Xu Xiake (1587 - 1641): The Art of Travel Writing
Richmond, Surrey: Curzon, 2001. The first full-length study in English of China's best-known travel writer Xu Xiake (1587-1687). The work includes a survey of the history of Chinese travel writing in general with particular emphasis given to the late-Ming period and a resume of Xu Xiake's life. The core of the work examines the wealth of new information to be found in a rediscovered version of Xu's account of his great journey to southwest China. Xu utilized traditional and contemporary Chinese poetic language to describe the landscape through which he passed. The work includes an annotated translation of a deeply personal essay, written towards the end of Xu's life. The book examines popular late Ming China subjects of the day - ranging from the growth of geographical writing to an anthropological analysis of the non-Han peoples of southwest China.
First Edition. Hardcover. 6-3/8 x 9-1/2", pictorial paper over boards, xviii, 231pp, abbreviations, appendices, bibliography, index, 6 illus., notes throughout. Item #900507
ISBN: 0700713190
Fine condition.
Price: $100.00