Golden Horses and Iron War (Chinese stories from 916 to 1368)

Author: Cheng Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: From the 10th to the mid-14th century, China was a period of transition from division to unification. During this time, the Liao, Western Xia, Jin, and Yuan dynasties were feudal regimes established by the Khitan, Tangut, Jurchen, and Mongol ethnic groups, respectively. The Liao, Western Xia, and Northern Song; the Jin, Western Xia, and Southern Song—these powers successively stood in opposition. The rise of the Mongols led to the destruction of the Jin and Southern Song dynasties, the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, and the unification of the entire nation. The Khitan, Tangut, Jurchen, and Mongols were ethnic groups residing in the northeastern, northwestern, and northern regions of China, some of whom were primarily nomadic, while others lived by fishing and hunting. It was these nomadic and hunting peoples, under the leadership of outstanding figures such as Yelü Abaoji, Li Yuanhao, Wanyan Aguda, and Temüjin, who stepped out of the grasslands and forests, rode across the battlefields, and, with their wisdom and courage, established nations, writing a profound chapter in the history of China. Among them, Temüjin stands out particularly, his activities having influenced the course of world history. The history of the Liao, Western Xia, Jin, and Yuan dynasties is noteworthy for the completion of the process of unification from division. The Liao and Jin successively established states in the north, strengthening the development of the northeastern and northern grasslands. The Western Xia was established in the northwest, establishing extensive connections with the Western Regions and the Tibetan people in the southwest. The rise of the Yuan Dynasty encompassed the lands of the Jin, Western Xia, and Southern Song; the Tibetan people submitted and became a regional administrative division under the central government; Dali surrendered, and Yunnan was organized into a province on par with the interior; the Uyghur lands in Central Asia and surrounding regions also came under Yuan rule.
As an encyclopedic work on Chinese history that integrates narrative-style reading, exquisite and delicate image appreciation, and convenient and practical search functions, Telling China contains countless captivating scenes from Chinese history, woven together in a way that forms the splendid civilization of the Chinese nation over its five thousand years. Just as exploring famous mountains and rivers cannot be separated from the guidance of a tour guide and a map, through the introductory prompts of the following illustrations, readers are sure to enjoy a fulfilling journey through the beautiful landscapes of China's history, lingering in admiration. The overall layout fully reflects the book's emphasis on narrative-style texts, showcasing its characteristics as an encyclopedic work: dense knowledge, a strong focus on images and text, and convenient retrieval. This allows readers to feel the charm of history and culture and the ingenuity of the editorial design on any page of the book.
To better understand the stories and apply them in real-life learning, the book provides three key elements within the narrative-style texts: story introductions, story section titles, and story numbering. The story introductions summarize the essence of the stories, while both they and the story section titles are designed to help readers grasp the core of the narratives and quickly access important information in a relaxed and convenient manner. Story numbering, on the other hand, is related to the retrieval system. Each story contains essential elements such as the core content (the essence of the story), characters, and anecdotes. The book extracts these three elements, labels them at the top of each story (along with the source), and compiles them into an index at the end. The story numbering is linked to the three indexes at the back of the book: "Characters," "Anecdotes," and "Keywords." The vast amount of information and practicality of the indexes are a major feature of the book. With dense information, they compensate for the limitations of knowledge points in the narrative. The emotional impact of the stories and the rational summary of historical knowledge achieve a high degree of unity. This allows readers to see both the trees and the forest; to enjoy the aesthetic pleasure brought by the stories while also discovering the great wisdom of history.
Content from columns such as "Major Events in Chinese History," "Major Events in World History," "Cultural and Historical Encyclopedia," "Historical Examination," and picture captions are carefully selected knowledge blocks, both the essence of historical knowledge and a vivid representation of "living history," reflecting the social life and daily routines of ordinary people at the time. Complementing this are the convenient "Chinese Cultural and Historical Encyclopedia" retrieval system and images that cover a wide range of topics, deeply recreating historical realities with delicate and unique visual effects, vividly highlighting the development and changes in various aspects of social life in each historical period. Through the vivid "stories within the pictures," readers can appreciate the profound content they contain, making them a full holographic image of cultural and historical knowledge.