China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795 [Hardcover]

Evelyn S. Rawski (Author), Jessica Rawson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

Featuring hundreds of pieces never seen outside China, this sumptuous book focuses on the most powerful rulers of China's last dynasty, the Qing. With glorious, specially commissioned color photographs and authoritative text from experts in the field, China: The Three Emperors features more than 370 treasures-precious robes and palace furnishings, paintings and painted scrolls, weapons and ceremonial armor, clocks and astronomical instruments, and even an imperial throne. An incisive series of essays explores the many fascinating themes linking these artistic and cultural treasures, describing the complex rituals and intriguing personalities that created them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Regina Krahl is an independent scholar of Chinese ceramics and author of Chinese Ceramics in the Topkapi Museum, Istanbul. She lives in London.

Alfreda Murck is professor of art history at Beijing University.

Evelyn Rawski is professor of Chinese history at the University of Pittsburgh.

Jessica Rawson is warden of Merton College, Oxford.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Royal Academy Books (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903973694
• ISBN-13: 978-1903973691
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 10.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #247,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sumptuous catalogue of Chinese art and decorative art, January 13, 2010

By 

Ivor E. Zetler (Sydney Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: China: The Three Emperors 1662-1795 (Hardcover)

The Palace Museum, Beijing is one of the one of the world's greatest museums. Situated in the over 900,000 roomed Forbidden City, it contains over a million items, of which about 800,000 originate from the holdings of the Qing court. The history and preservation of the collection is highly complex and interesting in itself (see the Palace Museum's website).

The Qing Dynasty lasted from 1644 to 1912. The Royal Academy exhibition (of which this book is the catalogue) covers the years 1622-1795. This was the glory period of the dynasty during which three emperors had highly successful and productive reigns. The Kanxi Emperor ruled from 1662-1772; he began his reign aged 8 and had the longest period of rule in Chinese history. He was succeeded by Yinzhen (1723-35) and later by Hongli (1736-95). After that date things went downhill, culminating with the breakup of the dynasty in 1912.

There were 306 artworks on display at the Royal Academy exhibition. The items were wide ranging in nature; hanging scrolls, snuff bottles, textiles, porcelain, calligraphy, paintings, furniture and so forth. To my eyes, they are consistently beautiful (often breathtakingly so) and of very high quality. It is worth noting that there is much color in the scrolls and paintings, this situation is somewhat unusual in earlier Chinese art.

As is often the the case with Royal Academy publications, the layout of the catalogue is exceptional as is the quality of the color reproductions and printing standard in general. This magnificent book should be an obligatory purchase for anyone interested in Chinese art, history and culture.