Illustrated World. Ming

Author: Gong Shuduo, Liu Delin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: This was a rigid era. Government surveillance over society reached the tightest level in history; the torment of eunuchs only added to the suffering; scholars were ensnared in the imperial examinations, with few independent thoughts. Unable to achieve military or literary glory, the literati focused more on refining their inner character. In landscapes, calligraphy, and painting, they found solace; on the stage and in fiction, they portrayed their dreams. This was also an introspective empire. Along the long northern border, the ancient Great Wall, long abandoned, was put back into use, both to block invasions by nomadic tribes and to reveal the lack of martial spirit in the Zhu dynasty. This book, richly illustrated and diverse in style, vividly recreates China's long and glorious history through over a thousand carefully selected historical stories. The book presents a clear historical narrative, detailed factual details, concise and lively language, and abundant illustrations, making it a refined and engaging historical read. The content covers politics, economy, military, foreign relations, art, thought, science, and social life, comprehensively reflecting the rise and fall of the Qing dynasty.