Chinese arts and crafts enjoy a unique reputation in the history of material culture and civilisation. For several thousand years, crafts have echoed the rhythm of daily life in China.  Meer

China has given birth to numerous scientific and technological inventions, and for many centuries led the world in such innovations. Indeed, some of the most important inventions in the history of human civilization originated in China – not least the compass, gunpowder, paper and printing.  Meer

The art of calligraphy is seen as the epitome of Chinese culture. Originating in the earliest abstract symbols carved on cave walls, animal bones and tortoise shells by the ancient Chinese people, over several thousand years calligraphy has become far more than a means of writing and recording events.  Meer

Unique in style, Chinese furniture has long been celebrated for its elegant, artistic lines and strong, durable structure. Ranging from pieces designed simply to display the beauty and texture of natural woods to magnificent pieces decorated with lavish carvings, lacquer or precious metals and stones, Chinese furniture is an outstanding representative of the oriental arts.  Meer

This illustrated introduction to Chinese wine explores the history of wine production in China, the legends and customs that surround it and its place in China today.  Meer

China is the birthplace of one of the world's most ancient civilisations and an immense quantity and variety of cultural relics have been preserved on China's vast territory.  Meer

Chinese folk arts originate in the rural areas of China's vast territory. As forms of communal art, folk arts are evident in everyday food, clothing and shelter, in traditional festivals, ceremonies and rituals, and in beliefs and taboos.  Meer

China is renowned for its enchanting, tranquil gardens, designed to reflect both the charm of nature and the ancient Chinese view of life. Chinese Gardens explores the creation of classical gardens through history, discussing the theories and artistic conception behind these gardens and the development of diverse regional styles.  Meer

In this illustrated introduction Wen Haiming explores the characteristics of different philosophers in Chinese history and distinguishes the 'Chinese philosophical sensibility' motivating their thoughts.  Meer

Zhao Wenbing provides an accessible, illustrated introduction to the sculptural art of China, including the magnificent Terracotta Army, Buddhist sculpture, tomb carvings, architectural sculpture, exchange with foreign cultures and Chinese sculpture today.  Meer

Chinese literature has a long, distinctive history and has played an important part in shaping the cultural identity of the Chinese people. This literature provides a window into human relationships, society, politics, spirituality and philosophy at any given time in China's history.  Meer

Ancient Chinese architecture is not only a source of reference for modern Chinese design, it has also had an international influence and attracted global attention.  Meer

Chinese clothing has undergone continuous transformations throughout history, providing a reflection of the culture in place at any given time. A wealth of archaeological findings coupled with ancient mythology, poetry and songs enable us to see the development of distinctive Chinese fashions through the ages.  Meer

China is world renowned as the homeland of tea planting, production and drinking. In this illustrated introduction Liu Tong provides a fascinating insight into the ancient culture of Chinese tea, the trade, tradition, literature, philosophy and ceremony associated with tea in China and its popularisation around the world.  Meer

This book provides a guide to China's rich and varied museum collections, illustrated with rare images from the collections themselves. A great number of exquisite objects and artifacts have been preserved on China's vast territory, many of which are now displayed as museum exhibits.  Meer

Unique and complex in style, traditional Chinese music forms a fascinating part of China's cultural heritage. This accessible, illustrated introduction to Chinese music takes the reader through the 8000-year history of China's musical instruments, the diversity of Chinese folk music, the development of China's famous operas and the modern Chinese music industry.  Meer

Wushu, the Chinese martial art form known as kung fu in the West, embodies traditional Chinese culture and reflects the self defense and fitness practices of the Chinese people.  Meer

Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the most renowned and most controversial scientific achievements of ancient Chinese civilisation. Although Western medicine is often the basic method used to deal with medical problems, the techniques developed in traditional Chinese medicine still play an important part in protecting the health of the Chinese people and are practised throughout the world.  Meer

As the birthplace of moveable-type printing, China has some claim to being the homeland of publishing. China's ancient civilisation has nurtured a distinctively Chinese publishing industry, and this industry has done much to spread Chinese ideas and culture around the world.  Meer

The Chinese are famed as the first to have discovered and mastered the techniques needed to produce porcelain. Yet carefully crafted ceramics are valued not only for their beauty, but also as precious cultural artifacts shedding light on the period in which they were produced.  Meer