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The Spirit of the Chinese Character

by Russell Eng Gon, Barbara Aria
The Spirit of the Chinese Character
The Spirit of the Chinese Character

Chinese characters' beauty revealed; cultural insight.

If you're fascinated by the elegance of Chinese calligraphy and the depth of meaning in each stroke, "The Spirit of the Chinese Character" is a treasure trove just waiting for you. This book offers a reflective journey through language, art, and culture, making it a thoughtful gift not only for linguaphiles but also for anyone with an appreciation for the deep-rooted connections between words and their profound significance.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Spirit of the Chinese Character

by Russell Eng Gon, Barbara Aria
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

ISBN: 9780811801423
Authors: Russell Eng Gon, Barbara Aria
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Date of Publication: 1992-08-01
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Art, Philosophy, History
Related Topics: History, Theory, Art History, Art and Photography
Goodreads rating: 3.74
(rated by 42 readers)

Description

From the fluid strokes in the characters denoting "grace," "enlightenment," and "tranquility" to the complex meanings inherent in the words for "honor," "love," and "wisdom," the richness and depth of the Chinese language come alive in this compact, elegant volume of 40 beautifully rendered ideograms. Every character is accompanied by a simple chart showing its physical composition, stroke by stroke, as well as an informative text describing the myriad linguistic components from which its meaning is derived. As a result, the reader can grasp each character's significance and connection to centuries of Chinese philosophy and, ultimately, gain an understanding of the language beyond a mere familiarity with linguistic symbols. Complete with two-color printed end-papers and a charming full-color bookmark, The Spirit of the Chinese Character makes a lovely gift or keepsake volume, sure to inspire a fascination with the complexity of an incomparably beautiful and evocative language.
 

Chinese characters' beauty revealed; cultural insight.

If you're fascinated by the elegance of Chinese calligraphy and the depth of meaning in each stroke, "The Spirit of the Chinese Character" is a treasure trove just waiting for you. This book offers a reflective journey through language, art, and culture, making it a thoughtful gift not only for linguaphiles but also for anyone with an appreciation for the deep-rooted connections between words and their profound significance.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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