China: An Illustrated History (Illustrated Histories) (Hardcover)

by Yong Ho (Author) "Although there is no contemporaneous documentary evidence, Chinese people posit Huang Di (the Yellow Emperor) and Yan Di (the Yan Emperor) as their common ancestors..." (more)
Key Phrases: previous dynasties, oracle bones, Hong Kong, Shi Huang, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
China is one of the oldest civilisations in the world with the recorded history spanning almost 4,000 years; yet, to much of the outside world, it remains a mystery. This concise, illustrated volume offers the reader a panoramic view of this remarkable land, from remote antiquity to the twenty-first century.

About the Author
The author received his PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics from Columbia University, USA. He presently co-ordinates the Chinese Programme at the UN and serves as the Vice-President and Executive Director of the Chinese Language Teachers' Association of Greater New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 142 pages
• Publisher: Hippocrene Books (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0781808219
• ISBN-13: 978-0781808217
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #452,953 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful basic history of China, March 31, 2004

By	orbit13 "orbit13" - See all my reviews

This small book provides an excellent background on Chinese history for those who seek a quick and basic guide without the academic jargon or criticism. Ho's writing is simple and direct, and his work transitions smoothly from one period to the next. He presents the history in chronological order with uneven attention to the post-Qing era. Nevertheless, it remains a rather complete work, from Huangdi and the legendary Xia dynasty to the present. Every era, including periods of disunity and minor dynasties, is discussed.

I'm quite pleased with this book because properly introduces Chinese history to someone with scant or no knowledge of the country without confusing him or her with names and places. Ho emphasizes major events, people, etc. and does not burden the reader with excess information that could be gathered from further study. It's a great starting point for anyone who wants to learn more, though those with more knowledge of Chinese history will find this work overly condensed. Ho also remains fairly unbiased in his presentation. While a book like this could always use more photos, the ones included convey ample sense of the subject's place in history; there's a good variety of black and white paintings, artifacts, portraits, and landscapes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a really wonderful romp, January 3, 2007

By	philipmerrill (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

Little of anything in life has this many compelling stories. Just a taste of what later study could explore, this book does an able job getting a beginner like me started.