First Life

In this region, medium streams sloppily freeze, except before an imminent severe snowstorm. — LIFE AND DEATH OF SNOW Originally written back in 1991, the first half, five short stories, remains special, being inspired by experiences of growing up, travel, and interactions with the animal world, even the eponymous centipede did exist! As for the poems (written circa 1978 – 86), some of these were motivated by the Sino-British talks and Hong Kong’s uncertain future, not to mention the astronomical interest associated with another group gripped by the enthusiasm aroused by planetary exploration. The others turn over themes of nature and life. Note: In the first story, the region depicted has been administratively incorporated into the new Uonuma city. Slow business has led to shorter ski season and the shutting of lesser-known ski grounds.

內容簡介 Wisdom That Transforms Lives Twenty-five centuries ago, a man who had once lived in royal luxury walked barefoot across the dusty plains of India, sharing insights that would forever change human history. The Buddha—“the Awakened One”—dedicated forty-nine years of his life to illuminating the path beyond suffering for all who would listen. This first volume presents 36 stories from the Buddha’s life and the lives of his disciples, each revealing the Buddha’s remarkable ability to meet people where they were and guide them toward realization. Readers will discover the Buddha’s insights on the importance of kindness, right speech, right actions, and community living that remain profoundly relevant to our lives today. Each story concludes with “Words of Wisdom” that connect ancient guidance to contemporary challenges. Throughout the collection, we see how the Buddha’s gentle yet powerful approach led others to profound insights, inspiring many to become his disciples and

Benny Chia’s memoir of life on the fringe is a vivacious slice of Hong Kong’s life and cultural development at a time of minimal institutional support. His colourful and anecdotal story will interest culture practitioners as well as the general reader curious about the Fringe Club and its role as a seedbed for local artists and as a venue for international ones, both functions championed by Benny at the helm of this small but important institution housed in a distinctive former ice house in Central.

Historical memory has a particular value in analyzing events and characters that give life to stories from the past. Jorge Edwards specifies that the story’s description is nothing more than the literary success of a writer who navigates the vicissitudes of life and history, as he rightly points out. History must be observed carefully and as a “conjecture” that points, in the first place, to an experience of “memory” and that keeps alive, despite time, the unique reality of a country and its people. Like Edwards, we attempt to wander through reminiscences and recollection. Our narrative experience is simple. However, it is an observation and representation of history with a testimonial value in its approach. As the novelist points out, the testimony of history is the most creative thing that the writer has. In the same way, our effort is neither more nor less the rescue, through these short stories and their language, of facts and characters that are part of realities, in which their p

Originally published in 1853, this book describes American Eliza J. Gillett Bridgman’s life as an educational missionary in China, both in Canton and Shanghai.

This book, Chiang Yee and His Circle: Chinese Artistic and Intellectual Life in Britain, 1930–1950, celebrates the life and work of Chiang Yee (1903–1977), a Chinese writer, poet, and painter who made his home in London, England during the 1930s and 1940s. It examines Chiang’s relationship with his circle of friends and colleagues in the English capital, and assesses the work he produced during his sojourn there. This edited volume, with contributions from eleven distinguished scholars, tells a story of a Chinese intellectual community in London that up to now has been largely overlooked. It portrays a dynamic picture of the London-based émigré life during the years that led up to the war and during the conflict that was the catalyst for many of them moving on. In addition, the book broadens our understanding of cultural interactions between China and the West in Hampstead, one of the most vibrant artistic communities in London.

A Sketch of Truth Theory The Truth Theory refers to a natural attribute which all things embody during cosmic movement. And which features the inherent quality of the universe, that is, the attraction between Yin and Yun, the negative cosmic gas and the positive cosmic gas. It is the natural and scientific reality of the universe. The appearance of this theory will completely shatter the barriers that have hindered human understanding of life and all things in the universe for thousands of years. It will put an end to the idealism-materialism dichotomous outlook on the world and completely terminate the theism-atheism dualistic religious concept that people have disputed for thousands of years. It will enable humankind on Earth to see the universe in the true, clear-minded and correct manner for the first time. It will enable humankind to explain mysterious cosmic phenomena with our acquired part of scientific knowledge about the universe in a deep and complete manner for the first

In Hong Kong’s Last English Bishop, Philip L. Wickeri explores the life and times of John Gilbert Hindley Baker, who served as Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Hong Kong and Macao from 1966 to 1981. Baker lived through exciting times, as a missionary in wartime and revolutionary China, as a priest in America during the early years of the Cold War, and as a mission leader in the Church of England when churches in many parts of the world were becoming independent, before returning to Hong Kong where he was elected bishop. He was a faithful correspondent and a prolific writer throughout his life, offering a personal commentary on the churches and the societies in which he lived. Wickeri has made extensive use of Baker’s writings and other archival materials to provide a vivid picture of his life and work. Bishop Baker was instrumental in working for reconciliation after the 1967 riots, expanding the work of the diocese, and engaging Hong Kong with the wider world. In 1971, he opened a ne

Death and Life of Nature in Asian Cities explores the encounter between two processes that are unfolding in diverse patterns across Asia—the rapid urbanization of Asia across big cities, smaller towns, and the newest urban concentrations; and the contentious debates and novel schemes by which nature is figured and emplaced in cities and their conurbations. Contemporary Asian cities displace nature by causing its death and withering, but also embrace it through acts of renewal and the pursuit of sustainability. Contributors to this volume gather case studies from across Asia to address projects of urban greening and reimagining nature in urban life. The book illustrates how the intersection of urban growth and urban nature is a place rich with fresh ideas about urban planning, governance, and social life. This book illuminates a continuing process of discovery and regeneration through which urban natures may well be moving from taken-for-granted infrastructures to more consciously exper

“For this brief moment, the two sisters could be ‘together in heart and affection’, and through such letters bridge the distance of empire.” We often learn about the commerce, diplomacy, and military campaigns of the British empire without reference to the intimate side of life in these times—the development of self, the position of women, and the importance of family. In this book, the story of empire, so often told from a man’s perspective, is given a unique vantage point through Eliza Hillier’s letters to her younger sister, Martha. Written largely from Hong Kong, Shanghai, England, and Siam, the letters allow us to become a member of her family and follow the daily tribulations associated with the life of a young British woman in the port cities of Asia. We are thus able to share Eliza’s experiences as she leaves home to embark on married life, starts and raises a family, grieves at the abrupt and tragic loss of her husband, Charles Batten Hillier, and then sets about re-building

Revisiting the foundation of Chinese spiritual life, the prestigious historian Cho-yun Hsu seeks a way to connect Chinese culture with the world. This book is an insightful and lively discussion of the spiritual life of the Chinese people. Through investigation of cultural ideals and life practices, Professor Cho-yun Hsu constructs an original portrait of Chinese cultural values. Apart from the exalted subtleties of the scholarly elite, he pays much attention to everyday people’s daily practices and collective memory, seeking to clarify Chinese ideas concerning the universe, human life, and nature, from traditional times down to the present day. Professor Hsu contends the problems Western civilization is facing nowadays, including various crises of alienation and separation from nature, are ones that it lacks resources to solve. He believes Chinese humanistic culture might offer another way forward and be of benefit to the future of the world. ------------- A work of passionate hum

Carlo Urbani was an infective disease specialist with a beaming career, one of the most experienced in the world. He has received the Nobel Peace Prize as a national president of Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF). On March 29, Urbani, ironically as the very first doctor discovering Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), was killed by the mysterious virus in a remote hospital of the Far East. Doctor Without Borders: Portrait of Carlo Urbani documents his remarkable life stories by including contents of manuscripts, interviews, and letters, in an attempt to honor Urbani’s memories in every way possible.

Why is Selflessness a way to Wisdom? This book is a real story, but more than that it is also a book for academic life education purpose. It first contains real stories from eleven suicide prevention telephone hotline volunteers of the Samaritan Befrienders Hong Kong (SBHK) who had been serving for more than 25 years. They came from all walks of life such as engineer, businessman, teacher, nurses and housewife. There were episodes of unforgettable conversation between volunteers and clients, stories of how volunteer managed the situation when a suicide attempt was ongoing at the other end of the phone. Based on these stories, the author, who are also a long-serving volunteers of SBHK himself, combined with several academic references to explore relationships between empathy, selflessness, virtues, transcendence, wisdom and Eudaimonia (ultimate happiness) which human being should be aware of and to try to understand. This book consists of two parts. The first part is a series of stor

Originally written over a period from about 1979 to the early 1980s, the first in the trilogy was inspired by the theatre of the absurd and focused on the nature of human relationships across the fabric of space-time. The second, written in the late 1980s and the following early 1990s, was focused on repercussions of events across space-time; and then the third, written in 2000 and after, more or less concludes the trilogy with elements of the preceding two interwoven and coming to grips with the vicissitudes of life.

This book is for readers who are interested in literature, visual arts and writings about life. Most of the time, life itself, including personal ones and collective ones (such as nation, natural environment and so forth), gives incredible inspirations to the one who is writing. And yet, through more reading and more thinking, the writing self can imagine someone else’s way of living, as if he or she is living through it. This collection of essays brings literature and visual arts together, as their aesthetics come to complete each other. 本書特色 A collection of essays that explores the intricate relationships between literature and art, bringing new insights into famous writers such as Henry James and Virginia Woolfe.

In this book, I trace the winding paths of my life: the fragile beginnings of childhood, the shaping of character and personality, the search for health and wholeness, the awakening of faith, the long seasons of formation, the call to consecrated life and priesthood, and the outward journeys of mission and ministry. Alongside the joys, I speak also of the shadows—the doubts and struggles, the inner conflicts and external storms that tested my roots. I share how I learned to make peace with what I could not change, and to integrate what once felt broken into something whole. Woven through these stories are the theoretical voices of philosophy, psychology, anthropology, theology, missiology and spirituality—threads of wisdom that helped me make sense of my experience, and that my experience, in turn, has made more real and whole. The narrative takes root in a landscape of critical reflection and scholarly inquiry, making the personal and the academic converse with each other—experience b

◎透過真摯的喃喃自語，紀錄在農地除草、持誦經文與平凡瑣事中，最純粹的退休日常與心靈觀照。 ◎以簡練優美的中英對照詩文，捕捉如幻夢境與生活掠影，將身體退化的苦楚昇華為悠然自得的處世智慧。 ◎溫馨紀錄與貓族兄弟及山林雅園的相伴點滴，藉此提醒讀者珍惜友伴，在獨處與社交間找回靈魂的安寧。 一個人的日子，依然有詩、有夢、有味道。 Even in solitude, life still holds poetry, dreams, and flavor. 一個人的日子，靜而不空。 在日常的光影裡，學會與孤單共處，也與自己和解。 時間變慢，心變得清亮； 世事雖遠，生活依然有味。 走過一段又一段平凡，終於明白—— 安靜，也是另一種豐富。 A life alone—quiet, yet never empty. Within the gentle rhythm of days, one learns to live with solitude and make peace within. Time slows, the heart clears; though the world drifts afar, life still holds its flavor. Through moments plain and passing, comes a simple truth— silence, too, can be full.

This book features five theme-based units on cross-disciplinary academic English skills, focusing on the needs of first-year undergraduate students. Each unit covers academic writing, reading, and speaking skills. The units progressively take students through the steps needed to complete three common academic assignments: the essay, report, and tutorial discussion. These steps include searching for quality sources, note-taking, establishing a critical stance, formulating evidence-based arguments, synthesizing information from multiple sources, and structuring academic texts. Each unit also provides opportunities for students to analyse texts, apply their critical thinking skills, practise what they have learnt in productive tasks, and reflect upon their progress. This book is aimed at first-time university students. Many of the readings are related to China and a broader Asian context. As such, it appeals to first-year university students in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan.

一個穿越了多個時代、多場戰火、多種語言的杜甫，帶著他的多重身影重返我們的生活現場。 — 西川 「世界偉大的隨筆家之一 」 ——《紐約時報》 「一位隱蔽的文學領袖」 My favorite essayist is Eliot Weinberger. His remarkable breadth of calm concern is impressive. —Gary Snyder (Pulitzer Prize Winner, 1975) This is a book concerned with mortality, friendship, and regret. The psyche looking back at its life. As such, The Life of Tu Fu sometimes feels like a poetic biography of my own life, or maybe yours. —Forrest Gander (Pulitzer Prize Winner, 2019) 溫伯格巧妙地運用拼貼手法，從杜甫一千多首浩瀚的詩歌中擷取靈感，將其詩句、意象與情感重新編織成五十八首全新的詩篇。這些詩篇猶如一幅幅流動的畫卷，描繪出杜甫顛沛流離的一生，以及他所經歷的戰亂與瘟疫。儘管時空相隔千年，但在後疫情時代，我們或許更能體會杜甫詩歌中那種深刻的孤獨與蒼涼。這部作品不僅是對杜甫一生的致敬，也是對我們自身、對苦難和對人生短暫易逝的反思。 Drawing inspirations from a vast oeuvre of more than a thousand poems, Eliot Weinberger has deftly composed a montage of fifty-eight poems derived and adapted from the lines, images, and feelings in Tu Fu’s poetry. These poems weave a tapestry of Tu Fu’s turbulent life and times of war and disaster. In the post-pandemic era, we may appreciate

The author of this book is a world-class scientist, inventor, educator, and preacher. His profound influence on semiconductor technology has shaped Taiwan and the global industry, leaving a lasting legacy. This book distills his life lessons, built upon the golden triangle of family, work, and spiritual life, offering readers a model to success and fulfillment. Through a clear, sincere, and humorous style, Burn shares the experiences that defined his journey—his character, approach to work, and the highs he has reached throughout his life. In this book, Burn discusses how family, work, and spiritual life form a golden triangle, the fundamental structure upon which one’s life is built. Like a triangle—the most stable polygon—each corner plays a vital role in sustaining balance and growth. With decades of dedication, Burn provides insights into how he has maintained equilibrium among these three essential aspects, guiding readers to build upon this foundation and achieve even greater hei

In Gentle Voices, Bold Strides, Professor Fanny Cheung shares her inspiring journey as a psychologist, academic leader, and champion of gender equality. Growing up in a traditional Hong Kong family, she recognized early injustices against women and dedicated her life to change. Pioneering gender studies in Asia and leading the Equal Opportunities Commission, she fought discrimination, domestic violence, and gender bias in policy and research. Her leadership reshaped academia and public policy through consensus-building and quiet determination, leaving a legacy of empowerment. By blending personal narratives with social history, this memoir serves as a testament to the power of advocacy and the quiet strength of those who strive to make a difference. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gentle Voices, Bold Strides: A Memoir chronicles the life of an extraordinary woman growing up with traditional Ch

This book details a three-year expedition to study ethnic minorities in Guizhou, Sichuan, and Tibet led by French army officer Henri d'Ollone. First published in 1911 in French, the English volume was released the following year.

This book is a collection of management essays written by Dr. William A. Cohen, Major General, USAF (Ret.), in the final years of his life. Drawing on his military background, professional experience, and education under Peter F. Drucker at Claremont Graduate School, Dr. Cohen provides practical insights into leadership and management.

In an epic historical story that talks directly to our times, Cross and Dragon dramatizes the life of one of the most famous Western figures in China: Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci. Sent by the Pope in the late 16th century to convert the Chinese Emperor, Ricci was faced with a “mission impossible” as China in the Ming Dynasty did not allow foreigners to enter the country. Initially, dressed like a Buddhist monk, he slipped into the country, where he impressed everyone he met with his secret weapons: remarkable memory techniques and the latest Western science. He stayed for 30 years. During this time, his journey took him from southern China and rural life to the mesmerizing city of Nanking and on to Peking, where he eventually had an office in the Forbidden City. Through his belief in cultural engagement rather than military confrontation, he opened new doors for East–West understanding.

This is probably the first book dedicated to the life and times of the doctors who have shaped the medical development of Hong Kong. It is a fascinating story of how the pioneers transformed a city with primitive medical services into what it is today—a city with advanced medical facilities as in any major Western city. —Dr. Mak Wai-ping Chairman (Executive Committee) and Board of Directors Hong Kong Museum of Medical Science Society The development of Western medicine in Hong Kong to its current sophisticated state over more than 150 years is a fascinating story. And this book tells the above history from a special perspective—the personalities responsible for this remarkable achievement. These individuals, spanning over a period of over 150 years, comprised doctors in government public medical and health services who advocated new initiatives and laid the infrastructure; those who established health policies, and moved the health system forward; the medical educators who trained t

Confucius’ students included political advisors, military strategists, educators, businessmen, philosophers, warlords, and kings. How could he possibly teach his way so calmly and gracefully through states and kingdoms of hegemons vying for regional power? Who was this man!? This is a book by two masters, one ancient and one contemporary, both enigmatic. The lives of Confucius and Master Nan Huai-Chin (Nan Huaijin), in many ways, parallel each other. Both lived through tumultuous times, both had to leave their home state and wander only to return in old age to their birthplace. They were teachers, learned in many fields and arts and in life itself, but not scholars in the traditional sense; rather, they were masters of all they engaged in. They had students from all walks of life, were advisors of statesmen of all ranks and were flanked by loyal followers. They both seamlessly wove together the worldly and the spiritual. And both were most concerned about the decline of people’s virt

Wisdom means learning to live with ambivalence and to embrace uncertainty Helga Nowotny’s memoir provides a detailed account of her life, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of a woman who defied convention in the male-dominated field of science. From her early days in science and technology studies, where she faced bureaucratic hurdles, to her influential role in shaping the European Research Council, Nowotny offers a candid look at her career. She shares personal stories of navigating the complexities of academia and policy, revealing the uncertainties and contingencies that shaped her life and work. This memoir resonates with anyone who has pursued a path less traveled, and offers a glimpse into the resilience and ambition required to succeed in challenging environments. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Future Needs Wisdom is not really a memoir, nor is it an intellectual history, nor is it e

This book includes two distinct parts: a reprint of the biography Stephen Smale: "The Mathematician Who Broke the Dimension Barrier" followed by new content which provides an update on Prof. Smale’s life and work to the present day. The book tells Prof. Smale’s life story, including his most important mathematical discoveries as well as his worldwide travels and other exciting adventures. It is suitable for readers interested in mathematics, mineralogy, and the esteemed career of Prof. Stephen Smale at City University of Hong Kong and beyond.

Originally published in 1918, this fictional account of life as a medical missionary in China is based on American Gulielma Fell Alsop’s personal experiences as a missionary and physician in Shanghai.

《Betwixt and Between: Life, Death, and Rebirth》is a record of Master Nan’s talks in which he answered questions about the process of death and rebirth. Master Nan weaves together personal anecdotes, scientific knowledge, Buddhist teachings from the Pali Canon, Mahayana sutras, Yogacara, Vijnanavada, and Chan in such an intricate way that those who are curious about the Buddhist perspective on life and death, those familiar with Buddhist teachings, and those who are deep into cultivation will all gain new insights and answers. For its depth, this book is very engaging and hard to put down. Any reader will find it to be a treasure trove and will want to come back to it again and again.

We visit Earth in current life and maybe head to others in next. It is our instinct to carry over DNA in reincarnation, to taste unknown desires, and to experience seven emotions with six sensory pleasures; however, everything in action shall be as nature as possible. Nobody really knows who dominate on life-stage, it can be actor/actress themselves, or drama writer, else screen director, or else audience instead. Metropolitan exits with multiple values; usually, cause of event is unclear to define from individual’s irrationally protection of interest or selfishly defending portion of pie. People usually capture one section of story and miss the other part of puzzle. Living chaos is daily usual. no matter you are wealthy, majestic, poor, or underclass, once doom day arrives, bell on stage rings off, curtain pulls down, light shuts off, everything is buried under dirt of history. No matter how successfully achieved in history, or how remarkably accomplished in professional field; it

In Modern Chinese Counter-Enlightenment: Affect, Reason, and the Transcultural Lexicon, Peng Hsiao-yen argues that a trend of Counter-Enlightenment had grown from the late Qing to the May Fourth era in the 1910s to the 1920s and continued to the 1940s. She demonstrates how Counter-Enlightenment was manifested with case studies such as Lu Xun’s writings in the late 1900s, the Aesthetic Education movement from the 1910s to 1920s, and the Science and Lifeview debate in the 1920s. During the period, the life philosophy movement, highlighting the epistemic debate on affect and reason, was connected with its counterparts in Germany, France, and Japan. The movement had widespread and long-term impact on Chinese philosophy and literature. Using the transcultural lexicon as methodology, this book traces how the German term Lebensanschauung (lifeview), a key concept in Rudolf Eucken’s life philosophy, constituted a global tide of Counter-Enlightenment that inspired the thought of leading Chinese

Proverbs 4:22 from Scripture says, “For they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” God's way of life is the best medicine. Pastor Daniel Tsao has compiled “42 Doses” based on Bible verses, supplemented by vivid testimonies and teachings of miraculous healing. Readers can take it three times a day, just like taking medicine. Read a scripture, chew it, meditate on it, pray, and then eat it! This is the prescription for divine healing and divine health. We pray and hope readers will be brought before God through this book, enter into His flow of life and healing waters, and get better or even be healed of their illnesses. 聖經箴言4:22提到神的話，說：「因為得著祂的，就得了生命，又得了醫全體的良藥。」 神生命之道是最好的藥方，曹力中牧師以聖經經文編寫出〈42帖藥〉，輔以生動的神醫見證與教導。讀者可以每天按三餐服用，像吃藥一樣，讀一處經文，咀嚼、默想、禱告、吃下去！這是屬天醫治與神聖健康之藥方。 期待讀者藉這本書被帶到神的面前，進入祂生命與醫治的水流中，病情好轉甚至得醫痊。

Kaho Yu’s China’s Energy Security in the Twenty-First Century: The Role of Global Governance and Climate Change explores the evolution of China’s energy security from its bilateral going-out strategy to its more multilateral Belt and Road Initiative. By analysing the topic from a multidisciplinary perspective, this book examines China’s evolving role in global energy governance through four empirical case studies: China’s energy cooperation with Russia and Central Asia, Africa, the European Union, and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Influenced by his upbringing in post-war Japan, and the ideological, social, economic and artistic transformations of the era, Noda Tetsuya started to build a diary of prints in the 1960s, recording his daily life and mastering the challenge of documenting the reality around him in both true and artistic fashion. Works presented in this publication offer unparalleled insights into the artist’s hand skills and color palette, as well as his intense personal feelings and trademark humility. Few printmakers are quite as exploratory in terms of their technique and so precise in their choice of depicted subjects. Noda Tetsuya’s Diary of Contemporary Japanese Prints represents the long-accumulated knowledge of a well-practiced artform by one of Japan’s bestestablished artists, while also documenting—in true diary fashion—events that have shaped his personal life, while also standing for the collective experience of Noda’s generation and the societal change witnessed over the last several de

In Kunqu: A Classical Opera of Twenty-First-Century China, Joseph S. C. Lam offers a holistic and interdisciplinary view on kunqu, a 600-year-old genre of Chinese opera that is being fashionably performed inside and outside of China. He explains how and why the genre charms and signifies Chinese culture, history, and personhood. As the first comprehensive and scholarly book on kunqu written in English, the book not only discusses the genre in cultural and historical terms but also analyzes its shows as performative, cultural, social, and political communications. It approaches the genre from several perspectives, ranging from those of performers and producers to those of casual audience, dedicated connoisseurs, and scholarly critics. Lam also employs a judicious blend of Chinese and international theories and methods. Through this comprehensive study of kunqu, Lam has established the significance of the genre not only in the sphere of Chinese music, but also among the cultural heritage

It is written from an objective, external viewpoint and paints a colourful and lively picture of Sanguinetti in a voice that could almost be his own. Using Sanguinetti' s life experiences, the biographer touches on various historical events, including the Mau Mau revolution in Kenya and the 1957 riots in Hong Kong, and details the social and political problems of the times, such as lingering colonialism, class structure issues, and human rights violations, among others. These glimpses of history through Sanguinetti' s eyes are accessible, thought-provoking, and truly representative of the man himself.Offering a well-rounded image of the eccentric subject, this book fulfils Sanguinetti' s common response to questions about both his personal and professional life — “ more when I know you better” . It will undoubtedly be of interest to those who knew Sanguinetti as well as legal professionals, young barristers, and readers with an interest in post-war history in Gibraltar, Kenya, and espe

In The First British Trade Expedition to China, Nicholas D. Jackson explores the pioneering British trade expedition to China launched in the late Ming period by Charles I and the Courteen Association. While utilizing the vivid and unique perspective of its commander, Captain John Weddell, this study concentrates on the fleet’s adventures in south China between Portuguese Macao and the provincial capital, Guangzhou (Canton). Tracing the obscure origins of Sino-British diplomatic and commercial relations back to the late Ming era, Jackson examines the first episodes of Sino-British interaction, exchange, and collision in the seventeenth century. His definitive narrative and original analysis constitute a groundbreaking study of early modern British initiatives and enterprise in the coastal areas of south China. The book begins by sketching the Tudor-Stuart historical background of British trade expansion in Asia before precisely reconstructing the voyages of East India Company and then

Sir Robert Ho Tung (1862–1954) is a compelling figure in Hong Kong history. He is regularly portrayed as the colony’s greatest philanthropist and wealthiest man of his day, the first Chinese to live on the Peak, and, at the end of his life, the ‘Grand Old Man of Hongkong’. The illegitimate son of a Chinese mother and European father, he was highly sensitive about his mixed heritage though he consistently made the most of his fate. He was a man perfectly in tune with his place and time, his success driven as much by his entrepreneurial talents as by his being Eurasian. This book shows him in all his immense variety—clerk with the Imperial Maritime Customs, chief compradore of Jardine Matheson, financial wizard, husband and lover, patriarch of a large family of five sons and eight daughters, loyal British subject but also, paradoxically, Chinese patriot. China’s president Yuan Shikai awarded him the Order of the Excellent Crop, and King George V knighted him. May Holdsworth’s thoughtful

The Dragon King below the Jing River defied the orders of the Jade God of the Heavens and was executed. His ghost resented the Tang Emperor Taizong for not saving him, and dragged the Emperor to the Underworld. What would the Emperor see in the Underworld? Was he able to return to life? My Favourite Chinese Stories is a collection of three Chinese stories specially selected and retold in English for young readers. The first story is from Chinese mythology, while the other two are from classical Chinese literature. They are widely known to the Chinese people, and reflect, in varying degrees, some of the essential characteristics of Chinese culture. Each story is accompanied by beautiful full-colour illustrations drawn by Lo King-man as well as audio narration by the author Pamela Youde.