Ancient Silverware

Name: Ancient Silverware
ISBN: 9787546315263

于元Jilin Literature and History Publishing House · ChinaOct 2018

3.5

Word count: 31K words
Chapters: 26
ISBN: 9787546315263

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Summary

The "Chinese Culture Knowledge Reader" series is a large-scale knowledge series compiled by Jilin Literature and History Press and Jilin Publishing Group Co., Ltd. with renowned domestic experts and scholars, aiming to spread China's five thousand years of fine traditional culture and enhance the cultural cultivation of the general public.

Editor's review

Ancient Silverware, published by Jilin Literature and History Press and compiled by Yu Yuan, systematically traces the development of ancient Chinese silverware, from its emergence in the Shang and Zhou dynasties through its heyday in the Tang and Song dynasties to the pinnacle of craftsmanship in the Ming and Qing dynasties, spanning a long period and covering a wide range. The book not only details the shapes, decorative patterns, and craft characteristics of silverware in different historical periods but also delves into the social culture, economic life, and ritual systems behind it, elevating silverware from a mere object to a carrier of culture. As a professional work, its content is detailed, its textual research rigorous, and it is richly illustrated with photographs and line drawings, combining academic rigor with readability. For collectors, it is a practical guide to identification, dating, and understanding value; for researchers of history and art, it provides valuable material cultural historical sources; and for general readers, it is a window into the refined life and superb craftsmanship of the ancients. The publication of this book fills a gap in popular读物 in this field, and its value lies in presenting professional archaeological and cultural relic knowledge in a relatively plain manner, guiding readers beyond the wealth imagination of "silver taels" to appreciate the artistic and cultural brilliance of "silverware" itself.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Collectors interested in ancient Chinese material culture and artworks
Professionals and students engaged in the study or work of archaeology, museology, or art history
History enthusiasts hoping to gain a deeper understanding of ancient social life and craft techniques
Readers seeking reading materials with cultural depth and aesthetic value to enhance personal cultivation

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light entertainment or novel-style plot-driven reading
Pragmatists hoping for immediate investment and financial management or quick silverware authentication tips

Reading tips

It is recommended to read alongside the book's photographs and line drawings to intuitively appreciate the beauty of silverware forms and patterns across different eras.
You may read in chronological order of dynasties to establish a clear temporal framework, then closely read specific periods of interest.
While reading, you may consult related historical background materials to deepen your understanding of the era-specific characteristics and cultural connotations of silverware.

About the publisher

Jilin Literature and History Publishing House China · Founded in 1985

Jilin Literature and History Publishing House is a professional publisher specializing in literature, history, and social science titles, with publishing areas covering culture, theory, historical reading, military affairs, classical poetry, and medicine. Its list includes historical and military works such as National History 001: The Tragedy of the Southern Ming and Naval Battles 006: The Russian Navy before and after the Russo-Japanese War, as well as the "Chinese Culture Knowledge Reader" series, which covers Sun Tzu and military thought, ancient tea ware and Zisha art, Song Huizong Zhao Ji's contributions to painting, the Book of Songs, and Hai Rui. Medical works such as How a Famous Doctor Diagnoses Patients are also represented. Authors include Jin Kaicheng, Yang Liang, Zha Youyin, Luo Dalun, Zhiwen Fenghuo Studio, and Theodore Dodge. The press combines the popularization of literary and historical knowledge with focused research, forming a publishing profile centered on traditional culture readers and balancing academic and general reading.

版权信息
《中国文化知识读本》编委会
关于《中国文化知识读本》
一略谈白银
二银器的分类
（一）茶具
（二）法器
（三）盥洗器
（四）食器
（五）饰件
（六）药具
（七）饮器
（八）杂器
三银器史
（一）西周银器
（二）春秋战国银器
（三）秦代银器
（四）汉代银器
（五）三国魏晋南北朝银器
（六）唐代银器
（七）宋代银器
（八）元代银器
（九）明代银器
（十）清代银器
四古代著名银器
五银器的保养

FAQ

Is this book highly academic? Is it suitable for general readers with no background at all?

Published by a professional press, the book has solid content and is somewhat academic. However, the author balances accessibility, using relatively plain language and numerous illustrations, so general readers with some interest in history and culture can fully get started and gain systematic knowledge from it.

Are the images in the book clear and abundant? Do they greatly help with understanding the content?

As a cultural relic book, it includes a considerable number of photographs of actual silverware and line drawings, which are crucial for showing details of objects, decorations, and craftsmanship. They are an indispensable supplement to the text and greatly help readers build intuitive understanding.

What time period of silverware does this book mainly cover?

The book covers the major periods of ancient Chinese silverware development, from the early Shang and Zhou, Han and Tang, to Song and Yuan, and up to Ming and Qing, forming a relatively complete historical sequence, with emphasis likely on the Tang, Song, and Ming-Qing stages where craft achievements were most outstanding.

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About the author

于元 Author · Chinese

Yu Yuan is a Chinese popular-science writer and freelance author from Jilin who began publishing in 1960. He has long devoted himself to making traditional Chinese culture accessible to general readers and is the author of more than one hundred books totaling over nine million characters, including The Four Great Strange Cases of the Late Qing Dynasty, Anecdotes of Imperial Palaces Through the Ages, and The Story of Electricity and Magnetism. Public information about his life is limited. Judging from the twelve works held in the collection, his subjects range widely: inspirational and personal-growth reading for young people and general audiences, full-book reading assessments of classics, popular works on politics and social science such as Reading the Communist Manifesto and What Is Capitalism, and biographical material on Lenin's youth. His books on ancient goldware, silverware, firearms, and the history of the Paris Commune further reflect a sustained interest in history, culture, and cultural relics. Overall, his writing tends toward informative, accessible explanation, turning specialized topics into narratives that ordinary readers can readily follow.