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China

Land of Dragons and Emperors: The Fascinating Culture and History of China

ebook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 2 weeks
A fascinating book about the history and culture of China.

The history of China spans thousands of years. Journey through China in this fascinating and absorbing book: discover the land of dragons and emperors, and learn about the significance of its ancient dynasties. Countless tools and materials that people have used every day for centuries—paper, gunpowder, cast iron, matches, and silk, to name just a few—were first made in China. Chinese society has progressed through major changes, but lucky numbers, festivals, beliefs about colors, the practic of footbinding, the building of the Great Wall, and the larger-than-life people of China are all integral parts of this ancient civilization and still have an impact on life today.
Bestselling author Adeline Yen Mah explores an extraordinary view of the great story of China over the last two millennia in this nonfiction work, which also includes black-and-white photographs.
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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      June 1, 2009
      Mah (Chinese Cinderella
      ) brings East to West in this concise, reader-friendly history of China that contains more than 80 photographs of famous figures and artifacts. Spanning 2,000 years of strife and victories, the book mainly focuses on China's six dynasties, which are introduced in chronological order and are followed by brief portraits of post-dynasty leaders. Straightforward narrative sheds light on the rise and fall of each empire, defining leaders' accomplishments as well as their acts of tyranny. Of Qin Shi-huang, China's first emperor, Mah states: “Hard-working and disciplined, he read 55 kilograms (120 pounds) of reports written on bamboo slips every day.” (And because he wanted Chinese history to begin with his rule: “He ordered all books written before him to be burned. Any scholar who dared to object was buried alive.”) Brief sections that explain Chinese attitudes, superstitions, inventions (including gun powder, porcelain and paper) and even the role of palace eunuchs are both entertaining and enlightening. Complete with maps, a time line, index and extensive bibliography, this accessible work will be an invaluable resource for students and young history buffs. Ages 12–up.

    • School Library Journal

      August 1, 2009
      Gr 6 Up-Novel-sized, and with a novel's worth of action, romance, betrayal, and irony, this immensely readable account of the entirety of Chinese history is sure to captivate readers. The chapters are broken into one- or two-page sections, with many brief sidebars, making the book accessible and unintimidating. Plentiful illustrationsphotographs as well as reproductionsenliven nearly every page. Mah writes in a personal, friendly tone, at one point warning readers to "jump two paragraphs if you don't like violence." Clearly, she is telling stories that she knows well, and she doesn't skimp on the details, which can be gory, tragic, slightly saucy, or merely entertaining. Well-labeled, good-sized maps are provided on a regular basis, as are metric and English measurements and currency conversion where appropriate. This is an authoritative and entertaining account of the plucky orphans, egotistical monarchs, raving beauties, and scheming empresses who made China what it is today."Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD"

      Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • The Horn Book

      July 1, 2009
      In this thoughtfully designed book, the main text chronicles China's history, emperor by emperor, while sidebars cover such topics as inventions, religion, and festivals. An informal narrative voice increases accessibility ("What happened next was truly dreadful"). Lack of source notes is a drawback. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind.

      (Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:8.1
  • Lexile® Measure:1060
  • Interest Level:6-12(MG+)
  • Text Difficulty:6-9

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