The Golden Peaches of Samarkand : A Study of T'ang Exotics / Edward H. Schafer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schafer, Edward H., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

China--Commerce--History.

China.

China--History--Tang dynasty, 618-907.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (432 p.)

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, California : University of California Press, 1985.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

In the seventh century the kingdom of Samarkand sent formal gifts of fancy yellow peaches, large as goose eggs and with a color like gold, to the Chinese court at Ch'ang-an. What kind of fruit these golden peaches really were cannot now be guessed, but they have the glamour of mystery, and they symbolize all the exotic things longed for, and unknown things hoped for, by the people of the T'ang empire. This book examines the exotics imported into China during the T'ang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907), and depicts their influence on Chinese life. Into the land during the three centuries of T'ang came the natives of almost every nation of Asia, all bringing exotic wares either as gifts or as goods to be sold. Ivory, rare woods, drugs, diamonds, magicians, dancing girls--the author covers all classes of unusual imports, their places of origin, their lore, their effort on costume, dwellings, diet, and on painting, sculpture, music, and poetry. This book is not a statistical record of commercial imports and medieval trade, but rather a "humanistic essay, however material its subject matter.".

Contents:

Frontmatter

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

List of Plates

Introduction

I. The Glory of Tang

II. Men

III. Domestic Animals

IV. Wild Animals

V. Birds

VI. Furs and Feathers

VII. Plants

VIII. Woods

IX. Foods

X. Aromatics

XI. Drugs

XII. Textiles

XIII. Pigments

XIV. Industrial Minerals

XV. Jewels

XVI. Metals

XVII. Secular Objects

XVIII. Sacred Objects

XIX. Books

Notes

Bibliography

Glossary A. Names and Titles

Glossary B. Words

Index

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780520341142

0520341147

OCLC:

1163878629