This is a book focuse on the historical and current affairsconcerning stability and development in Xinjiang. It has beenwritten with the purpose of respecting history, clarifying thetruth, and basing on the reality.

The art of clay figure modeling in China boasts a long history that dates back to the Neolithic Age (about 4,000 to 10,000 years B.E). For instance, some pottery pigs and sheep have been discovered at the 6,000 to 7,000-year-old Hemudu site in Zhejiang Province. And the life-size terra cotta warriors and horses unearthed in 1974 from the mausoleum of the First Emperor (259-210 BC) of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) have been referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World." In fact, archaeologists have excavated a great number of pottery figurines, animals, chariots, and boats from the tombs of the following Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). Naturally, the funeral custom of burying figurines and objects with the dead gave impetus to the development of clay sculpture at that time.

Chinahasalonghistoryofagriculture,sointheearlieststagesitsfestivalswereintimatelytiedupwithfarming.Today,theChinesecontinuetocelebratethesefestivals,bringingthemevenclosertotheirancestors,creatorsofasplendidculture.

NewYearPicture(Nianhua)derivesitsnamefromtheage-oldcustomofChineseNewYeardecorations.Afascinatingandpopularartform,itinfactconstitutesaseparatebranchoftraditionalChineseainting.TheconceptofNewYearPicturereferstopaintedworksmadebylocalworkshopsandregularlypostedinsideandoutsidehomes.NewYearPictureencompassesallsuchpaintingsreflectingruralandurbanlives,handmadebyfolkartisans,aswellasthosecarvedorproducedandpaintedinlocalworkshops.FolkNewYea~"Picturepossessescolorfuldetailwithabundantculturalandhistoricalco~notations.herearefivemajorcategoriesofChineseNewYearPicturesdiscussedinthiook:DoorGods,FolkDeities,CuteBabiesandBeauties,CustomsandFestivals,StoriesandLocalOperas.Theprincipalimagesareexplainedwithbriefcaptions.MostoftheNewYearPicturescollectedinthiookaremadebyfolkmastersfromeveryareaofChina.

Lasestampasdea?onuevosonunaformaartísticafolclóricademuchoarraigoenChina.Setratadeunavariedadindependientedepinturatradicionalquellamamucholaatenciónporsucolorido.Porestampasdea?onuevoseentiendenlasobraspintadasypegadasenlasfachadaseinterioresdelasresidenciaschinasenvísperasdea?onuevo,confeccionadasportallereslocalesdeartesanía.Desdeelpuntodevistagenérico,lasestampasserefierenatodapinturacreadaporartesanosfolclóricos,reproducidaatravésdelaescultura,quereflejalavidaurbanayrural.Lasestampasfolclóricasdea?onuevodeChinanosólosonvistosasyricasencontenidoyformasdeexpresión,sinotambiénensignificaciónculturalehistórica.Elpresentelibrodividelapresentacióndelasdistintasestampasencincogrupos:diosesdelapuerta,diosesfolclóricos,ni?osybeldades,costumbresyfestividades,ycuentosyrepresentacionesteatrales.Todaslasilustraciones,cuyagranparteesobradegrandesmaestroscreadoresdeestampasdea?onuevodelasdiversasregionesdeChina,estánapa?adasporunabreveexplicación.

作为中国社会学的奠基人之一，1979年费孝通先生出任中国社会学学会会长，开始重建中国社会学的历程。他先后到西北地区、西南地区、黄河三角洲、长江三角洲、珠江三角洲、环渤海地区、中原经济协作区、淮海经济协作区、东北地区、京九铁路沿线地区等进行田野调查，提出很多既符合当地实际，又具有全局意义的重要发展思路与具体建议。他也是 早关注乡镇企业和小城镇发展的中国社会学家之一， 早关注和探讨了温州现象。《中国的小城镇（功能问题展望）（英文版）》收录了20世纪80年代，费孝通先生和他的同仁对小城镇的学术研究成果，通过本书可以了解80年代中国城镇化进程的状况和所面临的问题，以及当时学者的思索。特别是费先生的作品，不仅可以让读者对小城镇问题有一个透彻的了解，还可领略到其一代大家的学术敏感度和政治洞见。