Chinese Sketches

Name: Chinese Sketches
Author: Herbert Allen Giles

By Herbert Allen Giles

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Essays, Letters & Speeches History - Other

About This Book

A series of observational essays portraying social customs, institutions, and everyday practices in Chinese towns and cities. The pieces survey court ceremonies, education, literature, ritual observances, medical and dental practices, gambling, opium smoking, guilds, funeral rites, superstition, and informal credit systems. The author juxtaposes popular beliefs and local etiquette with printed works, legal procedures, and missionary activity, and records street-level scenes, trades, and festivals. Short anecdotes and travel impressions are woven with cultural explanation to show how ritual, commerce, and moral ideas structure communal life and individual conduct.

About the Author

Herbert Allen Giles

Herbert Allen Giles was a British sinologist and scholar known for his extensive contributions to the understanding of Chinese literature and culture. His notable works include "A History of Chinese Literature," which provides a comprehensive overview of literary developments in China, and "China and the Chinese," offering insights into Chinese society and customs. Giles's writings reflect his deep engagement with the complexities of Chinese civilization, and he played a significant role in introducing Chinese thought to Western audiences. His scholarly efforts have left a lasting impact on the field of sinology and continue to be referenced by students and scholars alike.