Not so long ago China's civilization and art were only known to us through artifacts preserved in Western museums and the origins of these treasures were often relatively obscure. During the past thirty years, however, systematic excavation projects have been carried out in China. Isolated and previously unexplored sites have yielded fascinating treasures; it has been possible to rediscover the tombs of emperors, aristocrats and officials in their fullest splendor with all of their mortuary furnishings. Thus, we are able to cite the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huangdi, the mortuary retinue at Yangjiawan, the winged horse of Wuwei, the tombs at Mawangdui, the frescoes in Tang tombs, the silver hoard of Hejiacum, the tombs of the monarchs of Zhongshan, and the bronzes and bells from Leigudun. These discoveries are extremely valuable because it has been possible to establish dates, clarify historical information and enrich our knowledge of China's past. This book will present an overview of all recent research and an inventory of these numerous and meaningful discoveries. In order to perform this task properly, the authors, who are internationally recognized specialists, visited China several times during the past few years and they have relied upon the most recent research and publications. All of the items appearing in illustration within this book were discovered at archeological sites in China. Some of them have been exhibited during major expositions of Chinese art and others have been reproduced for the first time outside China. The appendices include a list of the principal archeological sites in China, a chronology of the principal discoveries since 1950, and a bibliography consisting of recent published sources. These are vital points of reference and resources for specialists and connoisseurs alike. -- Inside jacket flap.