An essential and very readable resource for conlangers and writers who want to create a non-European world, and anyone who wants to know more about our planet's leading civilization. A concise but meaty overview of the history, philosophy, and literature of China, and much more: clothing, architecture, technology, cosmology, medicine, cuisine, and more. Plus grammatical sketches of both Mandarin and Old Chinese, and a discussion of the writing system. The history and literature sections are written for people interested in the Chinese languages, with key terms in both pinyin and hanzi.

This book examines the formation of the Chinese empire through its reorganization and reinterpretation of its basic spatial units: the human body, the household, the city, the region, and the world. The central theme of the book is the way all these forms of ordered space were reshaped by the project of unification and how, at the same time, that unification was constrained and limited by the necessary survival of the units on which it was based. Consequently, as Mark Edward Lewis shows, each level of spatial organization could achieve order and meaning only within an encompassing, superior whole: the body within the household, the household within the lineage and state, the city within the region, and the region within the world empire, while each level still contained within itself the smaller units from which it was formed. The unity that was the empire's highest goal avoided collapse back into the original chaos of nondistinction only by preserving within itself the very divisions on the basis of family or region that it claimed to transcend.

An engaging introduction to India (and all of South Asia) for conlanger, conworlders, linguists, and anyone who'd like to learn more about the world. It starts with the topography and history of India, deals with all its major religions, and goes on to cover astronomy, mathematics, daily life, cuisine, clothing, and architecture. In addition there are meaty grammatical sketches of Sanskrit, Hindi, and Tamil, and a discussion of the writing systems that have been used in the subcontinent.

A very readable introduction to the ancient Middle East, for conlangers and anyone interested in history and languages. The regions covered are Egypt, Canaan/Israel, Mesopotamia, and Persia, from prehistory to the Greek conquest. The book covers literature, history, religion, and everyday life, and contains meaty grammatical sketches of Sumerian, Akkadian, and Biblical Hebrew, including an explanation of how cuneiform evolved and how it worked. This part of history is of particular interest because it's full of firsts- the first agriculturalists, the first cities, the first writing systems. It's also full of colorful characters, from Gilgamesh and Enkidu, to the first named poet Enheduana, to the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, to the surprisingly anti-royalist prophet Samuel.

“A prescription for survival in this gorgeously illustrated and accessible guide to the future of farming.” —Albert Bates, author of The Biochar Solution Grow vegetables year-round in a greenhouse powered only by solar energy! Originally developed in China to feed millions, Chinese greenhouses are earth-sheltered, solar-heated, east-west oriented, intelligently glazed, and well-insulated. They have proven highly effective in growing warm-weather vegetables and fruits like green peppers and tomatoes in cold climates through fall, winter, and early spring using passive solar energy as the sole heat source. The Chinese Greenhouse is a full-color comprehensive guide to these passive solar greenhouses for self-sufficiency and growing year-round in soil or aquaponic grow beds with no additional heat. Coverage includes: How to design, build, and operate a Chinese greenhouse How to improve performance via short-term and long-term heat banking How to provide additional heat to make your greenhouse operate even more effectively How to cool the greenhouse during the summer. Become a more self-sufficient gardener, growing and harvesting a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round, with your own Chinese greenhouse. “Wonderfully researched . . . brilliant.” —Jean-Martin Fortier, farmer and author of The Market Gardener, editor of Growers Magazine “Essential reading for pioneers of Chinese greenhouses.” —Pam Dawling, author of The Year-Round Hoophouse and Sustainable Market Farming “Every enthusiastic vegetable farmer dreams of this winter-growing miracle, and Dan shows how to do it.” —Shawna Coronado, author of 101 Organic Gardening Hacks

This volume provides readers with a collection of the latest protocols used to study plant genome editing and trait engineering. The chapters in this book are organized into five parts: genome engineering systems; machinery design and validation; delivery tools; generation and analysis of engineering materials; and crop genome engineering applications. The chapters cover topics such as methods of applying the popular CRISPR-Cas9 or CRISPR-Cas12 systems for editing genomes in different crop species, the use of small synthetic plastome for potato genome engineering, and the use of CRISPR-Cas9 for algal cell genome engineering. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and comprehensive, Plant Genome Engineering: Methods and Protocols is a valuable tool for researchers interested in learning more about this developing and important field.

This is an all-in-one kit that gives readers everything they need to create Web-based applications--including the latest version of the ColdFusion Web Application Server and development environment. This is the book that has taught thousands of developers all they need to know about ColdFusion.

Building a Revolution: Chinese Architecture Since 1980 presents a picture of Chinese architecture in transition, as the entire economy shifted from being planned and state-controlled to being market-led. The book also examines the "national form" and Chinese identity, the impact of international architecture, housing reform, and the emergence of architects in private practice. Both celebrated and young Chinese architects are portrayed, and the notable buildings in the prosperous coastal cities are highlighted. Through this book on modern Chinese architecture, the reader will appreciate the influence of globalization and modernization on the most populous country in the world.

Since 1993, China has been the second largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the world and is now considered to be the world's third biggest economy. The editors examine the key areas, all of which are linked, where China is grappling with institutional reforms as it opens up to the outside world.

This book tells you everything you need to know about international construction: the companies, their markets, the types of projects they build, how they compete and operate and how it affects us all. It paints a comprehensive portrait of an overlooked global business that generates a major portion of the GDP in every developed nation. As with any mature sector, countries make efforts to export their expertise, but the competition in construction is fierce, and the risks are many. Only the leanest and meanest survive. What, then, does it take to win? Most writing on construction focuses at the project-management level or even more narrowly at the level of technical performance. This book presents the big picture; it tells you what successful international construction companies do to stay in the game and thrive. The book examines international construction through three lenses. The first is theory. The body of existing knowledge on construction is here brought together, condensed and explained. The second are the actors. The companies that lead the way in global construction are showcased, and the features that make countries desirable hosts are appraised. Finally, what is it that firms actually do? This last part delves into the various strategic approaches taken by 60 construction firms in carving out and defending an overseas market niche. The insights provide guidance on how global construction companies develop competitive advantage and stay resilient in the face of a mercurial global economy. These lessons will be of interest to the student and manager alike.