CHINA
ENCYLCOPEDIA
******An excellent place to start your
research project.*****
http://go-passport.grolier.com/splash
Be sure to look at the websites, media,
and magazine options!
The web sites listed below were culled
using the Librarians’ Index to the Internet
(www.lii.org)
GENERAL SITES
China, Yours to Discover This
searchable "Official Guide to China" includes cultural and
historical information on the country as well as practical details such as
climate, train schedules, and locations and telephone numbers of Chinese
consulates in the U.S. There is also a link to the Hong Kong Tourist
Association. From the China National Tourist Office. http://www.cnto.org/ Topics: Travel Sites by Continent Last updated Mar 20, 2001
IGCS - Society (China WWW VL - Internet
Guide for Chinese Studies) A rich collection of 46 websites covering a wide range of topics; sites were
selected by Professor Hanno E. Lecher of Leiden University, in the Netherlands
in collaboration with the Institute of Chinese Studies at Heidlbery University,
the Berlin State Library and the German Research Foundation.
Country Profile: China Profile
of "the world's most populous country," including demographic facts,
historical overview, timeline of key events back to 1949, and information about
Chinese leaders and media. Site also includes links to related news stories,
audio of the national anthem, and audio and video of some news stories. From
the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1287798.stm
Topics: Country Studies by
Continent, Regions of the
World, Regions of the World
Last updated Aug 22, 2005
A Visual Sourcebook
of Chinese Civilization "The goal of
this 'visual sourcebook' is to add to the material teachers can use to help
their students understand Chinese history, culture, and society." Features
a timeline with links to information and images, and essays on topics such as
ancient tombs, Buddhism, clothing, and gardens. Includes maps, discussion
questions, and bibliographies. From the University of Washington.
http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/ Topics: Art by Region, History By Place Last updated Jun 22, 2004
Daily
Life in Ancient China Designed for
elementary or middle school students and teachers, this site provides basic
background information covering the period from about 10,000 B.C. through 900
A.D. (including the Xia (Hsia), Shang, Chou (Zhou), Ch'in (Qin), Han, and T'ang
dynasties). There are also lesson plans, classroom activities, and annotated
links.
http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html
Topics: History By Place, Lesson Plans, Society & Social Science, Society & Social Science
Last updated Feb 17, 2002
China 
Part of the Country Studies/Area Handbook series
"describing and analyzing [China's] political, economic, social,
and national security systems and institutions, and examining the
interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural
factors." Research completed July 1987. Searchable , can limit your search
to one or more countries. From the Federal Research Division of the Library of
Congress.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cntoc.html
Topics: Country Studies by
Continent, Government, Government, Regions of the World, Regions of the World
Condensed China: Chinese History for Beginners An overview of
Chinese history, from the origins of Chinese civilization through the early
1990s. Includes bibliography. http://condensedchina.com/
Topics:
History By Place Last updated May 28, 200
China
Internet Information Center 
Authorized government portal site to China, offering
news and searchable texts of government position papers as well as basic
information about Chinese
CHINA General Information. China Provides more than five link pages on Education
and Research, History and Culture, Economy and Politics, Nature and Mankind,
and Tours and Entertainment. History and Culture ... Asian Film Connection:
China. Modern Chinese Literature and Culture This is the website of ...
Literature in Line: Lianhuanhua Picture Stories from China. Chinese Language
Projects "Site ...
SILK
ROAD
The Silk Road: Trade, Travel, War and Faith "The
Silk Road is the ancient trade route passing from the shores of the
Mediterranean through Bukhara and Samarkand to Dunhuang and on to Xian in
central China." The site is a companion to an exhibit of
manuscripts, paintings, artifacts, and textiles about the "real
people" along the route. It presents illustrated essays on the development
of the book, languages and scripts, Buddhas and bodhisattvas, games, and the
sky. From the British Library.
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/silkroad/main.html
Topics: Automobiles, Regions of the World, Regions of the World, Transportation Last updated Apr 30, 2005
The Silk Road This
site provides information on the history, culture, and development of the Silk
Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea,
from the early times to the present day. It discusses the rise and decline of
the Silk Road as well as the impact of the Mongols and other foreign
influences. Includes photos and a bibliography. Created and maintained by a China
enthusiast (and research scientist).
http://www.ess.uci.edu/~oliver/silk3.html
Topics: Automobiles, Photograph Collections:
Regional, Regions of the
World, Regions of the World,
Snacks and Baked Goods,
Transportation
Last updated May 13, 2004
CULTURAL REVOLUATION
Picturing Power: Posters of the Cultural Revolution An
exhibit of 74 poster images from the Cultural Revolution in China. Each
poster includes artist and date, if known, and a brief description. From the
University of Westminster Centre for the Study of Democracy, U.K. and Indiana
University.
http://kaladarshan.arts.ohio-state.edu/exhib/poster/exhibintro.html
Topics: Arts and Humanities, History By Place Last updated Apr 21, 2004
Red-Color News Soldier: A Chinese Photographer's Odyssey Through
the Cultural Revolution The black-and-white photographs in
this traveling exhibit (2003-2005) of work by Li Zhensheng document Mao Zedong
and the Cultural Revolution in China (1964-1976). Provides photo
descriptions (mouse over images to view) and background information about the
photographer and the project. In English and French.
http://red-colornewssoldier.com Topics: History By Place Last updated Nov 16, 2005
HONG KONG
Regions and Territories: Hong Kong Profile
of Hong Kong ("the former British colony [that] became a special
administrative region of China in 1997"), including demographic
facts, historical overview, and information about leaders and media. Includes
links to news stories related to Tung Chee-hwa, "Hong Kong's first
post-colonial leader, [who] resigned in March 2005." From the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_profiles/3650337.stm
Topics: Country Studies by
Continent, Regions of the
World, Regions of the World
Last updated Mar 16, 2005
TAIWAN
Country Profile: Taiwan This news site
provides an overview of Taiwan, including a chronology of key events,
interactive history, profile of leaders, and description of local media.
Features news stories, background on political issues, and links to related
sites. From the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1285915.stm
Topics: Country Studies by
Continent, Regions of the
World, Regions of the World
Last updated Jul 26, 2004
Taiwan Yearbook: Culture Information
on folk arts, painting, calligraphy, chop carving, Chinese opera, written
language, music, festivals, dance, cinema, woodblock printing, literature,
puppetry, and much more. From the Taiwan government website. http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/p294.html
Topics: Art by Region, Printing, Publishing, and
Book Arts Last updated Jan
3, 2006
National Palace
Museum Established in
1925, the National Palace Museum in Taiwan (Republic of China) houses
the Imperial collection, with 700,000 items of calligraphy, books and
documents, bronzes, porcelains, jades, lacquer ware, carvings and more, which
represents 7,000 years of Chinese history. Available in English and Chinese,
the site has a wealth of information on the history of the museum and the
exhibitions on display. There is a good image collection of the artworks in the
permanent collection in the museum.
http://www.npm.gov.tw/english/index-e.htm Topics: Museums by Place Last updated Dec 14, 2000
CHINA UNDER COMMUNISM
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China: 50 Years of Communism This compilation of stories from 1999 "looks back at the birth of
the People's Republic and takes stock of what the future might hold."
Features information on topics such as the legacy of Mao Zedong and the Long
March, private lives (cyberspace and Falun Gong), and China's foreign
policy fears. Also includes a glossary with terms such as the Cultural
Revolution, Gang of Four, and Tiananmen Square. From the British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC). |
Tiananmen
Square, 1989: The Declassified History Documents
providing a U.S. perspective of the events surrounding the Chinese government's
use of heavily armed military forces against student demonstrators at Tiananmen
Square in 1989. "Includes Selected Documents from the Microfiche
Collection: China and the United States: From Hostility to Engagement,
1960-1998." From George Washington University's National Security Archive.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB16/
Topics: Activism, Federal (U.S.) Government, Government, History By Place
Last updated Jun 3, 2004
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The Gate of Heavenly Peace Companion site to a documentary that explores the 1989 political protest
at Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Explores themes such as democracy, human
rights, and nationalism. Also includes an interactive tour of Tiananmen
Square, a chronology of events leading up to the protests, a bibliography,
video and audio clips, a poster gallery, related links, and a transcript of
the documentary. Also available in Chinese. |
CHINESE CULTURE
Shaolin
Ulysses: Kungfu Monks in America Companion site to
a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Independent Lens program that "explores
the stories of five immigrant kungfu monks from China's Shaolin Temple:
the legendary birthplace of kungfu, Zen Buddhism and today's contemporary
kungfu mecca." In addition to profiles of the monks, this site features
information about the Shaolin Monastery, an article exploring the influence of
kung fu in western culture, a slideshow, filmmaker profiles, and related
resources.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/shaolinulysses/
Topics:
Architecture, Faiths, Sports Last updated Dec 23, 2003
Chinese Wedding Traditions This site provides a composite of ancient Chinese wedding customs. It describes stages before and after the wedding, including the marriage proposal, betrothal, wedding preparations, ceremony, and post-wedding rituals. Also included are contemporary wedding customs, the history of the traditional wedding, and a bibliography. From The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) based in Santa Clara County, California http://www.chcp.org/wedding.html Topics: Families Last updated Dec 14, 2002
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Chinese Tea "Explore the world of Chinese teas and tea drinking. Learn the
differences between green, oolong, and black teas, and what makes green tea
so healthy; along with brewing instructions, tea drinking as a social custom,
trivia, and even tea leaf reading." An About.com site. The Tea Man's Tea Talk Contains tea
FAQs, articles on tea making and history, photos and illustrations, and
information on the science and health aspects of tea, and tea in Ceylon, China,
India, and Japan. |
The
Glory of Chinese Printing Containing
hundreds of images, this extensive exhibit details the significance of printing
in China, tracing its development from block printing to the invention
of movable wood type, brass plates, and two-color techniques. Available in
English and Chinese. The site may load slowly but is worth the wait. http://www.cgan.com/english/english/cpg/indexen.htm
Topics:
History By Place, Printing, Publishing, and
Book Arts, Technology Last updated Oct 24, 2002
Chinese
Ceramics Information
designed for students about the history of ceramics from China. Topics
include ceramic tomb figures, Chinese porcelain that was exported to Europe,
and special ceramics made for emperors. Includes images, links (some broken) to
related sites, and a bibliography. From the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena,
California. http://www.pacificasiamuseum.org/chineseceramics/
Topics:
Arts and Humanities, Arts and Humanities, Crafts Last updated Mar 23, 2005
Diets of
the World Highlights
nutritional features of Chinese, French, Japanese, Mediterranean, and Latin
diets. Includes the "New American Diet," incorporating "healthy
eating styles and strategies from across the globe. http://www.webmd.com/content/pages/7/3234_2038 Last updated Nov
2, 2005
Dim Sum A brief
introduction to this Chinese form of small plate meals, usually served in
restaurants. "Most dim sum foods are savory pastries — steamed or fried dumplings,
filled buns, noodles. There are also sweet pastries, vegetables, [and] meats.
... Servers push carts, loaded with a variety of foods, through the dining
room, past the customers, who keep an eye out for appealing dishes." Also
includes a list of typical dim sum dishes. From CuisineNet. http://www.cuisinenet.com/digest/region/china/dimsum_intro.shtml
Topics:
Recipes by Region
Last updated May 3, 2005
AsiaRecipe.Com In addition to
hundreds of recipes from twenty-four Asian nations, this site offers
information on cooking ingredients, equipment, substitutions, methods,
religious food practices, and culinary history. There are also herb listings,
conversion tables, a food timeline, and background material for each of the
countries. Countries covered are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma,
Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia,
Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand,
Tibet, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. http://asiarecipe.com/
Topics:
Recipes by Region Last updated Nov 8, 2001
Dragon Robe for an Empress of China This section of an
educational site focuses on Chinese dragon robes, which were court robes worn
by royalty in China during the Ch'ing dynasty. Provides background
information about dragons, the Ch'ing dynasty, and dragon robes. Includes
images of details on a robe and many discussion questions about symbols. From
the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
http://www.artsmia.org/world-myths/artbyculture/dragon_keyideas.html
Topics:
Art by Region, Dragons, Dreams &
Daring Deeds, History, Holidays & Observances, International Governments,
Notable People:
Government
Last updated Jun 14, 2005
Dragon
Boat Festival Overview of the
festival, which "is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month,
and together with Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival forms one of the
three major Chinese holidays." Discusses traditions associated with the
holiday, such as dragon boat races, rice balls (tsung tzu), and practices to
ward off evil and disease. From the Government Information Office of Taiwan.
http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/dragon_e/dragon.htm
Topics: Dragons, Dreams &
Daring Deeds, Holidays
& Observances, In Detail, Holidays by Region, Recreation, Recreation, Sports, Transportation Last updated Jan 19, 2006
Asian Historical Architecture Contains
thousands of photographs of historical Asian architecture, browsable by country
and city. Entries include images, brief descriptions, and bibliographies.
http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/ Topics: Architecture, Architecture by Place,
History, Photograph Collections,
Photograph Collections:
Regional, Regions of the
World Last updated Jul
30, 2003
Zhongwen.com: Chinese
Characters and Culture The site contains
an easy-to-use dictionary of over 4,000 Chinese characters (approximately
12,000 multi-character words). Look up words by pronunciation, radical, stroke
count, or English equivalent. Gives definition, etymology, sound, and usage.
Includes bilingual editions of famous Chinese texts, names for prominent
Chinese-Americans, Chinese dynasties, Chinese surnames, an introduction to the
written language, and help with the pronunciation differences between Mandarin
spoken in Taiwan and in China. http://www.zhongwen.com/noads.htm
Topics:
Dictionaries, Language Last updated Jul 25, 2002
Marjorie Chan's ChinaLinks Contains
annotated links to hundreds of websites related to Chinese culture, Chinese
language and linguistics, and general linguistics. Maintained by a professor of
East Asian languages and literature at Ohio State University. http://chinalinks.osu.edu/ Topics: Language, Social Science Last updated Aug 14, 2005
RELIGON
Buddhist Ceremonies Briefly
describes Buddhist marriage and funeral rites, and festivals and special days
throughout Asia. Includes information on the Buddhist New Year, Vesak ("Buddha
Day"), Magha Puja Day ("Sangha Day"), Asalha Puja Day
("Dhamma Day"), Uposatha ("Observance Day"), the Elephant
Festival, and more. From BuddhaNet. http://www.buddhanet.net/ceremony.htm Topics: Faiths, Food & Cooking, Holiday Foods, Beverages, and
Recipes, Holidays &
Observances, Holidays
& Observances, In Detail, Holidays by Region
Last updated Jun 20, 2005
Buddhist Art and the Trade Routes "Trade
routes, both maritime and overland, were the primary means by which Buddhist
thought and imagery were conveyed from India, the birthplace of Buddhism, to
other Asian countries." This online exhibit provides an overview of the
trade routes and the Buddhist religion, and images of Buddhist art from Korea,
Japan, China, Mongolia, the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and Sri Lanka.
Also includes a bibliography. From the Asia Society. http://www.asiasocietymuseum.com/buddhist_trade/index.html
Topics: Art by Region, Faiths, Regions of the World, Regions of the World Last updated Apr
12, 2005
Taoism and the Arts of China Over
25 works of Chinese art "from the Warring States period to the Qing
dynasty [that] demonstrate the development of Taoism and Taoist art."
Accompanying text explores themes of tradition (Laozi, cosmology), church
(priests, rituals), and renaissance (goddesses, Zhenwu, Inner Alchemy,
landscape). Includes diagrams of the Chinese zodiac, Taji, and Trigrams; a map
of China; a timeline; classroom lesson plans; a glossary; a list of
related books; and links. From the Art Institute of Chicago.
http://www.artic.edu/taoism/
Topics:
Art by Region, Dragons, Dreams &
Daring Deeds, Faiths, Lesson Plans
Last updated Aug 1, 2002
CHINA and JAPAN
Q&A:
China and Japan's Troubled Ties Questions and
answers concerning the history of relations between China and Japan,
"the two most powerful countries in Asia." Topics include past and
current tensions over history textbooks, maritime borders, access to natural
resources (including oil and gas), rights to a group of islands (called Senkaku
Islands by Japan and Diaoyu by China), and related topics. Includes
links to related stories. From BBC News.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4443821.stm
Last updated Apr 20, 2005
TIBET
Dreams
of Tibet: A Troubled Country and Its Enduring Fascination This
site contains information on Tibetan Buddhism, animism, Bon teachings and
practices, pundits (explorer/spies), Heinrich Harrer, and Nain Singh; a
chronology of Tibet's history; an overview of the impact of China on
Tibetan religion, environment, and human rights; and interviews with Orville
Schell, Andrew Nathan, Henry Kissinger, Frank Wolf, Tenzin Tethong, Jamyang
Norbu, Martin Scorsese, Jon Avnet, Richard Gere, Steven Seagal, and Adam Yauch.
From the PBS series, Frontline . http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tibet/ Topics: Faiths, Government, Government, History By Place Last updated Mar 29, 2002
Tibet Online Resource Gathering A
Web site "providing information on the plight of Tibet and serving as a
virtual community space for the movement." Links to sites covering the
culture, religion, articles, news, speeches, and reports on suspected human
right violations in Tibet. Additional Web links direct the user to art, movies,
books, music, software, and photo galleries on Tibetan society.
http://www.tibet.org/
Topics:
Photograph Collections,
Photograph Collections:
Regional Last updated Sep
9, 2000
Tibetan Government in Exile Information
about the exiled Tibetan government, including news; status reports, including
U.N. resolutions on Tibet; government; and culture. Also included are maps;
statistics; extensive information on the Dalai Lama (including biography,
speeches, Nobel Prize acceptance and lecture); Tibetan Buddhism; Dharamsala;
and much more. Searchable. From "The Office of Tibet, the official agency
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London." http://www.tibet.com/ Topics: Faiths Last updated Mar 13, 2004
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet "Dedicated
to creating awareness of the life and work of His Holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the
14th Dalai Lama of Tibet," this Web site describes the Dalai Lama's early
life, escape to India, and formation of his government-in-exile in India.
Includes a summary of Tibet's history, images of the Dalai Lama, and text of
his Nobel Peace Prize speech and other teachings. From the Office of Tibet and
Tibetan Government-in-Exile. http://dalailama.com/
Topics:
Faiths, Notable People Last updated Oct 2, 2004
The Tibetan & Himalayan Digital Library "Serving
a wide range of communities, we publish multilingual studies, multimedia
learning resources, and creative works concerned with the area's environments,
cultures, and histories." Includes bibliographies, information about
people and groups, a gazetteer, dictionaries, maps, texts, moving images, and
hundreds of still images. Available in English and several Asian languages. Supported
and managed by the University of Virginia Library.
http://www.thdl.org/
Topics:
Environment, Geography, Outdoor Recreation Last updated Dec 17, 2005
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The Mystical Arts of Tibet This site has a slide show of sacred objects from ancient and modern
Tibet, including a few personal sacred objects of the Dalai Lama. There are
also background notes on Tibet, annotated links to resources on Tibet and
Tibetan religion, and images of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital city.
The material was selected from an exhibition of The Provincial Museum of
Alberta, Canada. The Mongols in
World History This exhibition
looks at the contributions of the Mongols to 13th and 14th century history,
and their influence on Eurasian culture. Discusses the Mongol conquests and
Chinggis (Genghis) Khan, the Mongols' influence on China, key figures
in Mongol history, and the Mongolian pastoral nomads. Includes a
bibliography, readings, classroom materials, maps, and related links. From
Asia for Educators, Columbia University. Conserving Tibetan Art and Architecture Overview of projects by the China Exploration and Research
Society (CERS) and the Kham Aid Foundation "to save some of the last
intact monasteries on the eastern plateau." The site includes
information on the restoration of the monasteries and murals at Palpung and
Baiya, a report on Wooden Architecture in Ganzi , and other field reports. |
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CHINA TODAY
In Depth: Changing China Collection
of news stories and background information about China, covering topics
such as social issues, business and economy, and politics. Some stories offer
British viewpoints on U.S.-China relations (including about the George
W. Bush visit to China in November 2005). Includes photos, graphics, and
video and audio clips. From the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2004/china/
Topics:
History By Place Last updated Nov 22, 2005
China
in the Red Companion to a
2003 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Frontline "documentary that tells
the stories of 10 Chinese individuals ... caught up in China's dramatic,
ongoing effort to modernize its economy." The site includes a chronology,
commentary about potential for democratic reform, and information about and
audio clips of Beijing rock music. Also includes a complete video of the show,
a teacher's guide, and links to related sites.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/red/ Topics: Nonfiction by Genre Last updated Jul 26, 2005
FAMOUS and
INFAMOUS CHINESE LEADERS
At Last, Someone Dares to Blame Mao May
2005 article about a new museum in Shantou, southern China, that "highlights
the chaos of the Cultural Revolution that led to the death of 35,000
people." Includes a description of the museum and the involvement of Mao
Zedong and the Gang of Four in the Cultural Revolution. Does not include images
of the museum. From The Age newspaper, Australia.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/At-last-someone-dares-to-blame-Mao/2005/05/13/1115843368043.html
Topics: Communities & Groups, History By Place, International Governments,
Notable People:
Government
Last updated Sep 1, 2005
The Legacy of
Genghis Khan This online
exhibit from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art explores "courtly art
and culture in western Asia, 1256-1353," by examining "the important
artistic and cultural achievements that occurred in the Iranian world in the
aftermath of the Mongol invasions." It features information and images
about the Mongols in China and in Iran, the Mongols and Islam,
manuscript illustration, and textile art. Includes a resource guide for
teachers. http://www.lacma.org/khan/index_flash.htm
Topics: Art by Region, Arts and Humanities, Crafts, Faiths, History By Place, International Governments,
Printing, Publishing,
and Book Arts, Regions of
the World, September 11 &
Beyond
Last updated May 26, 2005
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China: The Three
Emperors, 1662-1795 Companion to a
2005-2006 exhibit at the Royal Academy of Arts (London) about "the
reigns of three [Chinese] Emperors, Kangxi (1662-1722), Yongzheng (1723-35)
and Qianlong (1736-95), ... [and which] focuses on the most powerful rulers
of China's last dynasty: the Qing." Features selected images from
the exhibition, information about the emperors, and brief essays on topics
such as "Christianity and the Jesuits in China" and
"Ritual and Sacrifice." |
