A revisionist analysis of the major sources for Song history, explaining their master narrative as the product of political tension.

In The Yamato Dynasty, Sterling Seagrave, who divulged the secrets of Mao Tse-tung and the ruthlessness of Chiang Kai-shek in the New York Times bestseller The Soong Dynasty, and his wife and longtime collaborator, Peggy, present the controversial, never-before-told history of the world’s longest-reigning dynasty–the Japanese imperial family–from its nineteenth-century origins through today. In the first collective biography of both the men and women of the Yamato Dynasty, the Seagraves take a controversial, comprehensive look at a family history that crosses two world wars, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the American occupation of Japan, and Japan’s subsequent phoenix-like rise from the ashes of the Second World War. The Yamato Dynasty tells the story of the powerful men who have stood behind the screen–the shoguns and financiers controlling the throne from the shadows–taking readers behind the walls of privilege and tradition and revealing, in uncompromising detail, the true nature of a dynasty shrouded in myth and legend

This text traces the history of the fabric of Hanoi from its origins 1000 years ago. It examines how the shape of the city reflects changing political, cultural and economic conditions over a millennium of intermittent warfare and waves of cultural change and migration. Drawing on his experience as heritage advisor, the author looks at the challenges facing those who seek to preserve the best features of Hanoi's architecture and streetscapes, while improving the living conditions of its residents.

Argues that the historical occasion of the great literary epics was an analogous situation for the composition of Luke-Acts.

Since China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2002, China is now officially fully open for business and may soon be the biggest economy in the world. No one in, or embarking upon, a managerial career can afford to ignore a market that comprises one-fifth of the world's population.Doing Business in Chinais essential reading for the manager or firm setting up a business for the first time in this vital and complex market. Aimed specifically at Western and non-Chinese businesses and managers, this book offers a general framework for understanding Chinese business culture along with a guide for acquiring further knowledge on China. This text is a practical guide to business practices, market conditions, negotiations, organizations, networks and the business environment in China. Alongside summaries of theoretical research,Doing Business in Chinaprovides a perceptual toolkit which will enable the businessperson or student to do business in China and apply that knowledgeback in the West. Building on the strengths of the first edition, this new second edition is fully updated to include new case studies as well as discussion of China's entry into the WTO . It is an invaluable resource for students of international business and management, and practitioners alike.