Altar and Arena: China and Ancient Greece in the Kingdom of Art

Author: Liu Chenglin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-08-01
Features: The author's insights come not only from history but also from life. Life experiences lead him to reflect on the ancients. Civilization is like a river; the present stands downstream while the past stands upstream. Thus, people today can empathize with the ancients. This book is written with sincerity, like prose, filled with emotion, making you think and moved. – Wang Weimin
This book is quite unique. You shouldn’t just place it on a bookshelf. It discusses ancient China and ancient Greece throughout, covering art, mythology, literature, drama, painting, and architecture. So, it seems like it should be an aesthetic book. But, "the fisherman's intent is not in the fish." The author’s focus is not on art but on comparing the differences between two ancient civilizations. Art is merely a tool to interpret these ancient cultures. What kind of civilization exists determines the kind of art it produces; civilization creates art, and art can in turn interpret civilization. There may be many statements in this book that differ from the mainstream, but after reading it, you won’t dismiss them as absurd or sensational. Because the artworks of China and Greece in the book are speaking for the author. Moreover, the author’s insights come not only from history but also from life. Life experiences lead him to reflect on the ancients. Civilization is like a river; the present stands downstream while the past stands upstream. Thus, people today can empathize with the ancients. This book is written with sincerity, like prose, filled with emotion, making you think and moved.