Books published by publisher Asiapac Books

The Three Kingdoms is one of the four famous Chinese classics. Within the exciting episodes of power struggles during the Three Kingdoms period, what shone more brilliantly was the humanism of righteousness, loyalty, sincerity, benevolence and wisdom. This abridged version brings you the highlights of this magnificent classic, including well-known episodes such as “oath of brotherhood at the Peach Garden”, Liu Bei’s “three visits to the cottage (of Zhuge Liang)”, the “Battle of Red Cliff”. It will also lead you through the ups and downs of the heroes of ancient times, at times admiring their courage, at others lamenting their fate.

Origins of Chinese Science & Technology traces the intriguing legends and scientific explorations of the Chinese people. Find out about the Four Great Inventions that shaped Chinese civilisation and explore the amazing breadth of Chinese inventiveness in fields ranging from mathematics and astronomy to geography and agriculture. Did you know that: * The Chinese began making paper nearly 2000 years ago? * The earliest mention of tha abacus was in the Eastern Han Dynasty? * No nails are needed in Chinese architecture? * The first seismograph was invented in AD 132? Packed with information and vividly illustrated, this easy-to-read volume will greatly enhance your appreciation of Chinese science and technology.

This book relives the most stirring chapters in the novel which have become the subject of numerous dramas and films, and are the most popular episodes in Chinese fiction. They include Lin Chong killing the unworthy chief of Liangshan Marsh, Wu Song slaying a tiger with his bare fists and avenging injustices, and Song Jiang’s attacks on the Zhu Family Village. With artistic skills and wit, cartoonist Huang Qingrong presents vivid scenes in this drama of valour and brings alive the heroic legend.

Unveil the secrets of the Chinese palace. Learn about behind-the-scenes-and-screens intrigues of the various dynasties of China in the great halls and buildings of the palace complex. Meet the occupants of the palace: the emperors, empresses, imperial concubines and siblings, eunuchs and many others, and find out how the notable ones altered the course of history.

Journey to the West is one of the greatest treats in Chinese literature. A fantastic tale of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang as he travels west in search of Buddhist sutras with his three disciples. This compact classic relates how Sun Wukong comes into existence in the Mountain of Flowers and Fruit, and how he acquires magical powers and uses them for mischief before putting them to good use at the service of Xuanzang who heads west to gather scriptures as instructed by the Tang emperor.

When the Opium War broke out in 1840, China entered its period of modern history. After the war, China signed a series of unequal treaties which almost reduced it to a colonized country under Western imperialist powers. Due to aggression from Western powers and the corruption of the Qing dynasty, the people yearned for a national revolution. Many important figures arose out of this national aspiration. It included Sun Yat-sen, Yuan Shikai, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) who fought for power. China has gone through many challenging moments and events before arriving at what it is today. Chinese Modern History chronicles the events that occurred from 1840 to 1949, and the many important figures who changed the fate of modern China.

In this book, we unveil the secrets of the Chinese palace. You will learn about the physical palaces of the various dynasties of China although most of them no longer exist. Meet the occupants of the palace: the emperors, empresses, imperial concubines and siblings, eunuchs and many others, and find out how the notable ones altered the course of history.

LEGENDS OF JI GONG first appeared as a literary work during the Song Dynasty. In this book, you will find out how Ji Gong was born and how he became a monk. He did many good deeds — helping a goldsmith to find his long-lost daughter, punishing an unscrupulous man, overpowering a boa spirit, exposing a fox spirit, reuniting a couple, and rebuilding a tablet hall. You will be amused by the antics of this adorable monk.