Mind's Haven (Chinese Garden Culture)

Author: Zhou Wuzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: The Chinese nation indeed had a past worthy of great pride. Qin and Han emperors, Tang and Song sages, the Silk Road, the Four Great Inventions—these old stories have been told time and again., we are proud of our ancestors' achievements, but what good does that do? Civilization was originally a shared treasure of humanity, yet in modern times, it seems to have become the exclusive domain of the West. Eliminating backwardness, ignorance, and barbarism became the pretext for the great powers to wage war; the series of failures of the Qing government repeatedly shattered the Chinese people's dream of being a superior, self-sufficient nation. Dreams led to tragedies, and tragedies evolved into potential nightmares. Today, we compile this series not to repeat old stories or to reclaim lost dreams. In fact, China can no longer indulge in dreams, but it should also not sink into nightmares. China's ancient civilization has its own place in the world, and in this 21st century, there is an urgent need for a scientific understanding of it. We hope, through meaningful explorations by experts and scholars, lively and engaging writing, and beautifully printed illustrations, to open up a new perspective for readers to reflect on history. May all dreams and nightmares belong to the past, and may we learn to face the present and the future with greater clarity.