Although the "Han" Chinese constitute about 95 percent of the population of the PRC, they are much more diverse than most Westerners realize. The numerous subgroups of Han speak dialects that seem almost like different languages, and they have a wide range of cultural traditions (differing cuisines, operatic forms, life styles, and attitudes toward

Although the "Han" Chinese constitute about 95 percent of the population of the PRC, they are much more diverse than most Westerners realize. The numerous subgroups of Han speak dialects that seem almost like different languages, and they have a wide range of cultural traditions (differing cuisines, operatic forms, life styles, and attitudes toward

This visually arresting volume showcases mosaics from all corners of the globe and teaches the skills needed to produce 15 beautiful pieces of your own.

The "war on terror" has generated a scramble for expertise on Islamic or Asian "culture" and revived support for area studies, but it has done so at the cost of reviving the kinds of dangerous generalizations that area studies have rightly been accused of. This book provides a much-needed perspective on area studies, a perspective that is attentive to both manifestations of "traditional culture" and the new global relationships in which they are being played out. The authors shake off the shackles of the orientalist legacy but retain a close reading of local processes. They challenge the boundaries of China and question its study from different perspectives, but believe that area studies have a role to play if their geographies are studied according to certain common problems.In the case of China, the book shows the diverse array of critical but solidly grounded research approaches that can be used in studying a society. Its approach neither trivializes nor dismisses the elusive effects of culture, and it pays attention to both the state and the multiplicity of voices that challenge it.

Rare Earth Elements are a group of 17 metals which have a central role in modern industry, increasingly used in the fields of green technologies, high technological consumer goods, industrial and medical appliances and modern weapons systems. Although deposits of Rare Earths are globally dispersed, over 90% of global demand has been provided by Chinese mines since the late 1990s, leading to a situation where China has a virtual monopoly. This book surveys the Rare Earths mining industry, discusses the extent to which Rare Earths really are scarce elsewhere in the world and assesses the economics of production, considering arguments for the rationing of supply, for higher pricing and for a total export embargo. This actually occurred in 2010, demonstrating the vulnerability of the rest of the world to China’s control of these increasingly vital resources.

The only way to gain a true understanding of the world's sleeping giant, says the author, is through protracted, unscripted footwork. With this his goal????????????and with graduate degrees in Chinese Studies from Harvard and Columbia as support????????????for more than twenty years he has made annual trips to China, each visit adding a new dimension. China Mosaic highlights this harvest. Fluent in Chinese and gifted with boundless energy and fearless curiosity, Jonathan Kolatch has made his way from bustling Beijing to the far reaches of the mainland to make direct contact with the diverse peoples that comprise the Chinese mosaic: the proud Tibetans of Sichuan, the rising stars of the Communist Party, the cave-dwelling Muslims of Ningxia, the Communist freemarketers of Tianjin, the tireless female softball players training to recapture Olympic glory, the newly rediscovered Jews of Kaifeng, the solemn coal miners of Zhangjiakou. These are not China's poster people; they are its heart and soul. In China M

During its fifty years of existence the People's Republic of China has seen dramatic changes, from the proclamation of the independent state through the period of the Communist Revolution, the Cultural Revolution, the Reform Period. These changes are analysed from the political, economic and social points of view, chllaenging accepted orthodoxy. Throughout, the emphasis is on change in the context of contemporary China, and as part of the Chinese Communist Party's search for paths to development.

Pique Assiette, a French term popularly translated as "broken plate" among mosaic artists, was wildly popular in the 1920s and is now experiencing a renaissance worldwide. It's a fun and easy craft that appeals to beginners as well as experienced mosaic artists seeking new and exciting techniques to add to their repertoire. You've seen these beautiful artworks in galleries -- now you can make them at home. The fully illustrated simple four-step process can be used to ornament all types of surfaces -- from small frames and wall plaques to flower pots, tabletops, serving trays, stepping-stones, and more. Adventures in Mosaics is packed with complete instructions for 18 beautiful projects, plus a gallery filled with even more inspirational objects. Now is the time to start putting pretty, chipped dishware; old jewelry; mirrors; and broken pottery to good use! Book jacket.