China has gone through many challenging moments and events before arriving at what it is today. Modern Chinese History chronicles the events that occurred from 1840 to 1949, and the many important figures who changed the fate of modern China.

Find out more fascinating details about Chinese opera:* Why is the clown mask so colourful?* Who is the “big painted face”?* What does it signify when an opera performer stands on the table?*** Co-published by Asiapac Books and The Chinese Opera Institute, with the support of the National Arts Council

This book unravels the mystery behind Chinese martial arts, or wushu, an exotic branch of traditional Chinese culture. It traces how the rough and ready brawls of Chinese cavemen matured into the polished gongfu of Shaolin and Wudang warriors. But the art of gongfu is more than just martial abilities - it is also about a philosophy and chivalry code. This volume sheds light on the legend of Bruce Lee and the Yue Maiden Sword.

As you dip into the pages, you will find out the origins of 100 Chinese family names, and understand how names are chosen.As the book covers the entire span of recorded Chinese history from the past to the present, you will find it an eye-opener as a reference manual and a delightful source of little-known facts.

Many sports were invented by the Chinese; others such as polo and marathon-style racing were developed by the different ethnic groups on the borders of the country and became popular within China as well.This book will enhance your appreciation of China as a sports nation and champion. Take a journey to rediscover the origins of various sports through Chinese history.

From the early days, musical instruments in China were made from everyday items: hunting tools, trees, bamboo and even bones. During the Zhou dynasty, there were about 70 instruments. Today, there are hundreds.But have you ever wondered how these musical instruments in China came about? Well, in this book, the evolution of Chinese music over the centuries is examined, from prehistoric times, through the Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang dynasties, all the way to our modern times.Inde...

Asia, which means ‘land of the sunrise’ in ancient Assyrian language, has witnessed the rise and fall of many great and ancient civilizations. One of the world’s oldest civilizations – the Mesopotamian civilization – prospered 5,000 years ago on the land between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in West Asia. Other great civilizations include the Chinese, Japanese and Korean civilizations that arose in East Asia.In this book, we feature the empires and civilizations that sprang out o...

Some emperors were blessed with empresses who led their dynasties to prosperity and stability. Many emperors, however, found out that they had taken on more than they expected with the arrival of talented, ruthless and ambitious beauties.This book tells the stories of the outstanding, the outrageous, the glorious as well as the tragic empresses and concubines of the Chinese palace.

This book features the empires and civilizations that sprang out of the five regions of Asia – West Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Let’s take a journey through time and space to the five Asian regions and discover the great conquerors of the ancient land. Explore how these civilizations have influenced the world we live in today and thus, gain a better understanding of Asian history and culture.

Talk about Chinese culture and images of dragon boats, lion dances, red packets and mandarin oranges readily come to mind. Their common thread is that they are all considered auspicious symbols by the Chinese. This charmingly illustrated book takes you on a journey of discovery of many others. Understanding the appeal of these symbols will help you to appreciate the arts and crafts displayed in Chinese homes and workplaces.

The Three Character Classic is perhaps the oldest textbook in the world that is still in use in schools today. First written in the late 13th century and updated several times since then, the book was the mainstay of primary school education in China.Young readers will get to learn much about China's history and even more importantly, various morals and good study habits that the Three Character Classic emphasizes.

This book holds a treasury of fascinating information and stories pertaining to Chinese musical instruments. This is definitely something any music lover should have in his collection.