Chinese Fantastics

By thomas steep

Book Overview

"Chinese Fantastics" is a collection of vivid sketches and insightful anecdotes that explore the rich cultural landscape of China during the early 20th century. Thomas Steep presents a series of vignettes that capture the essence of Chinese life, ranging from the intricacies of courtly tradition to the colorful reality of street-level existence. The work delves into the symbolism of the dragon, the cultural history of the pigtail, and the varied roles of common laborers, providing a multifaceted view of a society in flux.

Through these pages, readers encounter a world where ancient myths intersect with the day-to-day activities of a bustling nation. Steep describes the artistry of fans, the legends surrounding the Empress Dowager, and the peculiar customs that fascinated Western observers of the era. "Chinese Fantastics" serves as both a travelogue and a cultural study, offering a unique perspective on the sights, sounds, and spirits of a China long since transformed. This work remains a valuable resource for those interested in Asian history, folklore, and the art of descriptive travel writing, preserving the atmospheric charm of its subjects with keen observation and literary flair.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025551338
• ISBN13: 9781025551333
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 242 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 9.2"