chinese were farming a full thousand years before the Egyptians.

[Sassy Katt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books! I don't have to read 500 pages on Chinese history. I can read 70 pages and get the highlights. I am so impressed with ancient China. The Chinese people are so hardworking and creative. The Chinese invented the crossbow, paper, printing, the magnetic compass, the mechanical clock and the wheelbarrow, just to name a few. And the art of this culture is so beautiful and meticulous. Everything has some kind of meaning behind it. For example: the chrysanthemum. Because it outlasts the frost, this flower symbolizes long life. The peony symbolizes spring and so is titled "king of flowers". I just love that! Anyway as you can see, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend if you wanna learn just a bit about ancient China.

[Keith S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because it has a lot of history in it. This book would be perfect for a 5th grader because it has fun facts to read about. If you like informational then you'll like this book because it has a lot of facts. A teaser for this book is that you'll see some interesting stuff.

[Joanna Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent overview of imperial times, pictures but also lots of info.

[Jason Pym · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful DK book: Clean white pages full of crisp, clear cut-out photographs.

Most of the specific objects shown I'd not seen before, even if I was familiar with the type. I know they used big embroidered squares to show civil service ranks, but here you get to see a big, high quality image a Qing dynasty white crane, 1st rank, for example. Or the civil service exam - I've seen paintings of students taking the exam, but here there is an exam paper with the tutor's corrections.

There are some truly eye-opening images. There's a picture of a Ming soldier with a multiple-barrelled rifle (so like a revolver, no need to reload till they've fired half a dozen shots) with a kind of umbrella-like shield on the front to protect the soldier. The Ming dynasty was the 14th to 17th century.

And there's things I kind of knew but didn't have a name for. I love Chinese paintings where the brush-stroke poems are part of the picture, but I didn't know the name for it (it's 'The Three Perfections', 三绝, combining art, calligraphy, and poetry in one work).

But then there are (very occasional) errors. Brushes were not made of wolf hair, the Chinese word for these brushes (狼毫) is literally 'wolf hair', but it's an abbreviation of the name of the animal, 黄鼠狼， a kind of weasel. It's used today in Western paint brushes too, 'kolinsky sable-hair'. But I'm just nitpicking.

It's a gorgeous book.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب کوتاهی است که اطلاعات اولیه مفیدی درباره چین باستان ارائه می دهد. کتاب برای رده سنی کودکان و نوجوانان نگاشته شده و توضیحات به انضمام تصاویر مختلف آورده شده است. تنها خرده ای که می توان به کتاب گرفت چاپ سیاه سفید آن است که باعث می شود تصاویر چندان به کار نیاید‌. اگر حداقل واژه نامه ای می بود، جستجوی اینترنتی تصاویر مربوطه راحت تر می شد.

[Carlie Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade: 3-7
Genre: Informational nonfiction
Review: This books gives a lot of information about China. It talks about the medicine, festivals, the worlds oldest empire, and so much more. If you are looking to learn about Ancient China I recommend you read this book.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book gave a lot of information for me to do my presentation at my school.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides a brief but fairly comprehensive overview of Chinese culture and history.

Only one typo found in text: p. 14, decorated the the harnesses / decorated the harnesses .

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent children’s book that was honestly quite informative for an adult.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

42 - 2021

[Cecile]

Begins at 1650 BC no information on Xia dynasty

[Nena · Rating 4 out of 5]

this will help me with my homework

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The institutional review coming with this page says: "Grade 5-10-Done in typical 'Eyewitness' format, this volume touches upon such topics as Chinese history, the first emperor, inventions, health and medicine, waterways, food and drink, clothing, the Silk Road, and arts and crafts. Material from as recent as the last dynasty, which ended in 1912, is included. . . ." That summarizes nicely--both the age group for whom this book is intended and for the wide range of issues considered.

As such, the book works pretty well. As with all in this series, it reminds one of the first couple phrases in some lines about the Platte River: "A mile wide, an inch deep. . . ." Lots of coverage but not a whole lot of depth. But for young readers, this is a fine work.

The work begins with a bit of history, from the origins of the Chinese civilization under its first rulers, to the creation (by force) of a unified empire under the Qin Dynasty (China, the name, comes from this dynastic term), to the full unfolding of the empire under the Ming Dynasty after the expulsion of the Mongols.

There follows a discussion of the first dynasty (Shang, from 1650 to 1027 BC), the importance and central views of Confucius, the first emperor of a united China (Zheng), the development of an early civil service.

Then, some of the artifacts of the culture--printing and books, medicine, agriculture, food and drink, housing, dress, and so on.

The book closes out with a discussion of "The Silk Road" (during which time trade flourished between China throughout Asia to Europe), ocean voyages (voyages to the Middle East, Africa, India, the great islands of the Indian Ocean), and the end of empire, with the final emperor being deposed in 1912.

Again, as with others in this series, you get rather shallow coverage--but the illustrations are great and the amount of information provided really lined up with the age group targeted.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Explore all aspects of Ancient China with full colored illustrations and photographs.

New Mexico Social Studies Standards:

- Strand: History; Content Standard I; 5-8 Benchmark 1-A New Mexico; Grade 6; 1
- Strand: History; Content Standard I; 5-8 Benchmark 1-B United States; Grade 6; 1
- Strand: History; Content Standard I; 5-8 Benchmark 1-C World; Grade 6; 1
- Strand: Geography; Content Standard II; 5-8 Benchmark 2-B; Grade 6
- Strand: Geography; Content Standard II; 5-8 Benchmark 2-C; Grade 6
- Strand: Geography; Content Standard II; 5-8 Benchmark 2-E; Grade 6
- Strand: Geography; Content Standard II; 5-8 Benchmark 2-F; Grade 6
- Strand: Civics and Government; Content Standard III; 5-8 Benchmark 3-C; Grade 6; 2
- Strand: Civics and Government; Content Standard III; 5-8 Benchmark 3-D; Grade 6
- Strand: Economics; Content Standard IV; 5-8 Benchmark 4-C; Grade 6

*Available at Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Libraries*

[S.N. Arly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introductory book on the history of ancient China for children. Each two-page spread focuses on a specific topic or aspect of ancient China, making it easy to jump around and hit areas of interest. The photos are engaging. My six-year old requested this as bedtime reading until we completed it, and then went back and reviewed it regularly.

China's history can not be done justice in a book of this length, if given a strictly linear treatment. This presentation actually provides more cultural context than other books attempting to focus on the same general subject.

The language is enthusiastic and does not place Western ethnocentric judgement where it doesn't belong.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think these Eyewitness Books are great for children--so full of information, but still not too overwhelming. I liked skimming through this book. It felt like a review from my Chinese Culture and Chinese language classes. Including term that I still remember--taotie, bi, cong--and items that I recognize almost like second nature--dragon robes, TLV mirrors, terracotta warriors, weapons of war. Some other things that I did not know as much of. Perfect for any child with an interest. Will likely book talk this one to get them over to the history section.

[Eagle Watcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about Ancient China's geography . It also talked about China's religion. It was a pretty good book. Out of ten I would rate it a solid eight.

Ancient China describes what different life styles went on in Ancient China. It shows houses, carts, cities, boats, and many more places and Jobs. I would give the book a 7 out of 10. It was interesting to read and I enjoyed it. Ancient China also lists the religious beliefs like Buddha and other beliefs. I would recommend this book.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a bit of a primer for a kid's class I'm teaching about fashion history. It was a really useful quick reference, and a good piece of research for me into what kids baseline knowledge might be with some of the topics I'll be addressing at the museum this summer.
I always really appreciate eyewitness books for how cool and visual they are, and how well they use artifacts to teach larger concepts.

[Sandy (WI girl at heart) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for younger people. Basic facts and photos from the world of China. Well written for the group of folks it was most likely written for. Simple in nature but very well written, especially if love to learn about other cultures like I do.

Would I read it again: no but I would just for the beautiful photos in it. Would I recommend it to others: you bet I would.

[Little Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK I know these are supposed to be kid books but they are awesome! Great pictures and just enough text to make you want to learn more. Great choices for a beginning history reader or to start an older reader out in a new area. Every time I pick one of these up and read it I learn new things. Highly Recommended

[Cws]

RefYA1

[Tommy Tong · Rating 4 out of 5]

comprehensive and well put together.

[Crysta Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many ways to teach with this book on Early China topics. Very accurate and detailed descriptions.

[Austin Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was informative. I don't really have much to say about it. It was organized well and has lots of facts about China I had no idea about.

[Haylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good information.

[Ebony]

I need to know where it was published and who by. Please add it to the description or something like that