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| Content | | | | A Thousand Pieces of Gold | Author: Adeline Yen Mah
Publisher: HarperOne, September 2003
Chinese-born writer Yen Mah presents a very personal account of the history and use of Chinese proverbs, which she traces to their origin in the ancient writings of Sima Qian, China`s venerable historian and chronicler of the great power struggles that crippled the Middle Kingdom`s first dynasty 2,200 years ago. Yen Mah recalls points in her life where Sima`s poignant proverbs resonate. Yen Mah had a hard childhood being resented and punished by her family for the death of her mother during childbirth. Descriptions of the early emperors` extravagance and sadism are both repulsive and captivating, and make for sometimes interesting comparisons with the battles fought by Yen Mah in her privileged but cruel home.
This book provides insight into the foundations of Chinese culture, how Chinese think, and the mindset of the Chinese people. To some degree it also serves to illustrate the differences between Chinese and Western cultures.
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