Brief Introduction

China is an oriental country with an ancient civilization. Over the course of thousands of years, characterized by tempering, fusion, consolidation and development, the Chinese people have emerged as a vigorous nation on the world scene. Chinese culture occupies a prominent and unique position in the East due to its multi-faceted splendor.

The harsh toils, unyielding struggles and creativity of our ancestors ensured the unbroken progress of Chinese culture, making great contributions to the development of the global civilization and humankind. Today, we are proud to inherit such ancient and rich cultural traditions and offer them as a solid foundation for humanitarian studies.

Nearing the end of the 20th century, China has undergone a profound transformation aimed at improving Chinese people's living conditions, as well as carrying on and renewing their ancient cultural traditions. In addition, basic rights to existence of every Chinese citizen and the creative conditions for development of both the individual and the masses are also being emphasized. We call this the coordinated development of both the material and spiritual aspects of socialist civilization.

Culture is the soul of a nation. In the course of a society's overall progress, cultural constructions must not be overlooked. A modernized country must not only possess a prosperous economy but also a prosperous culture.

This book series, entitled, Chinese Culture and Art Series, including books on Chinese cultural laws, regulations and institutions, Chinese music, fine arts, dance, theater, literature, architecture, modern Chinese drama, films and television plays, Quyi, acrobatics, puppetry and shadow theater, are designed to enable the world gain a better understanding of China, enhance exchanges and join forces in making the world a more beautiful place in the 21st century.