Things Chinese

Things Chinese is an encyclopedia-style reference work about Chinese culture, customs, and daily life written by J. Dyer Ball in 1892. The book contains alphabetically arranged entries covering topics from architecture and art to food, festivals, and social practices in late imperial China. The text draws from Ball's direct observations during his time as a civil servant in Hong Kong, combined with historical research and consultation of Chinese sources. Each entry provides detailed explanations of Chinese terms, along with cultural context and practical information about the subject matter. The entries vary in length from brief definitions to extensive multi-page discussions, particularly for complex topics like language, religion, and social hierarchies. Ball includes both scholarly analysis and firsthand accounts of customs and practices. This work stands as an early Western attempt to systematically document and explain Chinese civilization to English-speaking readers, reflecting both the academic interests and cultural perspectives of its era. The text provides insights into both traditional Chinese society and late 19th-century Western views of China.

Based on the limited available online reviews and citations, this 1892 text about Chinese culture and customs has very few public reader reviews. The book appears to be primarily used by historians and researchers rather than general readers. What readers liked: - Detailed observations of late Qing dynasty customs and daily life - Coverage of both mundane and specialized topics - Inclusion of Chinese characters alongside English text - Firsthand accounts from the author's time in China What readers disliked: - Colonial/Western perspective and dated Victorian writing style - Some observations reflect biases of the era - Organization can feel scattered and encyclopedic Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No ratings WorldCat: No user reviews Google Books: No user reviews The book is primarily referenced in academic works and bibliographies rather than reviewed by general readers. Most citations appear in scholarly publications focused on late 19th century China.

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The Chinese Looking Glass by Dennis Bloodworth The book examines Chinese culture through its artifacts, traditions, and social customs from the perspective of both historical and contemporary China.

Things Japanese by Basil Hall Chamberlain This encyclopedic work catalogs Japanese cultural elements, customs, and artifacts in a format parallel to Ball's approach to Chinese culture.

🔖 J. Dyer Ball served as a civil servant in Hong Kong for over 30 years, giving him deep firsthand knowledge of Chinese culture during the late Qing Dynasty period. 🏮 First published in 1892, "Things Chinese" became a crucial reference guide for Western merchants, missionaries, and diplomats seeking to understand Chinese customs and etiquette. 📚 The book covers over 200 alphabetically arranged topics, from acupuncture to zoology, making it one of the most comprehensive English-language guides to Chinese culture of its era. 🖋 Ball was a respected linguist who also authored several Chinese language textbooks and a Cantonese dictionary still referenced by scholars today. 🌏 The book offers unique insights into late 19th-century Chinese society, documenting many practices and traditions that were later altered or lost during China's rapid modernization in the 20th century.