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Introduction to Guoxue: Traditional Chinese Thoughts, Culture, and Learning
by Zhang TaiyanThis book is a collection of Zhang Taiyan's lectures on traditional Chinese thoughts, culture, and learning. Zhang Taiyan is known for his role as an active proponent of Guoxue (Chinese learning) in modern China. This title comprises the transcripts of a series of his lectures on Guoxue given in Shanghai between April and June 1922, and serves as an insightful and influential companion to Guoxue. It systematically introduces the research methods of Guoxue and the development and schools of Chinese classical studies, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese literature, and provides a brilliant analysis of representative figures and works from various periods. It also touches on a wide range of topics in Chinese history, philology, paleography, bibliology, and geography. This book provides Guoxue with many new and thought-provoking ideas and plays a crucial role in the dissemination of Guoxue throughout the world. This title will be essential reading for students and scholars of Sinology and Chinese Studies, as well as for the general public interested in traditional Chinese culture.
Introduction to Hebrew Bible: A Guided Tour of Israel's Sacred Library
by James E. BowleyWelcoming readers into the world, culture, history, and literature of the library of Judaism, this volume provides a solid and rich overview of the content of each book, including its historical background. Attractively formatted as a museum or library tour, the book gives readers a sense of the plurality and richness of the on-going traditions of the biblical faith communities and shows how the three Abrahamic world religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have all used the Old Testament. The library tour begins with the layout, an historical and critical overview of the books, prophets and writings and a provides look at the faith-communities that use the Bible. For Bible novices and Bible experts alike interested in a comprehensive tour of its Books.
An Introduction To Historical Linguistics
by Terry Crowley Claire BowernAll languages change, just as other aspects of human society are constantly changing. This book is an introduction to the concepts and techniques of diachronic linguistics, the study of language change over time. It covers all themajor areas of historical linguistics, presenting concepts in a clear and concise way. Examples are given from a wide range of languages, with special emphasis on the languages of Australia and the Pacific. While the needs of undergraduate students of linguistics have been kept firmly in mind, the book will also be of interest to the general reader seeking to understand langauge and language change. For this fourth edition, a number of new sections have been written, including many new problems and several datasets. Existing materials have been supplemented with new sections on grammaticalization, tonogenesis, morphological change, and using statistical methods in language classification.
An Introduction to Holocaust Studies
by Michael Bernard-DonalsThis single volume traces three approaches to the study of the Holocaust - through notions of history, theories of memory, and a focus on art and representation. It introduces students to the different ways we have come to understand the Holocaust, gives them an opportunity to ask questions about those conclusions, and examines how this event can be understood once all the survivors are gone. In addition, the book looks at the different disciplines - history, sociology, religious studies, and literary interpretation, among others - through which studies of the Holocaust take place.
An Introduction to Human Prehistory in Arabia: The Lost World of the Southern Crescent (Springer Textbooks in Archaeology and Heritage)
by Jeffrey I. RoseThis textbook explores the mystery of human origins in the Arabian Peninsula, the lost Southern Crescent where humanity took its first steps toward civilization. Under Arabia’s surface of sand and stone lies a primordial realm of rolling grasslands, freshwater lakes, and river floodplains. This book aims to restore a critical missing chapter in the prehistory of our species that played out in this forgotten place of plenty. The author has carried out more than twenty years of fieldwork in Yemen and Oman, weaving his research together into an unorthodox tapestry of archaeology, environmental science, genetics, and Middle Eastern mythology. This volume peers beneath Arabia’s abandoned deserts, revealing a land that once served as a bridge between prehistoric worlds. This textbook is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students as well as all readers who are interested in learning about Arabian prehistory.
An Introduction to Iconography: Symbols, Allusions and Meaning in the Visual Arts (Documenting The Image Ser. #Vol. 1)
by Roelof van StratenAvailable for the first time in English, An Introduction to Iconography explains the ways that artists use references and allusions to create meaning. The book presents the historical, theoretical, and practical aspects of iconography and ICONCLASS, the comprehensive iconographical indexing system developed by Henri van de Waal. It gives particular emphasis to the history of iconography, personification, allegory, and symbols, and the literary sources that inform iconographic readings, and includes annotated bibliographies of books and journal articles from around the world that are associated with iconographic research.The author of numerous articles and a four-volume reference work on Italian prints, Roelof van Straten is currently working on an iconographic index covering the prints of Goltzius and his school.
Introduction to Igbo Mythology for Kids: A Fun Collection of Heroes, Creatures, Gods, and Goddesses in West African Tradition
by Chinelo AnyadiegwuImmerse yourself in the vibrant world of Igbo heroes, deities, creatures, folktales, and myths, including Chineke the creator, Ana, Igwe, Anyanwu, Ekwensu, and more, plus the story of the first mermaid, the legend of Udenolu the shapeshifting crow, and the story of the tortoise and the Lion King.The first definitive collection of Igbo legends and traditions for kids, this book explores the mythological origins of the Igbo people, the ancient Nri Kingdom, and Igbo cosmology before delving into the Alusi, or the core Igbo deities. Following this introduction to the pantheon of gods and goddesses, a collection of the most popular Igbo myths, folktales, and legends will immerse kids in exciting stories of tricksters, shapeshifters, and heroes, including: The Wrestler Whose Back Never Touched the Ground Ojiugo, the Rare Gem The Tortoise and the Birds, or The Origin Story of Sea Turtles Ngwele Aghuli, Why the Crocodile Lives Alone How Death Came to Be And more! The perfect book for kids who are fascinated by Greek mythology or love the Rick Riordan series, Introduction to Igbo Mythology for Kids offers a fun look into the stories, history, and figures that characterize Igbo culture.
Introduction to Indian Architecture
by Bindia Thapar Suparna Bhalla Surat Kumar MantoTake a journey through Indian architecture from the dawn of civilization to the present with this colorful, attractive survey.The architecture of India reflects both the cultural diversity of the subcontinent and its rich political and historical inheritance. In this guide, the various strands of this rich architectural history, from the dawn of civilization to modern times, are beautifully presented in word and picture. Readers are taken on a fascinating tour of Indus Valley civilization, early Vedic traditions, Hindu, Jain, Mughal, regional, colonial and post-independence architectural styles. Themes such as water architecture and the architecture of science also figure prominently, giving many westerners their first glimpse of these styles.The informative text, complemented by 400 photographs, watercolors, maps and plans, provide compelling evidence of India's influence on building design throughout history.
An Introduction to Indian Philosophy: Perspectives on Reality, Knowledge, and Freedom
by Bina GuptaAn Introduction to Indian Philosophy offers a profound yet accessible survey of the development of India’s philosophical tradition. Beginning with the formation of Brahmanical, Jaina, Materialist, and Buddhist traditions, Bina Gupta guides the reader through the classical schools of Indian thought, culminating in a look at how these traditions inform Indian philosophy and society in modern times. Offering translations from source texts and clear explanations of philosophical terms, this text provides a rigorous overview of Indian philosophical contributions to epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, and ethics. This is a must-read for anyone seeking a reliable and illuminating introduction to Indian philosophy.
An Introduction to Indian Philosophy: Perspectives on Reality, Knowledge, and Freedom
by Bina GuptaAn Introduction to Indian Philosophy offers a profound yet accessible survey of the development of India’s philosophical tradition. Beginning with the formation of Brāhmaṇical, Jaina, Materialist, and Buddhist traditions, Bina Gupta guides the reader through the classical schools of Indian thought, culminating in a look at how these traditions inform Indian philosophy and society in modern times. Offering translations from source texts and clear explanations of philosophical terms, this text provides a rigorous overview of Indian philosophical contributions to epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of language, and ethics. This is a must-read for anyone seeking a reliable and illuminating introduction to Indian philosophy. Key Updates in the Second Edition Reorganized into seven parts and fifteen chapters, making it easier for instructors to assign chapters for a semester-long course. Continues to introduce systems historically, but focuses on new key questions and issues within each system. Details new arguments, counter-arguments, objections, and their reformulations in the nine schools of Indian philosophy. Offers expanded discussion of how various schools of Indian philosophy are engaged with each other. Highlights key concepts and adds new grey boxes to explain selected key concepts. Includes a new section that problematizes the Western notion of "philosophy." New Suggested Readings sections are placed at the end of each chapter, which include recommended translations, a bibliography of important works, and pertinent recent scholarship for each school. Adds a new part (Part III) that explains the difficulties involved in translating from Sanskrit into English, discusses fundamental concepts and conceptual distinctions often used to present Indian philosophy to Western students, and reviews important features and maxims that most darśanas follow. Provides new examples of applications to illustrate more obscure concepts and principles.
An Introduction to Islam (Second Edition)
by David WainesThis wide-ranging account of the history and theology of one of the world's most dynamic religions tells the story of Islamic beliefs and practices as they developed from the earliest times down to the present day. For this revised and updated Second Edition, David Waines has added a long section tackling head-on the issues arising from Islam's place in the changing world order at the turn of the new millennium. The wars in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Israel, and the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, have raised global awareness of Islam at a superficial level - but little has been written which considers Islamic political and military extremism in relation to mainstream Muslim history and theology. Coming at the end of a book which has explored the ideas and traditions of Islam in depth, this new section offers thought-provoking reflections on the place of religion in the current conflicts.
Introduction to Japanese Architecture
by David Young Michiko Young Tan Hong YewIntroduction to Japanese Architecture provides an overview of Japanese architecture in its historical and cultural context. It begins with a discussion of prehistoric dwellings and concludes with a description of contemporary trends in areas as diverse as country inns, underground malls, and love hotels. The intervening 12,000 years are analyzed in reference to major changes in architecture caused by Buddhist and indigenous influences, feudalism, and finally the influence of Western culture in the 19th century.
Introduction to Japanese Culture
by Daniel SosnoskiFeaturing full-color photographs and illustrations throughout this text is a comprehensive guide to Japanese culture.The richness of Japan's history is renowned worldwide. The heritage of culture that its society has produced and passed on to future generations is one of Japan's greatest accomplishments. In Introduction to Japanese Culture, you'll read an overview, through sixty-eight original and informative essays, of Japan's most notable cultural achievements, including:Religion, Zen Buddhism, arranged marriages and BushidoDrama and Art-from pottery, painting and calligraphy to haiku, kabuki and karateCuisine-everything from rice to raw fishHome and Recreation, from board games such as Go to origami, kimonos and Japanese gardensThe Japan of today is a fully modern, Westernized society in nearly every regard. Even so, the elements of an earlier age are clearly visible in the country's arts, festivals, and customs. This book focuses on the essential constants that remain in present-day Japan and their counterparts in Western culture.Edited by Daniel Sosnoski, these well-researched articles, color photographs, and line illustrations provide a compact guide to aspects of Japan that often puzzle the outside observer. Introduction to Japanese Culture is wonderfully informative, a needed primer on the cultural make-up and behaviors of the Japanese.
Introduction to Japanese Culture
by Daniel SosnoskiThe richness of Japan's history is renowned worldwide. The heritage of culture that its society has produced and passed on to future generations is one of Japan's greatest accomplishments. In Introduction to Japanese Culture, you'll read an overview, through sixty-eight original and informative essays, of Japan's most notable cultural achievements, including:Religion, Zen Buddhism, arranged marriages and BushidoDrama and Art--from pottery, painting and calligraphy to haiku, kabuki and karateCuisine--everything from rice to raw fishHome and Recreation, from board games such as Go to origami, kimonos and Japanese gardensThe Japan of today is a fully modern, Westernized society in nearly every regard. Even so, the elements of an earlier age are clearly visible in the country's arts, festivals, and customs. This book focuses on the essential constants that remain in present-day Japan and their counterparts in Western culture.Edited by Daniel Sosnoski, these well-researched articles, color photographs, and line illustrations provide a compact guide to aspects of Japan that often puzzle the outside observer. Introduction to Japanese Culture is wonderfully informative, a needed primer on the cultural make-up and behaviors of the Japanese.
An Introduction to Jean Bodel (New Perspectives on Medieval Literature: Authors and Traditions)
by Lynn T. RameyBringing the work of a highly influential medieval French writer to English-speaking audiences for the first time This book explores the life and works of Jean Bodel, an influential author who lived in twelfth-century Arras, France. A versatile poet, playwright, and epic writer who established new genres such as fabliaux and the mystery play, Bodel remains relatively unknown to Anglophone audiences. Lynn Ramey offers translations and summaries of works never published before in English while delving into Bodel’s historical and cultural context. After a brief introduction to the poet, Ramey highlights the stimulating and cosmopolitan environment of Arras, considering the influence of the Crusades and social movements in shaping Bodel’s works. Next, Ramey provides an extensive survey of all of Bodel’s known writing across his prolific career by genre, from his most well-known work, The Play of Saint Nicholas (Le Jeu de saint Nicolas), to his final piece, Farewell (Les Congés), which offers important insight into his diagnosis of leprosy toward the end of his life. Ramey translates several pieces including pastourelles, fabliaux, and selections from the Song of the Saxons (Chanson des Saisnes). The book also includes information on Bodel’s sources, a chronology, and a glossary. With much of the existing scholarship on Bodel only available in French, this book bridges a gap in knowledge of the poet and serves as a useful resource for both students and specialists. An Introduction to Jean Bodel allows a broader audience to engage with the writer’s wide-ranging work and contributions to literary history.A volume in the series New Perspectives on Medieval Literature: Authors and Traditions, edited by R. Barton Palmer and Tison Pugh
An Introduction to Kant'S Moral Philosophy
by Jennifer K. UlemanImmanuel Kant's moral philosophy is one of the most distinctive achievements of the European Enlightenment. At its heart lies what Kant called the 'strange thing': the free, rational, human will. This introduction explores the basis of Kant's anti-naturalist, secular, humanist vision of the human good. Moving from a sketch of the Kantian will, with all its component parts and attributes, to Kant's canonical arguments for his categorical imperative, this introduction shows why Kant thought his moral law the best summary expression of both his own philosophical work on morality and his readers' deepest shared convictions about the good. Kant's central tenets, key arguments, and core values are presented in an accessible and engaging way, making this book ideal for anyone eager to explore the fundamentals of Kant's moral philosophy.
An Introduction to Latin American Economics: Understanding Theory Through History
by Scott McKinneyThis textbook serves as an introduction to the major economic topics and events in Latin America’s history, from the settling of the region by indigenous Americans and then Europeans, Africans and Asians, to the economic consequences of COVID-19. Each chapter concentrates on a particular period—for example, pre-Columbian America, the 1980s debt crisis, the 21st Century decline in income inequality—and introduces the concepts needed to understand the events of that period. These concepts include theories such as Dutch Disease and Dependency Theory, policies such as import-substituting industrialization and neoliberalism, and analytical tools such as the circular flow of income and the foreign exchange market. Descriptive data are used to illustrate these concepts: for example, Latin America’s current account balance during the 1970s and 1980s shows the impact of the debt crisis, while the relationship between money supply growth and inflation in Argentina during the 1980s and 1990s shows the impact of expansionary monetary policy and convertibility.With its focus on Latin American economic history and on the key concepts for understanding that history, this book can serve as the core textbook for an introductory course on Latin American Economics, or as a complementary text for an introductory course in Latin American Studies or a social science course on Latin America.
Introduction To Library Research In French Literature
by Robert K. BakerThis book is an introduction to the complexities of library research for the student of French literature. addresses the structure of the modern American academic library, giving particular attention to the exploitation of information in the card catalog, interlibrary loans, and the reference function. is a selective bibliographic guide to the more important information resources (dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, etc.) likely to be found in the medium to large college or university library. Each title listed in this section is annotated as to scope and coverage, and the introduction to each type of reference tool includes a list of standard library subject headings for further library research. The final chapter provides practical suggestions on how to "get ready for research" on a term paper, as well as suggestions for further readings that explain the purposes and methodology of literary scholarship.
An Introduction to Literary Debate in Late Medieval France: From <i>Le Roman de la Rose</i> to <i>La Belle Dame sans Mercy</i> (New Perspectives on Medieval Literature: Authors and Traditions)
by Joan E. McRaeHow medieval poems sparked discussions on women’s agency, love, marriage, and honor that prefigured modern feminism This volume immerses readers in a debate tradition that flourished in France during the late Middle Ages, focusing on two works that were both popular and controversial in their time: Le Roman de la Rose by thirteenth-century poets Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun and La Belle Dame sans Mercy by fifteenth-century royal secretary and poet Alain Chartier. This is the first comparative volume on these important works and the discussions they sparked. Engaging with questions of women’s agency, love, marriage, and honor, these two poems prompted responses that circulated via treatises, letters, and sermons among officials, clerics, and poets. Joan McRae provides commentary on the two texts, a timeline and summary of the resulting debates, and biographical sketches of the leading intellectuals who matched wits over different ways of reading the texts, including pioneering writer Christine de Pizan. McRae shows that these works and the debates, read together, consider a range of social issues that raise questions of gender, the place of power and hierarchy in societal relationships, and the responsibility of writers for the effect of their works on readers. An Introduction to Literary Debate in Late Medieval France is a helpful overview of these weighty arguments for both students and scholars. McRae provides a compact, comprehensive, and up-to-date study, spotlighting influential literary expressions that evolved into the “querelle des femmes,” the “woman question,” which in turn paved the way for modern feminism. A volume in the series New Perspectives on Medieval Literature: Authors and Traditions, edited by R. Barton Palmer and Tison Pugh
An Introduction to Mahāyāna Buddhism: With especial Reference to Chinese and Japanese Phases (Routledge Library Editions: Japan)
by William M McGovernWilliam Montgomery McGovern’s Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism was one of the first books on Mahayana Buddhism written for a Western audience. It predates influential English language overviews of Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki, A. Watts, and W. Rahula. The author was born in New York City in 1897 and spent his latter teenage years (1914-1917) training at the Nishi Hongwanji Mahayana Buddhist monastery in Kyoto, Japan. He founded the Mahayana Association at age eighteen and edited and published the journal "Mahayanist" while completing his studies at the monastery. Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism was written as part of a thesis which secured him his Buddhist degree and an honorary ordination as a Buddhist priest. Intended as a simplified and introductory text for a lay audience, the book reflects the unique perspective of a Westerner trained in Japan at a time when Mahayana Buddhism was little known in the West. Referencing Buddhist literature, it gives a short history of Buddhism and the divergence of schools of Buddhist philosophy, introduces the four noble truths, the philosophy of Karma, the nature of Buddhahood, reincarnation and the road to nirvana, Buddhist cosmology, and psychological and philosophical elements of Buddhist teachings. Although the divisions of non Mahayana Buddhist sects and philosophy described may be considered dated, Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism remains significant for its historical value in presenting Eastern religious and philosophical thought to Westerners at a pivotal time in history.
Introduction To Marx And Engels
by Richard SchmittThis book steers a middle path between those who argue that the theories of Marx and Engels have been rendered obsolete by historical events and those who reply that these theories emerge untouched from the political changes of the last ten years. Marxism has been a theory of historical change that claimed to be able to predict with considerable accuracy how existing institutions were going to change. Marxism has also been a political program designed to show how these inevitable changes could be hastened. Richard Schmitt argues that Marxian predictions are ambiguous and unreliable, adding that the political program is vitiated by serious ambiguities in the conceptions of class and of political and social transformations. Marxism remains of importance, however, because it is the major source of criticisms of capitalism and its associated social and political institutions. We must understand such criticisms if we are to understand our own world and live in it effectively. While very critical of the failures of Marx and Engels, this book offers a sympathetic account of their criticism of capitalism and their visions of a better world, mentions some interpretive controversies, and connects the questions raised by Marx and Engels to contemporary disputes to show continuity between social thought in the middle of the last century and today. Addressed to undergraduate students, the book is easily accessible. It will be important in introductory or middle-level courses in sociology, political theory, critical theory of literature or law. It will also be useful in graduate courses in political theory, sociology, and economics.
An Introduction to Mathematics (Dover Books on Mathematics)
by Alfred North Whitehead"The object of the following chapters is not to teach mathematics, but to enable students from the very beginning of their course to know what the science is about, and why it is necessarily the foundation of exact thought as applied to natural phenomena." Thus begins this volume by the prominent English philosopher and mathematician Alfred North Whitehead, a concise statement on the nature and meaning of mathematics for the general student. Expertly written and abounding in insights, the book presents a lively exposition of mathematical concepts, the history of their development, and their applications to the physical world. Whitehead explains in broad terms what mathematics is about, what it does, and how mathematicians do it.Generations of readers who have stayed with the philosopher from the beginning to the end have found themselves amply rewarded for taking this journey.
Introduction to Media and Politics
by Sarah Oates'...a lively introduction to media and politics, with timely chapters on the media, war and terrorism and the internet. If you want to know why media matters in politics this is a great place to start' - Dr Margaret Scammell, London School of Economics and Political Science 'This book has the truly international perspective that helps to put politics and media in the context of current world events...a unique and valuable text' - Professor Lynda Lee Kaid, University of Florida '...a new and promising perspective to the study of media and politics in a comparative dimension' - Professor Paolo Mancini, Università di Perugia Introduction to Media and Politics draws together evidence from the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and beyond to provide students with an understanding of the relationship between the media and the political sphere. This highly accessible text: - balances theory with case studies on elections, war, terrorism, and the emerging role of the Internet, enabling the reader to think critically about how the media should work in the service of democracy. - places the study of media and politics in a comparative perspective, allowing the reader to consider how the same media institutions - including commercial and public service broadcasting, paid political advertising, and war coverage - function in different countries. This text is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of media and politics.
Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500
by Wim Blockmans Peter HoppenbrouwersIntroduction to Medieval Europe 300-1500 provides a comprehensive survey of this complex and varied formative period of European history. Covering themes as diverse as barbarian migrations, the impact of Christianization, the formation of nations and states, the emergence of an expansionist commercial economy, the growth of cities, the Crusades, the effects of plague, and the intellectual and cultural life of the Middle Ages, the book explores the driving forces behind the formation of medieval society and the directions in which it developed and changed. In doing this, the authors cover a wide geographic expanse, including Western interactions with the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic World. ? Now in full colour, this second edition contains a wealth of new features that help to bring this fascinating era to life, including: A detailed timeline of the period, putting key events into context Primary source case boxes Full colour illustrations throughout New improved maps A glossary of terms Annotated suggestions for further reading The book is supported by a free companion website with resources including, for instructors, assignable discussion questions and all of the images and maps in the book available to download, and for students, a comparative interactive timeline of the period and links to useful websites. The website can be found at www.routledge.com/cw/blockmans.? Clear and stimulating, the second edition of Introduction to Medieval Europe is the ideal companion to studying Europe in the Middle Ages at undergraduate level.
Introduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500
by Wim Blockmans Peter HoppenbrouwersIntroduction to Medieval Europe 300–1500 provides a comprehensive survey of this complex and varied formative period of European history, covering themes as diverse as barbarian migrations, the impact of Christianisation, the formation of nations and states, the emergence of an expansionist commercial economy, the growth of cities, the Crusades, the effects of plague, and the intellectual and cultural life of the Middle Ages. The book explores the driving forces behind the formation of medieval society and the directions in which it developed and changed. In doing this, the authors cover a wide geographic expanse, including Western interactions with the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic World. This third edition contains a wealth of new features that help to bring this fascinating era to life, including: In the book: A number of new maps and images to further understanding of the period Clear signposting and extended discussions of key topics such as feudalism and gender Expanded geographic coverage into Eastern Europe and the Middle East On the companion website: An updated, comparative and interactive timeline, highlighting surprising synchronicities in medieval history, and annotated links to useful websites A list of movies, television series and novels related to the Middle Ages, accompanied by introductions and commentaries Assignable discussion questions and the maps, plates, figures and tables from the book available to download and use in the classroom Clear and stimulating, the third edition of Introduction to Medieval Europe is the ideal companion to studying Europe in the Middle Ages at undergraduate level.