The Land of Jade
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Summary
Editor's review
Xiao Dongfa's writing combines scholarly rigor with literary elegance; his historical research is solid and his arguments are clear and forceful. He does not stop at the platitude that "gold has a price, but jade is priceless." Instead, drawing on archaeological discoveries, classical texts, and artistic evolution, he sketches a vivid historical panorama of how jade evolved from an object of primitive worship into a symbol of royal authority, an emblem of gentlemanly virtue, and finally a folk symbol of good fortune. Reading this book, readers can deeply feel that behind a single piece of warm, smooth jade lies thousands of years of institutional change, intellectual development, and aesthetic taste.
The book's value for readers lies in the deep cognitive model it offers: "seeing civilization through objects." It can satisfy the intellectual curiosity of collectors of cultural artifacts and history enthusiasts, and it can also open a window for all readers curious about the roots of Chinese culture to understand the unique character and continuity of Chinese civilization. The discussion of jade virtue and personal cultivation is especially thought-provoking and retains contemporary relevance.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- History and culture enthusiasts with a deep interest in the origins and character of Chinese civilization
- Collectors of cultural artifacts and jade who want to understand its cultural significance rather than merely identify it
- Students and professionals in art history, archaeology, and cultural studies
- Readers seeking to connect the essence of traditional culture with contemporary life
Not a good fit for
- Pragmatists who only want quick jade appraisal tips or market investment guides
- Light readers expecting novel-like strong narrative or extensive color images
Reading tips
- Can be read alongside general Chinese history works, placing the thread of jade culture within a broader historical context
- Keep a map of China at hand while reading to locate the important archaeological sites and jade sources mentioned
- Take notes on key chapters such as "the ritual jade system" and "the theory of jade virtue" to trace the evolution of ideas
About the publisher
Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序 言
- 玉之起源——新石器时期玉文化
- 黄河流域新石器时期玉器
- 东北地区红山文化的玉器
- 长江中下游地区的早期玉器
- 东南沿海新石器时期玉器
- 礼玉礼用——夏商周玉文化
- 表现礼玉文化的夏代玉器
- 展现灿烂景象的商代玉器
- 赋予君子德行的西周玉器
- 精巧华丽的春秋战国玉器
- 玉堂金马——秦汉隋唐玉文化
- 秦代简单质朴的玉器珍品
- 彰显王者之风的汉代玉器
- 开创全新局面的隋唐玉器
- 玉国之盛——宋元明清玉文化
- 形神兼备的宋辽金玉器
- 大气精致的元代玉器
- 追求装饰美的明代玉器
- 集历代之大成的清代玉器
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About the author
Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.
Xie Difei is an author about whom limited public information is available. Five of his works are held in the collection, with The Land of Jade and Tracing the Origins of Pottery as representative titles. Judging from their subjects, he focuses on traditional Chinese material culture, exploring and recounting the history of objects such as jade and pottery and weaving historical knowledge into accessible narratives. His works are commonly found in the categories of culture and history readings, and also appear under exam-related and inspirational growth headings, suggesting that his writing intersects popular knowledge with study support. Available sources do not record his nationality, dates of birth and death, education, or professional positions, making a full biographical outline difficult; understanding of the author and his work therefore still depends largely on the works themselves.
