The writer and historian Zhang Dai is recognized as one of the intellectual heavyweights of China's Ming dynasty. When he was born into a wealthy family in 1597, the Ming dynasty had been in place for 229 years. Zhang Dai lived the first part of his life in a climate of political stability and cultural creativity: for China's late Ming period was a golden age - a time of wide-scale philanthropy, of significant achievements in the visual arts, literature and music, and of energetic inquiry in the fields of medicine and ...
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The writer and historian Zhang Dai is recognized as one of the intellectual heavyweights of China's Ming dynasty. When he was born into a wealthy family in 1597, the Ming dynasty had been in place for 229 years. Zhang Dai lived the first part of his life in a climate of political stability and cultural creativity: for China's late Ming period was a golden age - a time of wide-scale philanthropy, of significant achievements in the visual arts, literature and music, and of energetic inquiry in the fields of medicine and science.When the Ming were overthrown by the Manchu invasion of 1644, however, Zhang Dai's family lost its fortune and way of life. Zhang Dai fled to the countryside, where, as a writer of skill and acuity and passion, he spent his final 40 years recounting his previous way of life as a way of leaving a legacy to his children and rebuilding a spirit shattered by the violent upheaval he had witnessed. The distinguished China scholar Jonathan Spence has pored over Zhang Dai's extraordinary documents, and in "Return to Dragon Mountain" he brings 17th-century China vividly to life. Absorbing, subtle, and beautifully observed, "Return to Dragon Mountain" illuminates a complex and sophisticated society at a moment of profound cultural transformation. And in doing so, it reveals the ways in which China's history continues to affect its place in the world today.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. Clean from markings. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 550grams, ISBN: 9780670063574.
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Good. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 352 p. Contains: Maps. May show signs of wear, highlighting, writing, and previous use. This item may be a former library book with typical markings. No guarantee on products that contain supplements Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Twenty-five year bookseller with shipments to over fifty million happy customers.
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Fine. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 352 p. Contains: Maps. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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Good. Ships in a BOX from Central Missouri! May not include working access code. Will not include dust jacket. Has used sticker(s) and some writing or highlighting. UPS shipping for most packages, (Priority Mail for AK/HI/APO/PO Boxes).
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Fine. TRUST OUR FEEDBACK RATING. USED LIKE NEW.1. Construction of the book is Like new i.e. Tight spine, perfect binding. Pages are clean and unmarred, No writing, No highlighting, No marks No underlining, No smudges on any of the pages. No page discoloration. Fresh, clean front cover with no tears, creases or marks. Only very minimal (if any) shelf wear along the edges and sides of the cover and pages. This is a fantastic looking book. All books are mailed out in a bubble wrap mailer to protect your purchase. Orders are ALWAYS shipped same day or next day with FREE TRACKING emailed to you automatically. (WE TRY HARD TO DESCRIBE OUR BOOKS ACCURATELY SO YOU CAN BUY WITH CONFIDENCE)
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Good. Ships in a BOX from Central Missouri! May not include working access code. Will not include dust jacket. Has used sticker(s) and some writing or highlighting. UPS shipping for most packages, (Priority Mail for AK/HI/APO/PO Boxes).
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Good. Good book. Some wear to cover edges and corners. Note on inside front cover and first page. Light stains on outer page edges. Two small creases on spine.
This fascinating biography of a Ming Dynasty
member of an elite family, during the time of the collapse of the Ming and the establishment of the Manchu Ching Dynasty,
introduces a man interesting in his own right.
Even more intriguing is the detailed background of life in 17th Century China--the economy, agriculture, food, trade, literature, and anything one can imagine about a culture so different in time and location from our own.