The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology: Celebrated Discoveries from The People`s Republic of China - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0300081324 ISBN 13: 9780300081329

Publisher: National Gallery Washington, 1999

Synopsis

Chinese archaeological discoveries of the last fifty years have transformed previous notions of the origins of Chinese civilization and art. This book presents an astonishing range of findings--more than 200 works of art in jade, stone, ivory, bone, pottery, bronze, lacquer, bamboo, gold, and silver from the period 5000 B.C. to 900 A.D.--that show how culture flowered not only in the Yellow River Valley but throughout ancient China.

The book is 584 pages with 48 B&W + 372 color illustrations and the book size is 9 5/8 x 12 1/8.

About this title

Reviews

A thrilling litany of evidence displays the ways we should rethink China. . . . In exquisitely rendered photographs of jade, potter, bronze, lacquer, stone, ivory and bone, [this book] displays hints of later cultures-Egyptian, Inca, Aztec, Indian, African-that are presaged here in remarkable ways.

This catalog documents a landmark exhibition organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; the Nelson-Arkins Museum of Art, Kansas City; and the People's Republic of China. The exhibition will also travel to Houston and San Francisco. It is a sequel to the show of archaeological finds from China displayed at the National Gallery of Art in 1974. The book's images display with great clarity the most important archaeological discoveries in the People's Republic of China excavated since the late 1970s. Representing achievements over a 6000-year time span (5000 B.C.E. to 1000 C.E.) and a wide geographical range, it features more than 200 artifacts of the highest artistic and historical value--including sculpture, ritual objects, furniture, textiles, and decorative objects. An introductory essay traces the development of Chinese archaeology, pointing out an altered view on formation and development of Chinese civilization. As one of the most significant publications on the subject in the English language during the past few decades, this book truly opens a window on the themes and motifs of the past 60 centuries of Chinese civilization. It is essential for public as well as academic libraries.
-Lucia S. Chen, NYPL
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: National Gallery Washington
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300081324
• ISBN 13: 9780300081329
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 576
• Editor: Yang Xiaoneng