Celestial Empire: Life in China 1644-1911

Celestial Empire: Life in China, 1644-1911 provides a unique and fascinating insight into life in China during the last imperial dynasty.

Through the lives of the Chinese people-from life at court to the humble market-seller-the book examines nearly 300 years of Chinese life, culture and tradition that provided the foundations of modern China.

Celestial Empire includes material from the National Library of Australia and the National Library of China – that country’s largest and most important library, which possesses unparalleled holdings of ancient manuscripts, rare books and illustrated maps, most of which will be new to Australian audiences.

This lavishly illustrated book includes examples of painted scrolls of scenic and sacred sites, colourful maps detailing a variety of landscapes, woodcut illustrations demonstrating extraordinary skill and artistic vision, and delightful folk art used on festive occasions.