Many artists——and lovers of the arts——believe that artistic Derfection can be found in any time period and within any culture．American ceramic artists are particularly adventurous，continually exploring the vast heritage of ceramic art．With this insightful and beautifu l book,The Yixing EffecC： Echoes of the Chinese Scholar,Marvin Sweet reveals how the Yixing teapot has captured the imagination of contemporary ceramic artists and why it has become a compelling source of inspiration．

中国是世界上早发明养蚕、缫丝、织绸的国家。而用彩色丝线在丝织物上绣成图案的刺绣工艺．大约在公元前15世纪的商代就已出现。早的刺绣工艺主要用于服饰，大约在公元10世纪的宋代，刺绣工艺逐渐向具有观赏性的艺术品方向发展，到明、清(1368—1911年)刺绣艺术成就显著，刺绣工艺形成了不同的艺术流派．苏绣、粤绣、蜀绣、湘绣四大名绣争奇斗艳。苏州地处太湖之滨，盛产蚕桑．中国经济文化重心从五代（907—960年）朝江南转移，“上有天堂，下有苏杭”的说法亦就是五代时期开始流传的。江南文化经济的繁荣促使苏绣技艺有了长足的进步，苏绣艺术独领风骚，影响深远。 今天的苏绣艺术又开创了一个大有作为的新天地。苏绣艺人对传统技艺进行挖掘，加以总结．提高，发展，使苏绣艺术既有优秀传统的文化内涵，又有新时期的时代风貌．苏绣艺

Surrounded by mountains and covered by greens, Beijing has numerous places of interest and scenic spots. Beijing was the capital for several imperial dynasties, as well as the political and cultural center. Its long history has left us many classical imperial gardens. Now Beijing's urban area has been covered with more green land, and many new parks have been built, being a new environmental heritage of China. This book introduces, with many color pictures, a modern and green metropolis with rich ancient and imperial flavors.

北京建城已有3000多年的历史，作为都城已逾800年之久。在公元前11世纪时称为“蓟”，公元938年，蓟城成为辽的陪都，改称南京，又称为燕京。一个多世纪 以后，金朝建立，建都于燕京，改名中都。1267年，元朝也建都于此．称为元大都，从此，北京取代了长安、洛阳、汴梁等古都的地位，成为中国政治文化的中心，并一直延续到明、清时期。北京在历史上曾是辽、金、元、明、清五朝的帝都。从各朝在京建都的历史中，古城北京遗留下了大量的文物古迹。北京是一座天子之城，一座举世闻名的文化古城。