Approaching China: Nine Paths of Understanding

China is one of the least understood and most underestimated places on earth, and one integral to events worldwide. For those seeking to understand this complex, dynamic country, comprehensible entry points are much needed.

This book introduces the reader to China's past and present through nine distinct themes: territory (guo), city (cheng), temple (si), gods (shen), home (jia), texts (wen), body (shen), food (shi), and people (min). The text will be of interest to anyone looking to grasp China, its long political, religious, and cultural histories, and the complexities of how an imperial system transforms into a modern nation-state and a new form of empire in our contemporary world.