9 Statue of Mi-lo (Maitreya, the next future Buddha), in the “Great
  Buddha Temple” at Chengting (Hopei).
  Photo H. Hammer-Morrisson.

10 Ladies of the Court:  Clay models which accompanied the dead person to
   the grave.  T’ang period.
   In the collection of the Museum fuer Voelkerkunde.  Berlin.

11 Distinguished founder:  a temple banner found at Khotcho, Turkestan.
  Museum fuer Voelkerkunde, Berlin.  No. 1B 4524, illustration B 408.

12 Ancient tiled pagoda at Chengting (Hopei).
   Photo H. Hammer-Morrisson.

13 Horse-training.  Painting by Li Lung-mien.  Late Sung period.
   Manchu Royal House Collection.

14 Aborigines of South China, of the “Black Miao” tribe, at a festival. 
   China-ink drawing of the eighteenth century.
   Collection of the Museum fuer Voelkerkunde, Berlin.  No. 1D 8756, 68.

15 Pavilion on the “Coal Hill” at Peking, in which the last Ming emperor
   committed suicide.
   Photo Eberhard.

16 The imperial summer palace of the Manchu rulers, at Jehol.
   Photo H. Hammer-Morrisson.

17 Tower on the city wall of Peking.
   Photo H. Hammer-Morrisson.

MAPS

1 Regions of the principal local cultures in prehistoric times

2 The principal feudal States in the feudal epoch (roughly 722-481 B.C.)

3 China in the struggle with the Huns or Hsiung-nu (roughly 128-100 B.C.)

4 The Toba empire (about A.D. 500)

5 The T’ang realm (about A.D. 750)

6 The State of the Later T’ang dynasty (923-935)

INTRODUCTION

There are indeed enough Histories of China already:  why yet another one?  Because the time has come for new departures; because we need to clear away the false notions with which the general public is constantly being fed by one author after another; because from time to time syntheses become necessary for the presentation of the stage reached by research.

Histories of China fall, with few exceptions, into one or the other of two groups, pro-Chinese and anti-Chinese:  the latter used to predominate, but today the former type is much more frequently found.  We have no desire to show that China’s history is the most glorious or her civilization the oldest in the world.  A claim to the longest history does not establish the greatness of a civilization; the importance of a civilization becomes apparent in its achievements.  A thousand years ago China’s civilization towered over those of the peoples of Europe.  Today the West is leading; tomorrow China may lead again.  We need to realize how China became what she is, and to note the paths pursued by the Chinese in human thought and action.  The lives of emperors, the great battles, this or the other famous deed, matter