History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Day Of The Dragon-King (Magic Tree House 14, paper)

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MY BOY LOVES READING
Day of the dragon kings
Jack & Annie in China
the burning of the books
The Trip to China

Day Of The Dragon-King (Magic Tree House 14, paper)
Mary Pope Osborne
Manufacturer: Random House Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679890513
Release Date: 1998-04-20

Book Description

Jack and Annie set off to find an original copy of an ancient Chinese myth. Armed only with their magic library cards, they must take on a book-burning emperor. But with the help of a scholar and a silk weaver, they triumph again.

Customer Reviews:

MY BOY LOVES READING.......2007-01-07

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

Day of the dragon kings.......2006-11-17

this book Its great because anyone liked cartoon this book would like him

Jack & Annie in China.......2006-04-25

When Jack and Annie found out that they were going to China, they went straight to the treehouse. They met Morgan there, and she told them that they had to save a library in China. The dragon king was going to burn all the books, because he didn't like them. Jack and Annie saw a huge map of the castle where the emporer lived and they used it to help them find the library. In the end, Jack and Annie saved the library and were heroes again.

I liked this book because of the Terra Cotta soldiers (we have one of these at home !), the Chinese hats that Jack and Annie wore, and the dragon kings clothes. And I think I'm a good judge of Chinese things, since I was born in China !

the burning of the books.......2006-02-02

I hate the way the Dragen King wanted to burn all the books in China. But I am glad that Jack and Annie saved one. They escaped eveything.

The Trip to China.......2005-04-13

This story take place on China in the 1970, the boy and the girl were ready to go to China and they go in to get the bamboo book that is on the city, and they find two Chinese people. They take them to the city and they see people selling fish, the boy told them if they can take them to the library to find the bamboo book that has all the secrets of China.
This book is mostly about two kids that go to China to look for the bamboo book that is in the city of China. They went to the library with the secret library card and finally they found the bamboo book.

In my opinion, I think its a very good book because, the trip to China and the Great Wall and the Dragon King's tomb.

Average customer rating:

Fine Collection and Commentary on Cuisine Influences
My favorite Frugal Gourmet Cookbook
The Greek section outdoes the average Greek home cooking
One of my favorite books! ! !

Frugal Gourmet Cooks Three Ancient
Smith
Manufacturer: INGRAM BOOK COMPANY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0688075894

Customer Reviews:

Fine Collection and Commentary on Cuisine Influences.......2002-01-24

Taking Chineese, Greek and Roman cooking influences, Smith ofTV fame brings forth an offering which resembles the James Beard books which provide not only great recipes but a running commentary on the culture which produces the food and some experience remembrances by the author.

This is fun cooking and well done. Well representative of the cuisines and done with helpful hints on each.

A workhorse for the cook willing to use it to branch out and experiement in these formative areas of food history. For openers, try Spareribs with Black Beans and Pepper Sauce, Halvah Cake or the Seafood Risotto.

My humble opinion is that Roman cooking is slighted out of the three. See Malto Mario for some great Rome recipes.

My favorite Frugal Gourmet Cookbook.......2001-10-02

This book by Jeff Smith has to be my favorite one that he has written. This book focuses on recipes from China, Greece, and Rome. The recies in this book are flavorful, and very enjoyable. My favorite recipe in here is strangely enough Garlic, Eggs, and Pasta. There is a wide range in recipes, both in flavors and ingredients. Jeff Smith does an excellent job of paring history as well as anecdotes with all of his recipes. This should be a must add for anyone who enjoys historical cooking.

The Greek section outdoes the average Greek home cooking.......1998-10-25

Whenever I entertain my Greek relatives, they are amazed by my flair in their native cooking. Jeff's recipes are easy to follow and make Greek cooking simple.

One of my favorite books! ! !.......1998-05-11

Jeff Smith is on of my favorite authors. I know he is not a renouned one,but his cookbooks are so interesting especially Three Ancient Cusines. If you love different and exotic recipies, then buy this book!!! Chef Marian Thompson

The Qin Terracotta Army: Treasures of Lintong (National Museums & Monuments of Ancient China Ser.))

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The Qin Terracotta Army: Treasures of Lintong (National Museums & Monuments of Ancient China Ser.))
Zhang Wenli
Manufacturer: London Editions (Hk) Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0856674508

Book Description

A fascinating study of this amazing archaeological discovery.

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Mapping Tantra
Unacknowledged contributors
The choice of topics misses the heart of tantra
Good overview...
Forgets to focus on the central idea of tantra

Tantra in Practice

Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0691057788

Book Description

As David White explains in the Introduction to Tantra in Practice, Tantra is an Asian body of beliefs and practices that seeks to channel the divine energy that grounds the universe, in creative and liberating ways. The subsequent chapters reflect the wide geographical and temporal scope of Tantra by examining thirty-six texts from China, India, Japan, Nepal, and Tibet, ranging from the seventh century to the present day, and representing the full range of Tantric experience--Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and even Islamic. Each text has been chosen and translated, often for the first time, by an international expert in the field who also provides detailed background material. Students of Asian religions and general readers alike will find the book rich and informative.

The book includes plays, transcribed interviews, poetry, parodies, inscriptions, instructional texts, scriptures, philosophical conjectures, dreams, and astronomical speculations, each text illustrating one of the diverse traditions and practices of Tantra. Thus, the nineteenth-century Indian Buddhist Garland of Gems, a series of songs, warns against the illusion of appearance by referring to bees, yogurt, and the fire of Malaya Mountain; while fourteenth-century Chinese Buddhist manuscripts detail how to prosper through the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper by burning incense, making offerings to scriptures, and chanting incantations. In a transcribed conversation, a modern Hindu priest in Bengal candidly explains how he serves the black Goddess Kali and feeds temple skulls lentils, wine, or rice; a seventeenth-century Nepalese Hindu praise-poem hammered into the golden doors to the temple of the Goddess Taleju lists a king's faults and begs her forgiveness and grace. An introduction accompanies each text, identifying its period and genre, discussing the history and influence of the work, and identifying points of particular interest or difficulty.

The first book to bring together texts from the entire range of Tantric phenomena, Tantra in Practice continues the Princeton Readings in Religions series. The breadth of work included, geographic areas spanned, and expert scholarship highlighting each piece serve to expand our understanding of what it means to practice Tantra.

Customer Reviews:

Mapping Tantra .......2006-12-04

D.G. White, author of the excellent yogic study and adventure story, "The Alchemical Body," here presents an edited compilation of articles about authentic Tantra traditions taken from the length & breadth of Indian-influenced Asia. Countries & cultures include: India (obviously), China, Tibet/Nepal and Japan, with articles on Hindu, Buddhist, Jain (Jain? yes, Jain), Islamic (!) and Shinto tantric traditions. Before this volume, who would have guessed at the sheer geographical pervasiveness of Tantric traditions? Topics vary from architecture to ethnography to poetry. The quality of the contributions is uniformly very good--well-written and well-organized--and most chapters include a translation, in whole or part, of an important or obscure tantra. The strongest point is that the authors are scholars, not practitioners, with the associated advantage is that, at last (and at least) the reader can avoid the fluff, hype and BS that pervades the field of so-called "Tantra." Reading this volume will go a long ways toward removing our conditioned ignorance, delusion and gullibility about "sacred sex" and "sacred orgasms," the phallacy of worshipping the linga/yoni of your current hot-sex partner as a god/dess, and the like. The jewels herein are too numerous to recount, but some of my favorites include Hudson's chapter, "Tantric Rites in Antal's Poetry," which rather lovingly introduces the poetry of Antal, a kind of Tamil Mirabai. Kudos to numerous authors for emphasizing the relationship between bhakti and tantra. The down side is that the authors are scholars, not practitioners, with the concomitant lack of experiential understanding about what actual tantric practices consisted of, and of what "cosmological homology," as a body of psychospiritual praxis rooted in various yogic practices, actually means in lived experience. (But, as White says in his Introduction, practice without theory is like a map without a legend.) That said, this volume does not suffer from the epidemic of post-modern sophistry--that is, you won't find here pretty words cleverly arranged to signify that Tantra was mere artwork or political posturing by miscreants (this disorder characterizes much of the sociological/literary-critic studies on Tantra). In short, what this volume sets out to do, it does very well. Still, to grasp actual tantric practice, you'll have to look elsewhere. But I am afraid that my guru forbade me to indicate where....

Unacknowledged contributors.......2004-06-03

The correct title of the book should read Tantra in Practice (Princeton Readings in Religions) by David Gordon White (Editor), Beavis and Butthead.

The choice of topics misses the heart of tantra.......2004-05-30

I would not recommend this book since the choice of topics enfogs the subject rather than illuminating it. This collection does indeed have some excellent contributions from leading scholars, but it is the whole package that is disappointing. I was also disappointed with White's own contributions.

Good overview..........2001-08-30

World-class scholars ANDRE PADOUX, PAUL E. MULLER-ORTEGA, DOUGLAS R. BROOKS and many others come together to write about Buddhist Tantra, Hindu Tantra, Jain Tantra, and Tantra and Islam in South Asia; //the countries covered are China, India, Japan, Nepal and Tibet.//
The topics discussed include:
--GURUS AND ADEPTS including "The Tantric Guru" by Andre Padoux, one of the best Kashmir Shaivism scholars in the world.
--KINGS AND PRIESTS
--DEVOTEES AND DEITIES
--TRADITIONS IN TRANSITIONS AND CONFLICTS
--TANTRIC PATHS including "The Ocean of the Heart: Selections from the Kularnava Tantra" by Douglas R. Brooks, one of the only brilliant scholars in the world to know Tantra "from the inside".
--RITES AND TECHNIQUES --YOGA AND MEDITATION
including "On the Seal of Shambhu: A Poem by Abhinavagupta" by Paul E. Muller-Ortega, the leading authority on Abhinavagupta, one of the 3 best scholars of Kashmir Shaivism with Alexis Sanderson and Andre Padoux.
//Any Indology student has to have read this book.

Forgets to focus on the central idea of tantra.......2001-05-02

This book has many excellent articles. Yet, it forgets to focus on the central idea of tantra which is the connections between the outer and inner cosmologies. The contributions thus get lost in the details, unable to find the grammar that would unlock the esoteric language of the medieval tantra texts.

The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs

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The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs
read Dagyab Rinpoche's Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture
The 'Wonderful' Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs!!!
Great book
The most useful and insightful art book on the shelves

The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs
Robert Beer
Manufacturer: Shambhala
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 157062416X
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Amazon.com

Tibetan Buddhism has one of the most complex iconographies of any religion. Robert Beer, the artist who brought to life the saints of Tibetan Buddhism in Buddhist Masters of Enchantment, has now brought the myriad symbols of Tibetan Buddhist art to life. Not exactly arranged like an encyclopedia, this book is more like a tour of the categories of Tibetan Buddhist symbols, beginning with Landscape Elements (rocks, clouds, rainbows, etc.); moving on to such areas as Flowers and Trees, Cosmology, and Mudras (hand gestures); and ending with Geometric Borders. Exquisitely detailed line drawings (using fine-pointed traditional brushes) are grouped on full-size plates, each of which the author tells us took between 50 and 200 hours to draw. The eight years that went into this book are revealed not only in the drawings but also in the text that is equally detailed in its descriptions of the religious significance of the symbols as well as their sources and development in Tibetan art. Beer's encyclopedic knowledge has not come from book learning, but from 30 years of doing Tibetan art and learning firsthand from Tibetan masters. After glimpsing just of few of these plates, you'll be calling Beer a master too. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

For artists, designers, and all with an interest in Buddhist and Tibetan art, this is the first exhaustive reference to the seemingly infinite variety of symbols found throughout Tibetan art in line drawings, paintings, and ritual objects. Hundreds of the author's line drawings depict all the major Tibetan symbols and motifsâlandscapes, deities, animals, plants, gurus, mudras (ritual hand gestures), dragons, and other mythic creaturesâranging from complex mythological scenes to small, simple ornaments.

Customer Reviews:

The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs.......2007-07-09

Recieved the book promptly and in the condition promised. The book is an excellent source book. It does suffer from being without an index, for which the author apologizes. A source book without index is less than it should be. Still the images are excellent, and I assume the text is accurate. The author has spent a good portion of his working life in preparation: studying with Tibetan artists and craftspeople; and, becoming accomplished at rendering the brush drawings in an authentic manner. A good compaion book, especially as this does not have a index, is the "Handbook" by the same author

read Dagyab Rinpoche's Buddhist Symbols in Tibetan Culture.......2006-06-04

It's a more interesting and authoritative reference for this subject matter. This is due to Rinpoche being a qualified (I emphasise the word 'qualified') Lama and Tibetan scholar. Also at no point does Rinpoche compromise Tibetan Buddhism by giving away restricted information.

The 'Wonderful' Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs!!!.......2006-02-23

I love this book. Having found it a few years back at a tattoo shop in Santa Cruz, California, I was only able to look at it for a short time but I was able to gain so much knowledge as to the wealth of designs and deep meaning found in Tibetan art. This book stayed in my mind thereafter. Here it is a few years and a couple tattoos later and the book resurfaced on Amazon. Great price, great condition and prompt service. This book is great for one who has interest in Tibetan art and it's symbolic nature. The concepts are well articulated and with each 'type' placed into a different chapter it makes refrencing quite simple. If you are interested, get this book!

Great book.......2005-10-23

Great book, with lots of details. If you are interested in tibetan handicrafts, here you can get any tibetan design you can imagine.

The most useful and insightful art book on the shelves.......2004-05-30

If you are looking for beautiful, black and white line drawings of Tibetan (and Chinese) art then this book is for you. The book has 169 plates (some plates have over 40 pieces/objects) accompanied by a detailed explanation of its origins, meanings, and uses. The plates/objects are crisp and clear, which make is easy to...umm..."study" (all text and illustrations are protected by copyright law, of course.)

Included in this book are:
Landscape elements
Flowers and trees
Animals (with the beautifully intense snow-lion)
Narrative subjects (Four Friends)
Cosmology (with a beautiful full-page astrological diagram)
Mudras (postures of hands and feet)
The Chakravartin and his Seven Precious Possessions
Auspicious symbols (endless knots, golden fishes, et. al.)
Various peaceful offerings (covers 55 different Gzi stones)
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons
Wrathful offering, tormas, and Ritual Fire Hearths
Geometric borders, patterns, designs, and motifs (more plates than any other chapter!)

Robert Beer does a phenomenal job of researching, collecting, and illustrating Tibetan sacred art. The book is printed on the highest quality paper giving you the best images possible.

Amazon.com

Bridge of Birds is a lyrical fantasy novel. Set in "an Ancient China that never was", it stands with The Princess Bride and The Last Unicorn as a fairy tale for all ages, by turns incredibly funny and deeply touching. It won the World Fantasy Award in 1985, and Hughart produced two sequels: The Story of the Stone, and Eight Skilled Gentlemen. All present the adventures of Master Kao Li, a scholar with "a slight flaw in [his] character", and Lu Yu, usually called Number Ten Ox, his sidekick and the story's narrator. Number Ten Ox is strong, trusting, and pure of heart; Master Li once sold an emperor shares in a mustard mine, because "I was trying to win a bet concerning the intelligence of emperors."

Number Ten Ox comes from a village in which the children have been struck by a mysterious illness. He recruits Master Li to find the cure and comes along to provide muscle. They seek a mysterious Great Root of Power, which may be a form of ginseng. Of course, nothing turns out to be as simple as it seems; great wrongs must be avenged and lovers separated must be reunited, from the most humble to the highest. And even in the midst of cosmic glory, Pawnbroker Fang and Ma the Grub are picking the pockets of their own lynch mob, who are frozen in awe and wonder. --Nona Vero

Book Description

When the children of his village were struck with a mysterious illness, Number Ten Ox found master Li Kao. Together they set out to find the Great Root of Power, the only possible cure, and together they discover adventure and legend, and the power of belief....

Customer Reviews:

A Recent Favorite Discovery.......2007-09-05

This novel of an 'Ancient China that Never Was' is a brilliant gem of interweaving storylines that made me both smile and cry. It was alternately silly and beautiful, so much so that I want to use overblown adjectives to describe it. Basically, it was about a man looking to find a cure for a disease affecting the children of his village, but it turns out to be so much more.

When first starting the novel, it seemed a simple quest novel, usual for the fantasy genre. As it went on, it seemed more like a series of connected short stories with the same characters with perhaps an overarching goal for the main character. Then it went on some more, and it began to quickly connect. Characters once met were met again, and again. They changed, told their stories, and moved on, leaving the book and the main character changed.

By the time the book was over, I just sat there crying yet smiling with happiness at having read it and at the gorgeous ending. If you are not sobbing at that time, or when one of the characters has his letter to his daughter read, you are a much stronger person than me. I turned this book over to my husband who upon finishing agreed that it was a shame that the author did not have a large list of books for us to dive into.

Someone who reviewed this said it was not an accurate representation of ancient China. It truly is no more accurate in describing ancient China than modern fantasy novels describing medieval life or the Dark Ages, but as you read it, you realize that's not what you're reading it for. The way it glosses over facts and grittiness makes it a stronger work.

I never fail to cry.......2007-05-09

This is, without a doubt, one of the best books I've ever read.
I have 2 copies. One to treasure and one to lend.

Funny Literature about Chinese Legend.......2007-05-07

I just loved this book. I don't know how to describe it, other than fantasitical literature told in the first person with a very funny main character.

If you like like literature, ancient peoples, and fantasy, you'll love this book.

clever.......2007-03-30

What in my opinion most reviewers fail to notice is how little fantastic and fairytale-like this story is.

Set in an ancient China that perhaps never was but sounds incredibly alike the one described in the medieval Chinese literature I have read (translated of course) up to now, this novel presents us with the customary quest of the fantasy novel and two typical characters: the brave youth and the wise elder.

These two fantasy stereotypes are meshed with what to my uneducated eyes appears to be authentic Chines lore not to mention the traditional and world-spread storytelling structure of the short stories framed in a larger story: Chaucer, Boccaccio, 1001 nights, etc.

Problem is -or maybe it is an asset?- the two characters have a rather strong personality: Ten Ox is pure of heart but neither stupid nor naive and Li does not refrain from violence or even murder.
This novel, while telling us what looks like a fairy tale, is harsh to the point of being cruel. People die here, most horrible deaths. People are gready, mean, violent, stupid, real.

The main asset is certainly the plot, very clever, well structured, apparently digressive while really coesive and self contained. In the second half all the lose threads begin to intertwine and we discover how interconnected all the details are.

The main problem is the style. Not that the writing is bad, but while to the point, it fails the soft feathery touch this genre imperatively requires even in the most gruesome moments. I am ready to agree that it is very rare to be able to master such a style but I feel it is necessary in this kind of mithological, folklore tale.

Entertaining and unusual.......2007-02-24

This unusual book about seventh century China is a strange combination of historical novel, adventure, mystery, fantasy, fairy tale, and myth, with the best attributes of each genre. It is crammed with colorful characters and wonderful bits of folklore.

At first, I wasn't sure I liked the book. The pacing seemed a bit off, and some key story elements were so subtle and oblique that I had to re-read passages to make sure I understood what what going on. I also found the killing of one of the minor characters to be cold and incredible (as in "not credible"). However, I stuck with the story, and it really started to grow on me. The pace picked up, the story became far more involved, and the ending was stunningly beautiful. In short, I'm really glad I read it. I'll definitely be trying another of Hughart's books.

Average customer rating:

A scholarly work not a popular text
A good translation of the Ma Wang Dui I Ching
misunderstanding of chinese phylosophy and Yi

I Ching (Classics of Ancient China)

Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345362438
Release Date: 1997-01-21

Amazon.com

What are the most widely read and commented upon works in history? The Bible? The Vedas? The Quran? How about the I Ching? Every major thinker in Chinese history has had something to say about it. Passed down from generation to generation, it has been admired, studied, and put into practice. In 1973, archaeologists unearthed a number of silk manuscripts dating back to 168 B.C. Included in the find was a version of the I Ching and four commentaries previously lost. The text itself differed in places from the accepted version, especially in the arrangement of the hexagrams. Scholar Edward Shaughnessy has translated the entire text, along with the four commentaries and an additional commentary (the Appended Statements) that traditionally accompanies the text. The newly discovered commentaries offer a variety of interesting opinions, one of which appears to be Taoist, while another has Confucius explaining what the I Ching means to him. Shaughnessy includes the Chinese text of both the received version and the excavated version, although, unfortunately, the notes are buried in the back, making it difficult to follow the subtle differences. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

For more than two thousand years, the oracular, enigmatic pronouncements of the I Ching (Classic of Changes) have intrigued and inspired readers. In the West, scholars have long regarded the volume as one of the seminal texts of Chinese culture, comparable to the Bible or the Upanishads, and readers everywhere have turned to the hexagrams, line statements, and commentaries for guidance on every imaginable life situation.

Given the enduring importance of this work, it was a momentous event when a significantly different I Ching text was unearthed in Mawangdui, China, in 1973--the first new manuscript of the work to appear in two thousand years. Now translated into English for the first time by one of West's leading scholars of the I Ching, the Mawangdui text brings welcome clarity, accessibility, and novelty to this beloved classic.

Like the received version, the Mawangdui I Ching and its commentaries begin with a central core of sixty-four hexagrams, but in an important departure, the hexagrams in the newly discovered text are arranged in a systematic and logical way and, in many cases, are assigned different names. The line statements that accompany the hexagrams frequently differ from the received text. In addition, the Mawangdui version contains five new commentaries that had been lost for more than two thousand years, including the surprising discovery of a commentary that quotes Confucius extensively on how he had come to change his earlier, negative, views about the importance of the I Ching.

The new material, the logical arrangement of the hexagrams, the more Taoist tone of the "Appended Judgments", the illuminating introduction and notes by Edward L. Shaughnessy and, above all, the lucid purity of his translation, make the Mawangdui I Ching a treasure. Readers who wish to use the hexagrams for divination will find this version more intriguing than even the previous text; scholars will derive new insights from the Mawangdui commentaries and from the "Appended Judgments," one of the most sophisticated and subtle essays in all of Chinese philosophy; admirers of world literature will cherish this volume as a work of timeless artistry.

Customer Reviews:

A scholarly work not a popular text.......2004-03-28

A lot has happened in Chinese language scholarship in recent decades. (Would that I had more than a poor layman's appreciation of such endeavors!) Obvious are the changes in the transliterations into English. Gone is "Tao te Ching" for the now correct "Dao De Ching." (How I loved those t's pronounced like d's and their exotic appearance in print, now reduced to quaint nostalgia.)

Also changed is the I Ching, now properly known as Yijing, the "Classic of Changes" (formerly the "Book of Changes"). Note however that the publishers of this very fine volume have insisted on "I Ching" being in the title lest the uninitiated not realize that this book is about that enormously popular work of divination now at least 3,000 years old. As such the Yijing is one of the most venerable of all human writings and is of inestimable value for that reason alone.

The occasion for this book and for Professor Shaughnessy's translation and commentary is the discovery in 1973 of the Mawangdui manuscript which shed new light on the text of the Yijing. That manuscript dates from the second century B.C. However the original of the Yijing goes back to the days before works were written down. Ni, Hua Ching in his book The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth (1983) notes that "an ancient by the name of Fu Shi developed a line system to express the principle of appropriateness." Some time later around 1181 B.C. "the feudal lord, King Wen of the Shang Dynasty...provided a written explanation of these lines and hexagrams." (p. iii in the work cited)

Note well the use of the word "appropriateness." Although the Yijing is known primarily in the West as a book of divination, it is really a book about how one should behave and what one should expect in the face of the inevitable changes that dominate our lives. It is therefore in one sense a book of advice, advice to the high and the low, but especially to heads of state. It might be contrasted and compared to the Dao De Ching and to various volumes of advice from Sun Tzu's The Art of Warfare to Machiavelli's The Prince.

This particular book is not a popular work on the classic. Instead it is a meticulous scholar's work that presents the new textual discovery to the reader with both the Chinese characters and Shaughnessy's translation appearing on facing pages, noting omissions and puzzlements in the manuscript, etc. His commentary addresses the origins and development of the Yijing including the earlier commentaries by Confucius and others. This is a book for scholars and the most devoted students of the Yijing as well as Chinese history and culture.

I should also note that this is not a book about how to use the Yijing for fortune telling. There are many books that work well for that purpose including James Legge's I Ching: Book of Changes from 1964, which I have used. I might also mention Edward Albertson's I Ching for the Millions first published in 1969. One of the most respected books widely available is The I Ching or Book of Changes by C.F. Baynes and R. Wilhelm which was also first published in the sixties. Today no doubt there is an I Ching for "Dummies" or an "Idiots" guide that will work well for divination.

A good translation of the Ma Wang Dui I Ching.......1999-10-19

If you're interested in a translation of the MWD-text, and a comparison with the traditional received text, then you will like this book. From a sinological point of view it is interesting material, however, the book isn't written for diviners. It has no explanations of the symbols of the I Ching, not of the trigrams nor of the text. Shaughnessy told me he has never used the I Ching himself, but is purely interested in the old text and history of the book. And this translation shows this interest well.

misunderstanding of chinese phylosophy and Yi.......1999-08-31

The original Yi has three pictures or drawings but no words of any language. Yi is a universal or world phylosophy not a chinese one. Since it is first discovered and heavily explained by the accent chinese scholars,so Yi has been mistaken as chinese phylosophy.

Yi addresses basic universe knowlege and is far beyond modern sciences and west phylosophy achievements in thought, but it has been misunderstood and ignored for thousands of years!

Book Description

Here is a spectacular and informative guide to the history of the great Chinese empire and the customs and traditions of its people. Stunning real-life photographs and lifelike models offer a unique "eyewitness" view of life in imperial China, from its earliest beginnings in the Bronze Age to its final days in the early years of the 20th century. See the stunning bronze work of the ancient Chinese, an early irrigation machine, a set of antique acupuncture needles, the beautiful implements used for Chinese calligraphy. Learn why the First Emperor created the terra-cotta army, what kinds of goods were carried along the Silk Route, who invented paper, how a Chinese house was constructed, why tombs were filled with pottery figures, and what a civil servant's job entailed. Discover why emperors were known as Sons of Heaven, what kinds of weapons were used in early battles, why families worshiped their ancestors, how fishermen used bivas to catch fish, and much, much more.

Customer Reviews:

Ancient China.......2007-02-06

I purchase this book for my grandson. It's the good book. Thank to AMAZON!

ANCIENT CHINA 1620 B.C.-1912 A.D........2005-07-05

this an interesting book i read DK books are the best non-fiction books.the book talked about all the emperors,first
emperor of china,great wall,the food,and the silk road.You
should buy this book it's really a good DK book.the price is
just 19.95 OR 15.95

Ancient China.......2005-03-14

This book report is about the world's oldest continuous civilization called China. From 221 B.C to A.D 1912 in China was combined under a great and powerful empire called the Qin Empire. Ancient China was remained untouched because it was apart by the huge a scorching deserts, mountain ranges, and the ocean. It was cut off from other cultures such as India, West Asia, and Europe. China's social structure was a main role in maintaining its national stability. What also helped China together was a great philosopher named Confucius who encouraged people to lead an ordered family way of life. Once in a while the Chinese empire experienced short periods of unrest and disunity and attacks from foreigners. During those times they changed the governments and they built many innovations and technological advances such as gunpowder, paper, printing, and industrial machinery. The Chinese people still used the same customs and traditions and stayed remarkably to today.

The first dynasty to leave historical record was the Shang Dynasty. Their kings ruled the greater part of northern China from 1650 to 1027 B.C., where the soil was fertile and had enough water from the Yellow River. The ruler of the dynasty was a priest or known as the Son of Heaven. He had to believe that his empire has to maintain good relations between our world and heaven. The Shang Dynasty had many slaves, but they rely upon the labor of their rural population. The peasant farmers cultivated the soil and took parts hunting for food and served as soldiers in the army.

Confucius believed that the early years of the Zhou dynasty were golden years of social harmony. During his lifetime, he saw growing disorder and saw reducing power in the dynasty. This fight became more and more turmoil, which led Confucius to develop a moral outlook. It was based on happiness, respect for elders, and strength in the family. He had a saying that a good ruler should set an example by dealing with people. In return, the people had to respect and obey their emperor. Confucius also believed that different families should be governed by common family relationships with a stable society. After Confucius encouraged ancestor worship because it strengthened families. Then the Chinese came to see themselves as a part of a greater family.

For three centuries of war marked a decline of the Zhou dynasty. This dynasty became unstable, so in 481 B.C. China was separated into seven warring states. The battles became large in scale with crossbowmen, cavalry, armored infantry, and chariots. During the war many men were killed and wounded. In 260 B.C. Sun Zi, a writer, wrote the Art of War, the world's oldest military handbook, which gave nobles practice of warfare. Eventually the northwestern state of Qin was victorious and united the feuding lords under one empire. The military began to decline and the civil service grew in importance and Confucianism came in.

During the 250 years of the Chinese empire was occupied a non-Chinese people from the north of the Great Wall. China prospered for 150 years of Manchu, Qin, and different rulers who ruled China. For the first time Chinese technology fell behind and France, Russia, and Japan began to bully the Qin empire. In 1912, ancient China was brining to an end of 2000 years of imperial history.

I recommend this Eyewitness Book: Ancient China because if learning about China in history class it can help you a lot. It has many captions you can read from and learn more just by reading it and the pictures shows you many things what were like and different paintings and sculptures. So whoever likes this may be smarter because they might learn something.

Fascinating!.......2002-01-15

Ancient China was the best book dealing with China that I have so far read. It was intriguing how I learned, saw, and discovered many things in only about 65 pages. The beautiful photography gave the words life. This book proves excellence truly exists and gives the word perfection an even greater new meaning.

Beautiful photos & lots of good info.......2001-01-29

DK eyewitness books are some of the greatest non-fiction books around. The distinctive white background and high-quality photography gives this book an edge over any other nonfiction picture book. And -- these pictures are real! They're beautiful museum-quality photos of all things related to Ancient China, accompanied by informative captions and text.

Book Description

From the author of The Secret Art of Seamm Jasani comes the definitive guide to the ancient defense-meditation art of Boabom.

The success of The Secret Art of Seamm Jasani by Asanaro surprised many who wondered whether a little-known Tibetan movement system would be able to compete with yoga, Spinning classes, and tai chi. After several printings and thousands of Seamm Jasani converts, the secret is out. Seamm Jasani schools have cropped up across the country, thanks to the popularity of Asanaro's book, and more people than ever are discovering Seamm Jasani. For students eager to continue learning about ancient Tibetan body movement arts, or for anyone curious about cutting-edge strength and spiritual training, The Secret Art of Boabom is a must read.

A cross between martial arts and yoga, Boabom is an ancient system of relaxation, meditation, breathing, and defense originating in pre-Buddhist Tibet. The movements contained within the collective "Arts" of Boabom are designed to develop vitality and internal energy, as well as mind and body balance, which are achieved through movements of defense, self-healing, relaxation, and meditation. Boabom provides quick relief from stress, and improves focus and confidence, as well as physical condition and mental well-being.

The Secret Art of Boabom includes detailed descriptions and more than three hundred instructional drawings of Boabom movements, as well as information about its positive effects. But The Secret Art of Boabom is more than just a how-to book. Combining the thrill of adventure nonfiction, the depth of history, and the profundity of philosophy along with the practicality of a guidebook, Asanaro offers this companion to those eager to explore the secrets of ancient Tibet in order to improve their health and well-being.

Customer Reviews:

Thoroughly engaging book... a great read and a helpful study tool.......2007-09-13

As a person studying Boabom and Seamm-Jasani (or Gentle Boabom) at the Boston School of Boabom, I have found this book to be one that I return to often for many reasons.

The book is engaging, entertaining and helpful. The story that the reader follows is filled with interesting and thought-provoking ideas to ponder. The story, which took hold of my imagination with it's very first sentence (try the Search Inside feature to get a taste of this), is both easy to follow, while at the same time somewhat mysterious. I feel compelled to re-read parts or all of it often.

As one begins to delve into the part of the book covering the physical movements of the art, there are many helpful tips to aid the reader in learning the movements. These movements are the tip of the iceberg, really, but are covered in great detail, allowing for a very good foundation with the Art. As the student advances through the movements, once again, it's always helpful to re-read and study the finer details.

After studying Boabom for a number of years now, I still find myself going to this book, along with Asanaro's other book, to polish and study the details and finer aspects of this Art.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone wishing to try a system of movement that is unique, always interesting and thoroughly invigorating. There is not enough space in this review for me to get into the health benefits I have experienced from studying the Arts. As well, it would be hard to describe in so few words the general overall positive shift in attitude that has come along with this. I am grateful for the discovery of these Arts, and am very happy that these books are available so that others far and wide may benefit from studying the Art as well.

Really good book-highly recommended........2007-01-19

Picked this book after a friend of mine kept on incessantly talking about it. A few pages on it and I realized why he liked it so much: the book starts with a nice story that introduces one in the 'lost teachings of this Art' in a simple yet very straight-forward way.

I kept on reading. I started liking it more and more.

Then you have the second section, which explains and clears how to work with this book, how to follow the chart in time (a very useful chart, I must add!!!). A very concise section, that explained all I would have asked a teacher.

I continued reading, and started doing the exercises.

The exercises themselves are simple and easy to follow. Nothing I couldn't follow (I have to say that my friend didn't have any problems himself following them either). The drawings are very good, and even though the author says he drew all of them himself, they have that 'je ne sais quoi'... they go with the book!

The book finishes explaining how the Boabom Schools work and with a scientific study. Also, and I think the author did the same in his previous book, there are comments from real students, people like me and my friend that take the classes or read the book and continue doing the exercises. Real people.

I will not debate on whether these teachings are ten billion years old or a modern creation: they work, and that is what matters. They make me feel great, renewed and refreshed, and they clear my mind of the habitual problems I worry about: work, money, daily stress, bills, being a 'professional procrastinator' and... well... my daily life.

Very good book. Especially considering that it is a book that tries to teach exercises, breathing techniques and coordinations, which is already hard with a teacher in front of you. I have to add that the author managed to do it flawlessly!

Everyone should read it.

a student's perspective.......2006-12-06

I am a student at the Boston School of Boabom, and have been studying the Boabom arts for a good while now under many teachers, including Asanaro himself. It's particularly interesting to me to look at this book as another method of expression for these teachings.

Perhaps most intriguing for me, as a student, is the "story" portion of the book, wherein a theoretical and philosophical underpinning for these arts is laid out in monologue and metaphor. Assertive and instructive without being preachy, this section is rich in meaning and provides much food for thought--for current students and newcomers alike.

The "technical" portion of the book lays out a sequence of basic movements from the beginnings of the art. Transmitting an art based on movement through the media of text and images is no mean feat; there's no substitute for teaching in the flesh. That said, I believe that Asanaro succeeds in conveying the essential elements of the movements with his thorough descriptions and detailed illustrations, expressing clearly the many details involved in each. The attention paid to common mistakes (and how to correct them) should be particularly useful for beginning students.

Boabom is an art that develops only over time, and is not for everyone. This book provides the newcomer with a glimpse of all the art has to offer. Some may find a resonance, and see here a hint of something both familiar and strange; others may find a curiosity, an old way carried carefully through the ages to the modern world. All will find something new, unique, and rewarding in equal measure to the energy invested in it.

The Secret Art of Boabom's impact upon my life........2006-12-05

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I am constantly re-reading sections to better understand the Art and its meaning.

I am particularly impressed by the book's structure using a story to capture the reader's interest before delving into the technical aspects of the ART.

This book and the Art have had a profound impact upon me. I was in near constant pain when I started studying Boabom over 5 years ago. I am now able to participate in sports without pain. My outlook on life has changed I now look at the glass as half full rather than half empty.

Excellent book - motivating, exciting & full of energy!!!!.......2006-11-18

This book is a wonderful continuation of Asanaro's previous book called "The Secret Art of Seamm-Jasani". The story line continues from his first book. The author uses a number of beautiful poems and the plot of the story is breathtaking. The Art described here (Boabom or Osseous Boabom) is quite different from Seamm-Jasani (Gentle Boabom). The second part of the book is completely devoted to thorough explanations of this Art (including incredible drawings!) on how to begin practice of Boabom on your own. It is very straightforward and easy to follow. At the end of the book, a scientific study is presented along with comments from real students.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, and especially to those who are looking to tone their body, have better balance, learn how to defend themselves, and also to those who are on the lookout for great new literature.

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