Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

Enter the dragon

symbol of imperial power, as lucky as the number nine

First Emperor of All China

a terracotta army, book bonfires, a travelling corpse and the start of the Great Wall

Founding Dynasty: the Han

early trade along the Silk Road, a cruel Empress, a heavenly horse, the invention of paper

Age of Disunion

The Cave of a Thousand Buddhas

Golden Dynasty: the Tang

Building the Grand Canal, three quarrelling princes, China's only woman Emperor, a love-struck ruler

Divided Dynasty: the Song

a soldier enthroned, defeat in the north, the six evil men, flying money and foot-binding

Mongol Dynasty: the Yuan

wild horsemen from the north, the marble palace of Kublai Khan, a giant catapult

Eunuchs' Dynasty: the Ming

About the Author

Adeline Yen Mah's memoir, Falling Leaves, was published in 1997 and became an international bestseller. Her other books include A Thousand Pieces of Gold, Watching the Tree and two children's books, Chinese Cinderella and Chinese Cinderella and the Secret Dragon Society.

Reviews

Gr 6 Up-Novel-sized, and with a novel's worth of action, romance, betrayal, and irony, this immensely readable account of the entirety of Chinese history is sure to captivate readers. The chapters are broken into one- or two-page sections, with many brief sidebars, making the book accessible and unintimidating. Plentiful illustrations-photographs as well as reproductions-enliven nearly every page. Mah writes in a personal, friendly tone, at one point warning readers to "jump two paragraphs if you don't like violence." Clearly, she is telling stories that she knows well, and she doesn't skimp on the details, which can be gory, tragic, slightly saucy, or merely entertaining. Well-labeled, good-sized maps are provided on a regular basis, as are metric and English measurements and currency conversion where appropriate. This is an authoritative and entertaining account of the plucky orphans, egotistical monarchs, raving beauties, and scheming empresses who made China what it is today.-Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.

Mah (Chinese Cinderella) brings East to West in this concise, reader-friendly history of China that contains more than 80 photographs of famous figures and artifacts. Spanning 2,000 years of strife and victories, the book mainly focuses on China's six dynasties, which are introduced in chronological order and are followed by brief portraits of post-dynasty leaders. Straightforward narrative sheds light on the rise and fall of each empire, defining leaders' accomplishments as well as their acts of tyranny. Of Qin Shi-huang, China's first emperor, Mah states: "Hard-working and disciplined, he read 55 kilograms (120 pounds) of reports written on bamboo slips every day." (And because he wanted Chinese history to begin with his rule: "He ordered all books written before him to be burned. Any scholar who dared to object was buried alive.") Brief sections that explain Chinese attitudes, superstitions, inventions (including gun powder, porcelain and paper) and even the role of palace eunuchs are both entertaining and enlightening. Complete with maps, a time line, index and extensive bibliography, this accessible work will be an invaluable resource for students and young history buffs. Ages 12-up. (June) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.