As a child you dug in the sand at the beach and claimed that you'd soon reach China, right? Yee Chiang has done just this, from the opposite perspective. For the western reader, Yee Chiang, a scholar, an intrepid traveler, a Chinese wandering western lands, comes up with the most surprising perspectives and connections, some quaint (terribly so) and some disturbing. Published in 1964, all still applies. A lovely knock off axis for those who take for granted America's most fascinating city.

I feel that Mr. Chiang Yee's book provides an excellent introduction to the art of Chinese Calligraphy as well as to the idiosyncrasies of Chinese aesthetics. However, it is an old book, and it constantly dates itself. There is more than a touch of "orientalism" in this book, and Mr. Yee presents China the way it would be seem to a Westerner a half century ago, as a mysterious place, a dark "other" with incomprehensible mystic traditions that stand in sharp contrast to the bright and carefully delineated West. For example, he makes the assertion several times through the book that a person's appearance and personality can be gauged by their calligraphy style. Analyzing Emperor Hui Tsung's calligraphy Yee reveals to us that the emperor was "a well-built handsome figure." Of course, as this particular emperor died nearly 1800 years ago, there is absolutely no way to empirically refute or support his claims. Of course, we can't forget that modern China is not a land of dragons and mystics. It is a nuclear power, and a burgeoning economic superpower. However, with that one caveat in mind, I would still heartily recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Chinese calligraphy or aesthetic traditions.

The book deals with the traditional art of Calligraphy from both a philosophical and an aesthetic point of view and uses numerous examples for the serious student of Chinese Calligraphy. It is written in a lively and informed manner that will stimulate the reader's imagination and appreciation of the art of Calligraphy and its masters throughout history. It is the #1 book in the field.

This book, which was published in the 1930s brought me back to the old times when I read it in 1999. The author was a scholar and politician of that time, and he recorded the common thoughts and understandings about Chinese arts and culture of that time. Nothing in this book was new to today's readers, but everything in this book was clearly stated in a way you seldom encounter today. The author had an impressive ability in handling Chinese cliche into English, which made reading this book enjoyable.

recommended for Chinese readers longing for good old days. Another book by this author on Chinese calligraphy is more highly recommened. That's a five star one according to me.