Dictionary of Cultural Relics Collection and Appreciation: Single Volume Edition

Author: Author Country: China
Editor-in-Chief: Ye Peilan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-11-01
Features: In China's long-standing history of civilization, artifacts serve as a unique carrier for the continuation of history and culture. They truthfully record the production, life, customs, technology, and art of ancient society in their physical form, becoming a window through which people can understand and appreciate Chinese ancient civilization. The color-illustrated edition of Compendium of Artifact Collection and Appreciation is a highly innovative reference book in both content and form. It is neither a purely annotated dictionary nor a simple catalog of artifacts, but rather, through explanatory methods, provides readers with fundamental knowledge of collecting and appreciating artifacts.
China has a tradition of collecting historical artifacts. Early artifact collection dates back to the Shang Dynasty, and during the Han Dynasty, the scope of artifact collection expanded significantly. From the Sui and Tang dynasties onward, there were vast collections from the imperial court to the common people, and research literature on artifacts became even richer. It is this excellent tradition of the Chinese nation that has passed down the achievements of our ancestors to the present, continuing the long history of the Chinese nation. In recent years, with the introduction of modern archaeology and the rise of the study of artifacts, collecting artifacts has become a hobby for more and more people, both within and outside the field. In today's increasingly heated market for artifact collection, it is easy to imagine that a lack of understanding of artifact concepts and technical terms would be a significant challenge.
Based on this, I began the work of compiling the color-illustrated edition of Compendium of Artifact Collection and Appreciation. Due to the complexity and vastness of ancient artifacts, we classified them and selected five major categories commonly found in collections: ceramics, jade, bronzes, and paintings. The scope of artifacts included is limited to those from the ancient to the modern period within China, as well as traditional craftsmanship, excluding artifacts outside China and modern techniques. The explanations of each entry focus on identification and appreciation, providing readers with a comprehensive, systematic, and practical reference. The entries are organized based on the category of artifacts and their chronological appearance in history, detailing the concept, quality, craftsmanship, identification terms, and relevant figures for each type. We strive for fresh material and broad coverage.
In terms of illustrations, we avoided clichés and used images that reflect the market value of artifacts, offering readers a reference for their value. Additionally, to enrich the content and enhance readers' knowledge of artifact identification, we included thematic entries closely related to the main content, making this dictionary even more practical.
With great enthusiasm, we present this color-illustrated edition of Compendium of Artifact Collection and Appreciation. The dictionary includes 2,789 entries, nearly one million words of explanation, and 4,221 color illustrations, making it a vivid and clear reference. We believe it will provide valuable assistance and guidance to collectors who are concerned with and love Chinese artifacts.
However, despite our best efforts to accurately and perfectly present the artifacts accumulated over thousands of years in this dictionary, due to the profound depth of Chinese artifacts, the vastness of historical literature, and our own limitations, some errors or omissions may inevitably occur. We welcome criticism and corrections from colleagues and readers alike.
Ye Peilan
Autumn of the Jia Shen Year in Beijing