A comprehensive history of Chinese culture and arts, from the period of the early dynasties to the beginning of the XX Century. Christine Kontler takes the reader from the Neolithic cultures of the Early Dynasties to the great art and culture periods of the Han, Tang, Song, Ming and Qing dynasties up to the XX century and the break with tradition. Based on the study of the texts transmitted by tradition and on the most recent archaeological discoveries this volume is both about China’s history of art and history of culture. And as such, it is unique of its kind.