Of all the art books thus far produced in China, no attempt has been made to show the beauty and charm of the wonderful coloring of palaces and shrines. In the present volume the difficult and expensive task of presenting Peking in all the glory of its mar velous coloring has been accomplished, for twelve of the photographic studies have been reproduced in full and natural colors-a triumph which in itself makes this work absolutely distinctive. The album is also unique in that each of the seventy pictures is supplemented by a brief descriptive and historical sketch: that the reader, though a stranger to Peking, may learn to appreciate something of the grandeur of its conception, the greatness of its historic past, the wealth of its artistic heritage, and through contemplation of these venerable relics of a distant age, gain a keener insight into, and a better appreciation of, "things Chinese"; that those of our friends who are visiting the capital for the first time may not feel utterly lost as they wander through Forbidden City courts, and Throne halls, or stroll beside the rippling waters of the Summer Palace Lake; and that those who have seen Peking, or better still have lived within the circle of her mysterious gray arms, may be reminded of the happy days spent in the quest of romance and adventure both within and without her walls. Unfortunately, many difficulties have been encountered in the preparation of the "story" of the monuments. Accurate historical data in China is rare; especially that concerning the Imperial monuments and pleasure gardens for from these the people and even the officials have ever been kept apart, and much interesting information, gleaned from our guides and other "authorities" on Peking has later been found to be false, the vagaries of over-imaginative minds. Abandoning these sources of information, then, the author has turned to more reliable fountains, and the material presented herewith is largely that which he has succeeded in gathering from the information of others who, by long experience in the country and accurate knowledge of the language, have succeeded in arriving at the facts concerning this great monument or that. In the preparation of these captions the author is greatly indebted to Juliet Bredon for the wealth of information gleaned from the pages of her notable work, Peking, of which every friend of China should possess a copy. Much help has also been received and quotations freely made from the works of such noted Sinologues and specialists in various lines as Dr. W. A. P. Martin, Princess Der Ling, S. Dells Williams, A, E. Grantham, G. E. Hubbard, and L Newton Hayes; and these friends of China and lovers of Peking deserve credit for all of a literary nature that is excellent within the pages of this volume. Without doubt, some inaccuracies and discrepancies have inadvertently crept into its pages, and for these, we crave the indulgence of our readers; but if in spite of its faults the present volume should serve to introduce, or further endear, Peking to its Western friends, or should help Chinese and Westerners alike to a fuller appreciation of the wonderful "artistic heritage" bequeathed to the present generation in these priceless and venerable monuments of the Northern Capital, the purpose of this volume will have been fully met.
H.C.W.
