The International Studies Shelf

Splendors of Quanzhou, Past and Present
William N. Brown
Springer
www.springer.com
9789811980350, $58.50 Hardcover, $49.99 Paper

https://www.amazon.com/Splendors-Quanzhou-Present-William-Brown/dp/98119803=
57

Quanzhou (Zayton) was Marco Polo's departure port and Columbus' goal in Chi= na. It fostered the Maritime Silk Road and, perhaps more importantly, was c= enturies ahead of its time in fostering tolerance and diversity among its p= opulace, housing Muslims alongside Christian, Hindu, Taoist, and Jewish spi= ritual centers. Splendors of Quanzhou, Past and Present surveys this city (= now a World Heritage site) and its culture, from early to contemporary time=
s. Why should modern readers care about this place? Because it's not just a=
singular piece of Chinese history or a world wonder, but a representation =
of architectural, cultural, and social ideals that can serve as a mirror of=
achievement and possibility for developing nations around the world.

William N. Brown spent three decades in China, traveling the country and sp= eaking with citizens and exploring every aspect of the city's history and c= ulture. His visits there, which began in 1989, documented the city's balanc=
ed approach to preserving its heritage while becoming a forceful example of=
success for the 21st century and beyond. Readers who anticipate the tone o=
f this survey will limit its audience to scholars alone will be delighted t=
o discover these travels lend to a lively observational style which juxtapo= ses Chinese historical and cultural insights with personal experiences, fro=
m shopping to Quanzhou's world-famous puppets.

Color photos of travel experiences, personal reflections, and sidebars of a= dditional information create a rare combination of travelogue and cultural = study which will prove accessible to a large audience, from readers interes= ted in studying China's culture in general and Quanzhou in particular to tr= avelers who will find these encounters perfect armchair reading.

Splendors of Quanzhou, Past and Present's multifaceted approach and depth l= ends to its consideration by a variety of library collections, from college= -level holdings seeking in-depth explorations of China's history and cities=
to general-interest libraries that will discover the scholarly-looking cov=
er masks an appealing survey filled with not just information, but lively p= ersonal encounters. These will educate and attract general-interest readers=
- especially those attracted to cities that practice diversity and toleran= ce.

Quanzou's special attraction is that it has done so for centuries, long bef= ore the concept of inclusion become contemporary and widely supported.

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