A Thousand Pieces of Gold My Discovery of China's Character in Its Proverbs

A cultural memoir as well as a personal account of China's past, illustrated by proverbs taken from a fascinating period of history when China was ruled by the First Emperor, Qin Shihuang (259-210 B.C.), the sovereign who united China, built the Great Wall, and standardized the Chinese language. Mah combines fascinating historical insights with stories from her own life to show the enduring relevance and influence of proverbs in Chinese life, even to the present day. She recreates a lost world in which warlords, scholars, and courtiers plot and counter-plot to create some of history's greatest dramas. Combining historical analysis with stories of tremendous personal insight, this is a work of intimacy and a singularly authentic portrait of Chinese culture. Drawings.