<Elements of China> is a photo album that published in 2008. In this year ,Olympic Game was held in Beijing,China. Many foreigners can watch the mysterious Chinese with the book.
LaurenceJ. Brahm, the author of the book was a American who lived in China for 25 years. As a Chinese,I can see our country from his perspective.
In the book, the most common words are 'ancient' and 'traditional'. From these words, we can peep into the part of the Chinese five thousand years of history.
This book began to introduce from the Yellow and Yangtze, it tells the story of the source of the Chinese nation.
Water, wood, fire, earth and gold are called The Five Elements. There is a cycle of creation and destruction between The Five Elements.
The cycle of creative element are: water nurture wood, wood fuels fire, fire carbonizes into earth, from earth sources gold, from which dew or sources of water emerge.
The interactive destructive elements are: water douses fire, fire melts gold, gold can cut wood, wood can plow earth, and earth can dam water.
Then the author introduces the concept of feng shui, the two dualities of Yang and Yin,and the four animals, they are very interesting for foreigners.
Traditional landscapes envision expressions in the symbolism of a Black Tortoise resting on a mountain in the North, a Green Dragon twisting along hills in the East, a Red Phoenix flowing along a river in the South, and a White Tiger guarding the Western gate. These are interactive emotions of natural characteristics embodied in each spiritual animal found in the natural contours of China.
On the next, the authors use a large amount of space, characterized in the five elements to introduces the history and current situation of China.
The water chapter introduces China's rivers and lakes. Relying on a variety of rivers and water sources, continuity of Chinese civilization of five thousand years.
The wood chapter introduces China's natural landscape and plant.
It is a symbol of life, a bountiful nurturing substance that can grow on mountains and planes, rise as forests that embody animals and life,a long living everlasting source of life that can fuel energy.
The fire chapter introduces the Chinese arts and humanities.Red lantern is the sign of festival.
It is a symbol of hope, an essential energizing substance that can spread quickly, a source of everlasting life the fuel energy.
The earth chapter introduces the Chinese building and architecture. 'The Journey to the West' is a ancient novel that described many exotic countries.
It is a symbol of motherhood, of harvests and bountiful fields, the force within ountains unlimited only by the sky and sea. The earth is our planet, our mother upon which all beings have been given life from which civilizations rise and fall.
The gold chapter introduces the parts of China's economy.
It is a symbol of wealth and prosperity, rich substances that can be fuel for growth, industrial resource and symbol of conspicuous consumption.
