China presents the most impressive civilization in human history. This site contains five subdirectories and five links, Michael McKenny's synopses and reviews of some thirteen original works, including synopses of THE SCHOLARS, the 70 chapter SHUI HU (called ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS in Pearl S. Buck's English translation), the 120 chapter SAN KUO in C.H. Brewitt-Taylor's literary translation, the five volumes of the Penguin translation of Hong Lou Meng, an incomplete poetic response to Chuang Tzu, reviews of two poetry anthologies and synopses and reviews to eleven highly significant secondary works. For the past several years, Autumn has been a time for enjoying some great Chinese work and adding reviews here. Journey to the West (Monkey) was the one great novel left. Last updated on December 15, 2006 C.E. this section now includes a brief summary of the one hundred chapters of the Foreign Languages Press English translation of Journey to the West and a brief summary of Sally Hovey Wriggins' book about the historical Xuanzang, both read during the Autumn of 2006.
THREE KINGDOMS Special SAN KUO subsection. This now features in four files Michael McKenny's synopsis of the 120 chapter novel, an initial review of SAN KUO, a summary of some of the supplementary material in the Moss Roberts translation and "Preliminary Obervations." In addition this links to three other SAN KUO sites.
Hong Lou Meng Special Hong Lou Meng subsection containing initially a plot synopsis of the five volume Penguin translation of this really awesome literary work, as well as a brief review of the Foreign Languages Press edition.
Chinese Divination A special subsection containing at present brief reviews of works on the I CHING, THE CLASSIC OF THE SUPREME MYSTERY and Suzanne White's charming THE NEW CHINESE ASTROLOGY as well as a synopsis of Richard J. Smith's superb study FORTUNE TELLERS AND PHILOSOPHERS.
PAN Special subdirectory for the prominent Pan family of the Later Han Dynasy. At present this consists of a brief review of Pan Ku's HISTORY OF THE FORMER HAN DYNASTY, a lengthier review of his third volume's material on Wang Mang and a review of Nancy Lee Swann's volume on Pan Chao.
Monkey Special subdirectory for the novel Journey to the West at present containing a precis of the novel's one hundred chapters and a brief summary of Sally Hovey Wriggins' book about the historical Xuanzang
I. - Confucius' Analects A brief summary of the D.C. Lau translation and commentary in the Penguin edition.
II - MENCIUS A brief review of this second originary Confucian philosopher's work.
III - CHUANG TZUThe first fifteen books as perceived poetically by Michael McKenny.
IV - Shan hai ching Classic of Mountains and Seas. A review of this very valuable mythological work
V- Stories from a Ming Collection A plot synopsis of some half dozen Ming short stories.
VI - Jou Pu Tuan Prayer Mat of Flesh. A plot synopsis of this Ming novel.
VII - The Dragon King's Daughter A review of this volume of ten T'ang Dynasty Stories
VIII - A God's Own Tale A brief review of this interesting Twelfth Century divine autobiography.
IX - SHUI HU 1 to 35 A plot synopsis of the first half of Pearl S. Buck's translation of the magnificent aged novel which she calls ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS.
X - SHUI HU 36-70 A plot synopsis of the second half of Pearl S. Buck's translation of the magnificent aged novel which she calls ALL MEN ARE BROTHERS.
XI - THE SCHOLARS A synopsis of Wu Ching-tzu's superb portrayal of scholarly life in Ming China.
XII - LI PO AND TU FU, etc A review of the Penguin translation by Arthur Cooper, as well as a review of some of the Penguin anthology POEMS OF THE LATE T'ANG.
1. THE BIRTH OF CHINA A synopsis of Herrlee Creel's 1937 fascinating account of Shang and Chou civilization.
2. SHANG CIVILIZATION A synopsis of Kwang-chih Chang's 1980 scholarly account.
3. - The Rise of Civilization in East Asia by Gina L. Barnes. A review of this 1990s archaeological survey.
4. - Cambridge Historyof Ancient China. A Summary of this major secondary historical source.
5.
Kuan-yin A synopsis of Chun-fang Yu's superb work on the transformation of the Buddhist bodhisattva into this great compassionate goddess.
6.
SON OF HEAVEN A review of C.P. Fitzgerald's splendid biography of Li Shih-Min the great consolidator of the T'ang dynasty.
7. -
Under the Ancestor's Shadow, Francis L. K. Hsu. A precis of "The first full statement on Chinese religion based upon field work carried out according to modern scientific techniques."
8. -
When China Ruled The Seas, Louise Levanthes. A precis of this fascinating study of far ranging Ming maritime exploration.
9. -
Su Tung-p'o A summary of Lin Yutang's 1947 sensitive biography of this outstanding Sung poet, calligrapher, artist and outspoken critic of imperial policies.
10. -
THE CHINESE IN AMERICA Michael McKenny's synopsis of Iris Chang's superb study of the enormous contribution of Chinese to the development of the US.
Link to Rutgers Chinese language learning site.
chinaculture.org Link to the Chinese Embassy's richly informative site.