{"product_id":"9788776940355","title":"Lifestyle and Entertainment in Yangzhou","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Chinese city of Yangzhou has been of great cultural significance for many centuries, despite its destruction by invaders in the 17th and 19th centuries. It was a site of virtual pilgrimage for aspiring members of the Chinese educated class during the Ming and Qing periods. Moreover, because it was one of the foremost commercial centres during the late imperial period, it was the place where the merchant and scholarly classes merged to set new standards of taste and to create a cultural milieu quite unlike that of other cities, even other major centres in the region. The luxurious elegance of its gardens and the eminence of its artistic traditions meant that Yangzhou set aesthetic standards for the entire realm for much of the late imperial age. Over the years, particular regional forms of art and entertainment arose here, too, some surviving into the present time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eYangzhou's rich cultural tradition is celebrated in this volume through a well-balanced spectrum of topics spanning the period from the late 17th century to modern times. These are grouped into four thematic parts: Yangzhou's cultural heritage during historic downfalls and revivals; regional literature and book production; local theatre and storytelling; and various artists of the 18th century Yangzhou School of Painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis beautifully illustrated volume is the first to bring together the history, literature, and performing and visual arts of a great cultural centre that currently is being considered for listing as a Unesco world heritage site. Not only does it provide scholars with understanding on a new level of nuanced insight. It makes the historical and symbolic complexity of this fascinating citycomprehensible to non specialists as well.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nordic Institute of Asian Studies","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47038153785584,"sku":"9788776940355","price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9788776940355_p0.jpg?v=1763751326","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9788776940355","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}