Chapter One Civilization in the Midstream of the Han River
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. Dinosaur Egg Fossils at Qinglong Mountain
2. Turquoise at Yungai Temple (云盖寺)
3. Yunxian Man on Quyuan River (曲远河)
Ⅲ.Questions for discussion
Ⅳ. Sources
Ⅴ. Material for further reading
1. He Shi (an excerpt from Han Feizi)
2. Wan bi gui Zhao (an excerpt from Records of the Historian)
Chapter Two Shennongjia: A Mystery
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. Natural Beauty in Shennongjia
2. The Origin of Shennongjia
3. Haven for Relict Vegetation and Endangered Animals
4. The Mystery of Savages
Ⅲ. Questions for discussion
Ⅳ. Sources
Ⅴ. Material for further reading
1. Huai Nan Zi (an excerpt)
2. The Book of Master Baopu (excerpts)
3. Huangdi Neijing (an excerpt)
Chapter Three A Brief History of the State of Chu
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. Bi lu lan lv—The Beginning of the State of Chu
2. Wen ding zhi xin—Early Expansion
3. Yi ming jing ren (一鸣惊人)—Rise to Power
4. Chu cai Jin yong (楚材晋用)—The Frustration of an Empire
5. Qian jin shi gu—Chu’s Heyday
6. Zong heng bai he — Decline of Chu
7. Nan feng bu jing—Fall of Chu
Ⅲ. Questions for discussion
Ⅳ. Sources
Ⅴ. Material for further reading
1.Shijing/The Book of Songs (excerpts)
2. History of the Former Han Dynasty (an excerpt)
Chapter Four Tao Te Ching and Taoism (Philosophy in the State of Chu)
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. The Lao-Zhuang Thought /Lao Tzu and Chuang Zi
2. Taoism
3. Wudang Mountains
4. The Legend of Yellow Crane Tower
Ⅲ.Questions for discussion
Ⅳ. Sources
Ⅴ.Material for further reading
1. Tao Te Ching (excerpts)
2. The Book of Zhuang Zi (excerpts)
3. “Yellow Crane Tower”
4. “Chuang Tzu, The Monist”
Chapter Five Literature in the State of Chu
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. Shijing and Chuci
2. An Introduction to Lisao
3. Artistic Achievements in Lisao
Ⅲ.Questions for discussion
Ⅳ. Sources
Ⅴ. Material for further reading
1. Lisao (excerpts)
2. “Heavenly Questions” (an excerpt)
3. “Hymn to the Fallen”
Chapter Six Artistic Achievements in the State of Chu
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. Guqin Pavilion and Gao shan liu shui
2. Jin sheng yu zhen (金声玉振)
3. Painting, Sculpture and Chu-Style Lacquer Ware
Ⅲ. Questions and topics for discussion
Ⅳ. Sources
Ⅴ. Material for further reading
1. The Story of the Stone (excerpts)
2. Records of the Historian (an excerpt)
Chapter Seven People of the Three Gorges
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. The Three Gorges (长江三峡)
2. The Three Gorges Dam
3. The Ba People (巴人)
4. Celebrities of the Three Gorges
Ⅲ. Questions for discussion
Ⅳ.Sources
Ⅴ. Material for further reading
1. “Alarm at First Entering the Yangtze Gorges”
2. “Early Departure from Baidi City”
3. “Sze yueh”
4. “Thinking of My Late Wife”
5. Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber (an excerpt)
Chapter Eight Industrialization and Commercialization in Wuhan and the 1911 Revolution
Ⅰ. Lead-in questions
Ⅱ. The text
1. The Second Opium War (1856—1860)
2. Hankou Opened as a Business Port
3. Zhang Zhidong and Hanyang Iron & Steel Factory
4. Wuchang Uprising
Ⅲ. Questions for discussion
Ⅳ. Sources
Ⅴ. Material for further reading
The Yi King/The Book of Changes /Classic of Changes (excerpts)
Afterword(后记)