Book Description
Gain an appreciation of Chinese art and architecture through understanding the symbols which are pervasive throughout it. The Ying/Yang, dragon, phoenix, five elements, and other symbols are explained in their historical and cultural context. Originally published in 1941, this is the standard reference book, with over 400 illustrations to help clarify and define this ancient, complex culture.
Customer Reviews:
Ian Myles Slater on: Old Work-horse Under a New Name.......2005-09-10
"Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs" by C.A.S. Williams is listed as a "third edition" and dated 1989 (Tuttle paperback) and 2000 (Castle Books hardcover, apparently with a "new" introduction by Terence Barrow which seems to have been included in a Tuttle edition in the 1970s). This suggests that it is a fairly recent book. In fact these editions reproduce the 1941 Shanghai edition of a book published in 1931 in Peking (now officially romanized as Beijing), as "Outlines of Chinese Symbolism," and previously revised in 1932.
The full title of Williams' final version was "Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives: an alphabetical compendium of antique legends and beliefs, as reflected in the manners and customs of the Chinese." Dover Publications issued it as "Outlines of Chinese and Art Motives" (note the old-fashioned spelling) in 1976 (with correction of "obvious printing errors"); under which title I have also reviewed it. There have been other editions available as well, from a variety of publishers, some of which have slightly varying titles, such as "Encyclopedia of Chinese symbolism and art motives." (The Tuttle paperback seems the only one listed by Amazon to get personal, identifying Williams as Charles Alfred Speed instead of sticking with initials, so C.A.S. Williams is the name to search under.)
With 401 illustrations (including color plates on the inside covers, jacket flaps, or elsewhere, depending on the edition), it is an extremely attractive volume, packed with information, and reasonably well arranged. Williams' compendium looks like everything an ordinary curious reader could want; and I have found nothing quite comparable to it, at least in English, although there are now excellent studies of particular symbols and concepts. (Wolfram Eberhard's "Dictionary of Chinese Symbols" has a different focus, with different strengths and weaknesses.) It is still cited in reputable works by professional Sinologists, along with Williams' "Manual of Chinese Metaphor" (1920).
It should, however, be used with caution; a useful resource to someone with the necessary background can be a snare for the rest of us. Described by Dover as the "work of a scholarly English resident of China," it does not seem to reflect professional skills as a Sinologist, and frequently reports information at second or third hand, some of it already antiquated in 1921. Williams' own observations are interesting, but largely restricted to North China, mainly Peking and its vicinity (to Williams, very properly for the time, Peiping), and various Western enclaves on the coast. It is to Williams' credit, however, that he at least tries to include some Chinese popular culture, rather than just the idealized official versions. It is a reflection of the time that he actually rather apologizes for including Buddhist (therefore "foreign") and Taoist (to the elite as well as the missionaries, "superstitious") as well as Confucian symbols and concepts.
Those who have read much about China will soon notice that the transliterations are inconsistent, and sometimes very odd, at times corresponding to no system that is readily apparent. This is particularly common in Williams' quotations from his sources. I suspect that a mixture of the use of spoken vernaculars and "classical" pronunciation in those sources, alongside differing transliteration systems themselves, is responsible; Williams doesn't seem to have made a clear statement of his approach to this problem (or I missed it). Apparently he used the Wade-Giles himself, but didn't try to impose it on quotations. In a world of books then already littered with German, French, Dutch, English, and other systems for alphabetical renderings of Chinese, and now with the continuing use of the old Wade-Giles system alongside the "official" Pinyin, both with variants, this is a real nuisance, although usually not more than that. (It would be nice if, in some future edition, a qualified person supplied current Romanized renderings for the Chinese characters; and possibly the modern, simplified form; but it doesn't seem likely. Everyone seems to prefer reproducing the old book as-is.)
More serious is Williams' sometimes free-and-easy use of materials without, apparently, checking their ultimate origin, so that his impressive citations can't always be taken at face value. (In addition, his references to nineteenth-century academic journals are of little practical help today, although inevitable when the book was first published.) In one extreme case, the result is rather amusing. Williams mentions that the standard version of the "Willow Pattern" design on porcelain was invented in England in the eighteenth century, and copied for the foreign market by Chinese manufacturers. But he then reproduces a long, romantic, story explaining it, without making it quite clear that the story is also a Western concoction, containing only a few Chinese elements, which he does identify. This leaves the impression that it is, at whatever remove, and however freely, translated from a Chinese source. Robert H. van Gulik, diplomat, scholar, and novelist, later incorporated the main points of the tale into his Judge Dee mystery, "The Willow Pattern," explaining the situation in a Postscript, which cites Williams as a readily available source for the story. The Chinese translation of his novel, he pointed out, would introduce the supposedly Chinese story to the Chinese language....
Wherever there is overlap in coverage, I try to check Williams against Wolfram Eberhard's "A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols" (referred to earlier), which, among its other merits, often mentions whether a particular concept is common Chinese, regional, local, or associated mainly with minority cultures; an issue often ignored by Williams and his sources, including missionaries and merchants who took the groups they were working with as perfect representatives of Chinese culture. Of course, the same problem was found among serious scholars, who often described everything about the better-educated Chinese they came in contact with as "typical" until told that it wasn't; and tended to regard it at as in any case more genuine than the beliefs of the vast majority of Chinese. Williams' industry was admirable; one wishes the product of it had gone through further revision.
Europeanized Chinese.......2000-11-26
There ~are~ reasons to commend this book, like the bountiful illustrations, the charts showing the evolution of Chinese characters, etc. What I fault is that at many points the author departs from accuracy and injects over-Europeanized interpretations of Chinese mythology and symbols (for instance, characterizing Tibetan Lamas as "devil-worshippers" and calling the Chinese place of the dead and its god, "Hades" - repeatedly). To be truthful, some of the illustrations are so poorly drawn that you cannot really make out what they are. The text is easy to read and the topics covered numerous. I would use this book with caution, however, checking Williams' interpretations against other, more recent sources. For the record, I am giving this book a two because the only other reviewer to write about it gave it a five and that is far too high for it. I think this should yield an average of three, which is about right for this book.
An Easy-to-use Reference on Chinese Symbolism A-Z.......2000-04-28
This book is an A-Z listing of hundreds of Chinese names and symbols, with a brief explanation of the items relevance and importance in Chinese culture and history. Want to know the symbolism behind a bat, or a peach, or a mandarin duck, or other more abstract concepts, this book is for you. A very valuable reference tool for those interested in things Chinese.
Book Description
Gain a deeper appreciation for Chinese art and architecture by understanding its symbols. The Yin and Yang, dragon, phoenix, five elements, and other symbols are explained in their historical and cultural context. Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs also includes articles on Chinese beliefs, customs, arts and crafts, foods, agriculture and medicine.
Originally published in 1941, this is the standard reference book, with over 400 illustrations to help clarify and define this ancient, complex culture.
Customer Reviews:
A straightforward survey of recurring symbols in Chinese artwork from ancient times to the modern day.......2006-07-09
Now in its fourth edition, Chinese Symbolism And Art Motifs: A Comprehensive Handbook On Symbolism In Chinese Art Through The Ages is a straightforward survey of recurring symbols in Chinese artwork from ancient times to the modern day. Divided into entries devoted to each symbol ("dragon", "phoenix", "the eight immortals", "the five elements" and much more), which are in turn presented in alphabetical order, Chinese Symbolism And Art Motifs includes over 400 black-and-white illustrations and an index for quick and easy reference. The text succinctly surveys different uses of each symbol, and also presents the names for symbols and important historical or mythical Chinese figures in Chinese characters as well as in translation. An easy-to-use guidebook especially recommended for college libraries and students and scholars of Chinese art.
Average customer rating:
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Style Motif and Design in Chinese Art
Michael J. Ridley
Manufacturer: Blandford
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Decorative Arts
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Heraldry
| Genealogy
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0713725028 |
Average customer rating:
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Art Ed Books and Kits - Teacher's Guide
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0810952289 |
Average customer rating:
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Eamonn McCabe, sports photographer
Eamonn McCabe
Manufacturer: Aurum Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Photography
| Miscellaneous
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0906053390 |
Average customer rating:
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Eamonn McCabe: Photographer
Simon Barnes , and
Eamonn McCabe
Manufacturer: William Heinemann Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Photo Essays
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Photography
| Miscellaneous
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0434981109 |
Book Description
The acclaimed national bestseller-a no-holds-barred account of what you can really expect when you're expecting
Oh, the joys of pregnancy! There's the gassiness, constipation, queasiness, and exhaustion, the forgetfulness, crankiness, and the constant worry. Of course, no woman is spared the discomforts and humiliations of pregnancy, but most are too polite to complain or too embarrassed to talk about them. Not Jenny McCarthy!
In the New York Times best-selling Belly Laughs, actress and new mother Jenny McCarthy reveals the naked truth about the tremendous joys, the excruciating pains, and the unseemly disfigurement that go along with pregnancy. Never shy, frequently crude, and always laugh-out-loud funny, McCarthy covers it all in the grittiest of girlfriend detail. From morning sickness and hormonal rage, to hemorrhoids, pregnant sex, and the torture and sweet relief that is delivery, Belly Laughs is must-read comic relief for anyone who is pregnant, who has ever been pregnant, is trying to get pregnant, or indeed, has ever been born!
Customer Reviews:
A nice change of pace..........2007-09-12
I bought this book seeking something other than the typical "What to expect when you're expecting", and that's exactly what I got. I am a sarcastic, slightly cynical person... this book was perfect for me. Jenny McCarthy is straight to the point, and shockingly honest. The book is sincere, but with the comedy edge that makes it less cheesy than most pregnancy books.
Great read for every pregnant woman.......2007-09-10
The book is very honest and very funny. Jenny does a great job at sharing all her embarassing pregnancy stories and reasures us that what we are expieriencing is in fact normal!
more comical than informative........2007-09-07
This book is easy reading however, its not as informative as I'd hoped. I am pregnant for the first time (writing under my husbands name!), and was looking for something funny AND informative. The best book for this topic I've found is "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" by Vicky Iovine. She is hilarious, and VERY informative and covers every topic. This book basically tells stories of Jenny's pregnancy - which is great - but only one persons story.
Waste of time and money.......2007-09-06
This book was a complete waste of time (the whole hour it took to read it) and money. I found many other books much more informative, upfront and honest.
COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.......2007-09-02
I LITERALLY COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN UNTIL I WAS FINISHED WITH IT. I LOVE HOW TRUTHFUL SHE WAS IN IT. I AM GLAD SHE WROTE THIS BOOK! I JUST LET ONE OF MY FRIENDS WHO IS ALSO EXPECTING THE BOOK. I HAD TOLD HER ABOUT IT AND SHE WAS WAITING UNTIL I WAS DONE. I WILL BE PURCHASING MORE BOOKS BY HER :o)
Book Description
From Reservoir Dogs in 1992 to the recent Kill Bill series, the films of Quentin Tarantino have always provoked a reaction from audiences and critics alike, many attracting a cultlike following. In this book, Edwin Page discusses each of the eight films that Tarantino has either written or directed, or both, in an attempt to find out how the former video store clerk has realized his fantasy and become one of the world's most successful and well-known directors.
Examining the inspiration and influences behind each film, as well as identifying the common threads that run through all of his work, this book aims to show the depth and complexity behind Tarantino's trademark "guns and gangsters" style.
Customer Reviews:
One for everyone.......2006-05-02
Well - I enjoyed it!!!... as an admirer of Tarantino, although not a fanatic, I found it an easy, sensible, informed read and it lead me to admire the bloke a lot more after reading this than I did before. I looked at other books recommended by the other 'critic' but they weren't (in my opinion) as smooth to read as this one - which is laid out with interesting little boxed snippets to the pages. Brilliant title by the way (which attracted me in the first place, incidentally)
Essential Addition.......2006-05-02
This is a well written and interesting read. A must for all Tarantino fans and an excellent addition and reference for your DVD collection. Not to be missed.
great read for fans!.......2006-04-30
This is a must have book for Tarantino fans. It is very easy to read and does not patronise the reader like some other film books do. Buy it now!
Doesn't live up to its promise.......2006-04-08
"Page's book is a quick glance over Tarantino's films from literary studies perspective. A good companion if you want to check out approaches on how to look at the films. Everyone who hasn't read the indispensible trio Bernard-Holm-Smith yet, or everyone who just wants to read a simple, fast and uncomplicated analysis of his films, should ca nit, but the book just is not really more than that." -Sebastian H. (Full review available at www.tarantino.info)
Average customer rating:
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El Odio a la Musica: Diez Pequenos Tratados
Pascal Quignard
Manufacturer: Andres Bello
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Música
| Entretenimiento
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
No-Ficción
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
| Automotriz
| Ciencias Sociales
| Crimen y Criminales
| Educación
| Estudios de la Mujer
| Feriados
| Filosofía
| Gobierno
| Hechos Verídicos
| Planeamiento Urbano y Desarrollo
| Política
| Sucesos de Actualidad
| Transportación
ASIN: 8489691487 |
Customer Reviews:
THE DARK SIDE OF MUSIC.......2003-02-09
El odio a la musica is a disquieting research into the dark domains of the human soul reflected in certain musical practices that range from its shamanic origins, passing through the insane dellusions of Roman Emperor Neron and the perverse use of music by the nazis in the concentration camps. We tend to take for granted the positive effects and social functions of music in our daily life. Pascal Quignard invites us to take a look into the dark side of music trough a series of historical treaties that confront us with the destructive power of music in the context of its use by power as an instrument of dominion. In this age of sound and musical saturation, where silence is a privilege of the very few, and music we do not want to listen to assaults us in most public spaces, Quignard offers us a profound insight into the non official history of music. Not for dogmatics that take for granted that music is necessarily a good thing. It all depends on the context in which any particular music is played.
Book Description
Creating scrapbook memories of cherished family food traditions is easy with this complete guide to selecting papers, laying out pages, and scrapbooking basics
Vibrant full-color photography inspires scrapbookers to preserve precious memories from classic cooking moments, as well as capture new cooking memories.
Customer Reviews:
Great Ideas and Easy to use........2006-07-19
This book is just what I needed to inspire me to make Cookbook Scrapbooks for my daughters for Christmas! I love how it encourages me to scan old dish towels, aprons, pictures and incorporate them into my Cookbook! Such a special way to share recipes and family collectibles as well. Great ideas and easy to use!
It's not a COOKBOOK w/scrapbooking materials.......2006-03-09
It may be just me, but I thought this was an actual cookbook that came w/scapbooking materials for my family recipes. I re-read Amazon's description after I'd received the book, and still I find their description not clear. This is strictly a "how to" of scrapbooking your recipes - no cookbook or scrapbooking materials included. BUT I rated this book based on it's purpose. If you're already into scrapbooking, you're probably able to come up w/your own ideas w/out the help of this book - there isn't anything spectacular.
A Terrific Source of Inspiration.......2004-11-17
Most of the pages she illustrates are the larger 12x12" size, but the author does give some examples of 5.5x7.25" and 8.5x11" pages, too. The projects are described step-by-step very clearly, and the photos of the pages are clear and bright. Overall, I found this to be a neat book with some really clever ideas. There are things I personally would not do (like use brads and buttons and stuff making the pages bulky and awkward), and I think she's wrong to use original photos and recipes, but that's my opinion. I really loved the idea of using vintage textiles as background art and clip art. It's definitely worth a look!
Great help in preserving those priceless family recipes!.......2003-10-28
I have been planning to do a family heritage cookbook for some time. This book will help me get this project going! There are wonderful ideas given for scrapbooks of all sizes including 12 x 12 - a size I thought would be difficult to do for this subject. I especially like the encouragement to use copies of recipes in the original handwriting of your family's great cooks. Our family heritage is so intertwined with the foods of our childhood. Preserving these cherished recipes in an archival format is a heartwarming gift for your family.
Average customer rating:
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People I Have Shot: My Life As a News Cameraman
Sebastian Rich , and
Lise Mayer
Manufacturer: Victor Gollancz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Television
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Media Studies
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0575046732 |
Customer Reviews:
Good read.......2007-04-19
There aren't many books by TV photojournalists. Perhaps it's because we're generally visual people. I really enjoyed this book. It was facinating to read what he was thinking while looking through the viewfinder.
If you're curious about what it's like to work in TV in warzones, this is a must read.
Books:
- Collectible Souvenir Spoons: The Grand Tour (Collectible Souvenir Spoons)
- Collecting Early Machine-Made Marbles: The M. F. Christensen & Son Company and Christensen Agate Company
- Color, Light, Sight, Sense
- Color: The Secret Influence, Second Edition
- Colored Pictures: Race and Visual Representation
- Colors: Tibor Kalman, Issues 1-13
- Conceptual Art: A Critical Anthology
- Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya
- Cowgirl Pin-Ups (Artist Archives)
- Creative Impulse: An Introduction to the Arts (7th Edition)
Books Index
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A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols: Hidden Symbols in Chinese Life and Thought
Symbols and Rebuses in Chinese Art: Figures, Bugs, Beasts, and Flowers
Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives
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