Chinas status as an emerging superpower has captured the interest and attention of the entire world in recent times. Underlying the politics and economic structures, however, is a rich and deeply textured history of a people whose contributions to science, philosophy, mathematics, the arts, and a host of other subjects date back millennia. The events, ideas, religions, people, and places that have assumed a central place in the Chinese way of life are examined in depth in this comprehensive and far-reaching series. From Chinas dynastic past to the post-Mao era, this set surveys the epic transformations that make the country what it is today. Memorable photographs and illustrations accompany the text and transport readers across time and place to experience traditions and locales at the same time unique and not unlike their own.