Discover this unique culture through a combination of authoritative, accessible scholarship and magnificent photographs. Drawing on the most recent discoveries and theories, the book investigates key cultural, spiritual and artistic traditions of this vast civilization and describes the country's major scientific and technological innovations, including gunpowder, printing and the compass. A wealth of colour photography and artwork, together with a lively and authoritative text, vividly evokes the customs and traditions of the Chinese world, from life in the most remote rural villages to the running of the imperial court.