Western and Central Asians in China Under the Mongols: Translated and Annotated by Ch'ien Hsing-Hai and L. Carrington Goodrich

Summary

The Chinese version of this book first appeared more than forty years ago [in 1925 and 1927], it remains the most comprehensive and authoritative 'investigation into the Sinicization of people from the Western Regions in the Yuan period', Yuan Hsi-yu jen Hua-hua k ao, which was its original title. Like other scholarly works by Professor Ch en Yuan [1880-1971], this monograph is marked by thorough research and clear presentation. This however does not mean that it is easy to render it into English. Beginning with an introductory chapter, the book contains six chapters dealing in turn with the Confucian school, Buddhism and Taoism, literature, fine arts, customs, and women s scholarship, followed by a chapter of conclusion. The coverage of so many aspects of Chinese culture and civilization and the involvement of divergent groups of western and central Asians make the translation of this monograph a Herculean task"