导语

  

内容提要

  

    中国是世界著名的四大文明发祥地之一。今天的中国大地上，仍然保存着数量巨大、种类繁多的古代文明遗迹遗物。这些存留至今的珍贵文物，时代跨越了上下约7000年，集中体现了中国文明的源远流长和博大精深。
    李力著的《中国文物(英文版)》选择中国文物中具有代表性的12大类进行介绍，包括陶器、青铜器、玉器、雕塑、金银器、瓷器等。它们以各自独特的方式，铭刻了历史长河中一个个不可复制的瞬间。让我们一起穿越时空的遂道，以这些古代文物为标识，去探寻中国文明的发展轨迹。

    Li Li Born in Jilin Province in 1952．Graduatedfrom the Department of Histo ry．PekinaUniversity．Member of the China ArchaeologySociety,associate editor of the monthly CulturalRelics published by the National Bureau ofCultural Relics of China．Co—author of theBeauty of China—an Illustrated History of theChineseArts，CO—author of theArt ofRule byUsing the Pen and the Sword，author of theFine art of the Qin and Han Dynasties，Vol．3，History of the Chinese Civilization，co-authorof the Cultural Events of the Wei-Jin-Southern-Northern Dynasties．in Genera／History of theChinese Culture，CO—author of the CulturalRelics and Fine Art

Contents
Foreword
Painted Pottery
  Origin of Pottery Art
  Development of Painted Pottery
  Painted Pottery of the Yangshao Culture
  Prehistory Pottery Later than Those of the Yangshao Culture
Jade Artifacts
  “Beautiful Stones” and Jade
  Jade Artifacts of the Xinglongwa Culture and Hongshan Culture
  Jade Artifacts of the Liangzhu Culture
  Jade Carvings of the Shang-Zhou Period
  Funerary Objects of Jade
  The Bloom of Jade Artifacts
Bronze Ware
  Bronze Technology
  Bronze Sacrificial Utensils
  Decorative Designs and Inscriptions on Bronze Ware
  Animal-shaped Bronze Vessels and Bronze Human Figures
  Bronze Weapons, Helmets and Shields
Porcelain
  Porcelain of the Six Dynasties
  Porcelain of the Sui-Tang Period
  Porcelain Kilns of the Song Dynasty
  Blue and White Porcelain of the Yuan Dynasty
  Painted Porcelain of the Ming-Qing Period
Sculpture
  Tomb Figurines
  Mausoleum Sculptures of Stone
  Grotto Temples and Formative Art of Buddhism
Painting
  The Origin of the Art of Painting
  Paintings of the Han and Jin Dynasties
  Painting Style of the Sui-Tang Period
  Painting Academy of the Song Dynasty
  The Literati Paintings in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties
Furniture
  Furniture before the Han Dynasty
  Development of “Furniture with High Legs”
  Ming-style Furniture
  Indoor Furnishing
Arts and Crafts
  Gold and Silver Artifacts
  Lacquer Works
  Bamboo，Wooden，Ivory and
    Animal Horn Articles
  Artificially Shaped Gourds
  Embroidery
  Cloisonne
  Purple Clay Teapots
The Collection and Preservation of Cultural Relics
  Collecting in the Flourishing Age
  Treasures Lost in the Troubled Times
  Arduous Task ahead for the Protection of
    Cultural Relics
Appendix：Chronological Table ofthe Chinese
  Dynasties