这本书不是一本介绍中国文化简单常识的通俗读物，不是一本中国文化的小百科辞典，更不是一本文化导游手册，而是一本能显示中国文化内在精神和中国人的活生生的心灵世界、文化性格、生活态度、审美情趣的文化读物。

本书抓住中国文化中一些有特色的内容和亮点，用典型的事例和材料进行具体和深入的介绍。在介绍知识的同时，力求讲出中国文化的精神，讲出中国文化的内在意味，讲出中国文化的核心价值，显出中国人的心灵世界、文化性格、生活态度和审美情趣。本著作不仅能为国内外读者提供一种对中国文化的生动的、通俗的介绍，而且能为国内外读者提供一种对中国文化的新鲜的、有深度的认识。

Featuring the distinctive heights of Chinese culture, the authors share with you their insights into the concepts and passions of the Chinese nation over the past 5,000 years. On reading through this historical range of remarkable creativity and flair for innovation, still evident today in living artistic masterpieces and folk traditions, you soon acquire a better understanding of the cultural character, life views, aesthetic pursuits and national spirit of the Chinese people. Through every work of art or architecture, a fascinating story or legend unfolds……

Wisdom and Beliefs

1.Confucian Thought on Heaven and Humanity

Confucius on Heaven：the Source of Everything

Confucius on People：ren(仁) and li(礼)

Confucius on the State of Life

2.Laozi's Philosophy of Non-action

Naturalness and Non-action

The Philosophy of Non-contention

Returning to a Newborn State

3.Sunzi'Art of war：Source for All Books on War

The Strategic Thoughts of Sunzi

The Dialectical Thinking of Sunzi

Sunzi's Cautions Against War

Sunzi's Wisdom Beyond the Military

4.The Temple of Heaven：Reverence with Awe and Gratitude

Ceremonial Offerings of the Emperor

Holding Nature in Awe

Humanity and Heaven in Communion

5.Eco-awareness in Traditional Chinese Culture

The Philosophy of“Life”

Ecological Aesthetics

Humans at One with Other Living Things

Greativity and Exchange

6.Chinese Characters：Poetic Symbols

Symbols of Sentiment

Graceful Olympic Symbols

7.The Silk Road

Zhang Qian，Trail Blazer

Opening to the“West”

Murals in the Kuche Grottoes

8.Openness of the Great Tang

Arts fromAll Corners ofthe World

Religious Diversity

Seeking Buddhist Truths

Chang'an as an International Metropolis

9.Zheng He's Voyages to the Western Seas

Advanced Navigation Civilization

Spreading Peace

10.The Great Wall

Aspiration for Peace

Separation and Integration

Spirit ofthe GreatWall

Wonder of the Great Wall

11.The Forbidden City：Glorious and Awe-inspiring

Concealed Contours of a Dragon

The Colors of the Forbidden City

Art and Aesthetics

12.Music：Govern the Country，Nourish the Mind

Governance Through Music

Consoling the Mind with Music

13.Spiritual Essence in Bronzeware

Great Ding for Yu

Lotus andCraneKettles

Galloping Horse Overtaking a Flying Swallow

14.A Silent Army

Discovery of the Terracotta Army

Vivid Sculpture

15.The Eternal Smile of the Buddha

Beautiful Guanyin in the Mogao Grottoes

Smiling Buddha in the Maijishan Grottoes

Buddha of Brightness in the Longmen Grottoes

Compassionate Buddha of Qingzhou

16.Flying Strokes of Calligraphy

Rhythm of Calligraphy

Wang Xizhi andPreface to the LantingPavilion Collection

“Hidden Style”of the Yan Script

17 The Charm of Ink and Wash

Black-and-White World

Shaping Beyond Likeness

Landscape Painting of the Song and Yuan Dynasties

Innovation after the Ming and Qing Dynasties

18.Porcelain-Calling Card of Chinese Culture

Nature's Craft

Pure BlueandWhite Porcelain

A Subtle and Reserved World

Shape and Imagery

19.Gardens South of the Yangtze River

A Winding Path to Places of Interest

Fascinating Stones

A Sense of Space

20 Peking Opera：Artistry of Performers

The Delights of Peking Opera Masks

Peking Opera Performance：Sing，Speak，Act，and Fight

The Beauty of a“Virtual World”

“Watching a Play Is Watching Famous Actors”

Mei Lanfang，Great Peking Opera Artist

21.A Variety of Splendid Folk Arts

Cloisonn6：Artifacts with the Gleam of Precious Gems

New Year Pictures：Enhancing the Festive Atmosphere

Papercuts：a World Created with Scissors

Embroidery：Ten Fingers Like a Spring Breeze

Shadow Play：the Art of Light and Shadow

Folk Gustoms

22.Urban Customs in A Riverside Scene at Qingming Fesgval

A Horizontal Scroll of the Scenery along the Bianhe River

Urban Civilization of the Northern Song Dynasty

23.Customs and Charms of Old Beijing

Food in Old Beijing

Alleys and Hawkers'Cries

Bustling Tianqiao

Temple Fairs in Old Beijing

Leisure Life in Old Beijing

24.Modern G1amour of Old Shanghai

The Most Open City

Fashion Seekers

Shikumen and the Customs of the Alleys

25.Traditional Costumes

Graceful Tang-style Fashion

Beautiful Cheongsam

Natural Wax Printing

Splendid Stage Costumes

26.Culinary Delights in China

Local Chinese Cuisines

Every Dish Has a Story

Warmth and Hospitality Expressed by Food

Superb Skills of Chinese Chefs

27.Life with Fragrant Tea

Magical Functions of Tea

Ways of Savoring Tea

Tea Drinking and Folk Customs

28.Civil Residences in Deep Alleys

Siheyuan in Beijing

Ancient Town of Lijiang

White Walls and Black Tiles，Anhui

Xitang,a Serene Water W0rld

29.Martial Arts and Cuju

Martial Arts of the Shaolin Temple

Flowing Shadow Boxing

Martial Arts from the Heart

Cuju Flew Higher than Birds

30.GO：a Game of Wits

A Game on Rotted Ax-handle Mountain

Wisdom at Play

A Game of Peace

Hand Conversations

A Brief Chronology of Chinese History

Index of Persons

Index of Major Sights