English-Language Bibliography of Chinese Art

The books listed below are selected for their interest and appeal to a wide range of readers, from beginning students to professionals. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are especially recommended for readers who are taking a "first look" at Chinese history and art.

  • Allen, Sarah (ed.), The Formation of Chinese Civilization: An Archaeological Perspective, Yale University Press, 2005
  • Bagley, Robert (ed.), Ancient Sichuan: Treasures from a Lost Civilization, Princeton University Press, 2001
  • *Blunden, Caroline, and Mark Elvin, The Cultural Atlas of the World: China, Time-Life Books, 1990
  • Brown, J. D., China: The 50 Most Memorable Trips, 3rd Edition, Wiley Publishing, 2003
  • Bussagli, Mario, Central Asian Painting, Rizzoli International Publications, New York, 1979
  • Cheng Manchao, The Origin Of Chinese Deities, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1995
  • Cahill, James, Chinese Painting, Editions d'Art, 1995
  • Confucius: The Analects, tr. D. C. Lau, Penguin Classics, 1979
  • Cui Zhengsen, 108 Temples of Mt. Wutai, Shanxi Science and Technology Press, 2008
  • De Mente, Boye Lafayette, Chinese in Plain English, Passport Books, 1995
  • Dunhuang Institute for Cultural Relics, The Art Treasures of Dunhuang, Lee Publishers Group, 1981
  • *Ebrey, Patricia Buckley, The Cambridge Illustrated History of China, Cambridge University Press, 1996
  • Ebrey, Patricia Buckley, Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook, 2d Edition, The Free Press, Simon & Schuster, 1993
  • Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th edition, 1979, Macropaedia, Vol. 4, pp. 407-428, articles: Chinese Law, Mythology, Philosophy, and Religion.
  • Eyewitness Travel Guides: China, DK Publishing, 2005
  • Fang Jing Pei, Symbols and Rebuses in Chinese Art, Ten Speed Press, 2004
  • Frederic, Louis, Buddhism: Flammarion Iconographic Guides, Paris, 1995.
  • Hearn, Maxwell K., Splendors of Imperial China: Treasures from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1996
  • Howard, Angela Falco; Wu Hung; Li Song; and Yang Hong; Chinese Sculpture, Yale University Press, 2006
  • Howard, Angela Falco, Summit of Treasures: Buddhist Cave Art of Dazu, China, Weatherhill, 2001
  • Huang, Ray, China: A Macro History, An East Gate Book, M. E. Sharpe, Inc., 1990
  • Jones, Stephen, Folk Music of China: Living Instrumental Traditions, Oxford University Press, 1999
  • *Keswick, Maggie, The Chinese Garden (revised edition), Harvard University Press, 2003
  • Keverne, Roger (ed.), Jade, Lorenz Books, 1995
  • *Levathes, Louise, When China Ruled The Seas, Simon & Schuster, 1994
  • Li Xueqin, Chinese Bronzes, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1995
  • Li Zhiguo, The Grotto Art of Yungang, 2008.
  • Little, Stephen, Taoism And The Arts Of China, Art Institute of Chicago, 2000
  • Masterpieces of Chinese and Japanese Art, Freer Gallery of Art, 1976
  • Menzies, Jackie, Buddha: Radiant Awakening, Art Gallery NSW, Sydney, 2001
  • Morton, W. Scott, China: Its History And Culture, McGraw-Hill Paperbacks, 1982
  • *Murowchick, Robert E. (ed.), China: Ancient Culture, Modern Land, University of Oklahoma Press, 1994
  • Nickel, Lukas, Return of the Buddha: The Qingzhou Discoveries, Royal Academy of Arts, 2002
  • The Number One Statues Throughtout China, Jinan Publishing House, ISBN 7-80572-515-2/J-20
  • Palmer, Martin, & Zhao Xiaomin, Essential Chinese Mythology, Thorsons 1997
  • *Paludan, Ann, Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors, Thames & Hudson, 1998
  • Pearlstein, E. L., et al, Asian Art In The Art Institute Of Chicago, The Art Institute Of Chicago, 1993
  • Rawson, Jessica, The Chinese Bronzes of Yunnan, Sidgwick and Jackson, 1983
  • Ropp, Paul S. (ed.), Heritage of China: Contemporary Perspectives on Chinese Civilization, University of California Press, 1990
  • Schafer, Edward H., The Golden Peaches Of Samarkand, University Of California Press, 1963
  • Shi Yongnan and Wang Tianzing (ed.), The Former Imperial Palace In Beijing, China Esperanto Press, Beijing, 1995
  • Smith, Caron, et. al., Raging Thunder: Tomb Treasures From Ancient China, San Diego Museum of Art, 1999
  • Spence, Jonathan D., Emperor Of China: Self-Portrait Of Kang-Hsi, Vintage Books, 1988
  • Steinhardt, Nancy S. (ed.), Chinese Architecture, Yale University Press, 2002
  • Treasures From A Swallow Garden: Arthur M. Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology, Peking University, Cultural Relics Publishing House, 1992
  • Tregear, Mary, Chinese Art, Thames & Hudson, World of Art, 1980/1997
  • Thorp, R. L., China In The Early Bronze Age: Shang Civilization, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2005
  • *Thorp, R. L., and Vinograd, R. E., Chinese Art & Culture, Prentice Hall and Harry N. Abrams, 2001
  • Thorp, R. L., Son Of Heaven: Imperial Arts Of China, Son Of Heaven Press, 1988
  • Thorp, R. L., Visiting China's Past: A Guide to Sites and Resources, Floating World Editions, 2006
  • Waley, Arthur, Translations From The Chinese, Alfred A. Knopf, 1919/1941
  • *Wang Yao-t'ing, Looking At Chinese Painting, Nigensha Publishing Company, 1996
  • Watson, Burton (tr.), Meng Ch'iu: Famous Episodes From Chinese History And Legend, Kodansha International Ltd, 1979
  • Wen Fong (ed.), The Great Bronze Age of China, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1980
  • Whitfield, Roderick, Susan Whitfield, and Neville Agnew, Cave Temples Of Mogao, Getty Conservation Institute, 2000
  • Whitfield, Susan, Life Along The Silk Road, University of California Press, 1999
  • Wood, Francis, The Silk Road, University of California Press, 2002
  • Yang Xiaoneng (ed.), The Golden Age of Chinese Archaeology, Yale University Press, 1999
  • Yang Xin et. al., Three Thousand Years Of Chinese Painting, Yale University Press, 1997
  • Zhang Hongbin, Datong Huayan Monastery, 2000