Blog Archives
Jade Reflections: Decoding the Western Zhou Dynasty
Jade Reflections: Decoding the Western Zhou Dynasty, by Kako Crisci, is a thorough exploration of the Western Zhou era through the lens of jade artifacts. The book digs into the political, social, and philosophical shifts during this influential period in early Chinese history. By examining jade pieces—artifacts that served ritualistic, decorative, and burial purposes—the author sheds light on how the Western Zhou rulers used these objects to reinforce their authority and cultural identity. Crisci’s work stands out for juxtaposing Eastern and Western philosophies, particularly highlighting the differences between Confucian and ancient Greek thought.
The writing style is dense but rich in detail. One of the things I genuinely admired was how the author made ancient history come alive through vivid descriptions of jade pieces. When she describes the “Massive Gui with Relief Dragons” from the King Wu period, you can almost visualize the intricate dragon designs that symbolize power and virtue. However, I found some chapters a little overwhelming with the amount of scholarly information packed in, which somewhat slowed the narrative. I feel that a bit more balance would have made the text more engaging for general readers.
Crisci’s approach to the subject is passionate and sometimes controversial. She challenges modern scholarly views that jade vessels were rarely crafted before the Ming period, using archaeological findings to make a compelling argument. The analysis of Lady Fu Hao’s tomb, for example, raises questions about traditional views, suggesting that jade pieces found there represent an overlooked aspect of Chinese craftsmanship.
I appreciated how Crisci isn’t afraid to question accepted theories, but some of her assertions felt under-explained. The constant referencing of Western scholars and the push to compare Eastern jade philosophy with ancient Greek ideals added a unique but occasionally disjointed element to the book. Crisci explores how the Western Zhou used jade not just as art but also as moral and ethical reminders. The section on how jade embodied Confucian values, emphasizing “Li” (ritual) and “De” (virtue), made me think deeply about the cultural roots that continue to influence China today. I would like to have seen a little more time spent clarifying how this jade philosophy contrasts with the Western scientific pursuit of truth.
Jade Reflections is not a breezy read, but it is certainly rewarding for those fascinated by ancient Chinese culture, archaeology, or philosophy. If you’re a history buff or curious about how artifacts can illuminate a society’s values, this book will be a treasure trove. While I believe that the heavy academic tone might not suit every reader, Crisci’s dedication to uncovering the truth about jade’s significance is impressive and well worth delving into.
Pages: 171 | ASIN : B0CXYH6TFN
From Religion To Science
The Transition, Initiated by Copernicus and Galileo, from Religion to Science: The Beckoning Bridge Many Find Difficult or Impossible to Cross’ By Lawrence H Wood is a nonfiction book that seeks to shed light on the dichotomy between religion and science, and how the two can continue to co-exist side by side. The author details the transition from a religious based understanding to a scientific based understanding that began to occur in the mid sixteenth century, and discusses the two different explanations of ourselves and our surroundings–how they developed and why they co-exist when such coexistence is a constant source of confusion and conflict. In this book, Dr. Wood, a science historian, focuses on examining the historical aspects of science to further the reader’s understanding of the subject.
This books is divided into sections that look at various aspects of the historical development of science. It’s a fascinating topic that is given very little attention in an academic setting, since most science classes focus exclusively on the actual science with no mention made of the history of science. I found it interesting to read about the historical development of scientific understanding, as people came to understand various scientific principles, starting in the 1500’s when Copernicus observed that the Earth revolved around the Sun, not the Sun around the Earth, as was the previous accepted belief. This marked the beginning of modern scientific investigation, along with the invention of the telescope and the microscope. I liked that the book described many scientific principles and theories and how they came to be discovered, and covered many different science disciplines, including geology, physics, biology, archaeology, and chemistry. I enjoyed reading about the discoveries and contributions of a wide range of scientists, from the sixteenth century to the present.
The book focuses on a variety of subjects from discovering that the Earth is billions of years old to modern advances in DNA and gene-splicing, but the author describes it in terms that make the information accessible to average people who may not view themselves as particularly scientific-minded. The author’s use of graphs and charts to illustrate points was a welcome inclusion that helped to further my understanding of the explanations presented in this book. Another helpful tool was the author’s summation of information at the end of each chapter.
Pages: 444 | ISBN: 1532024576
Matt Legend: Veil of Lies – Trailer
All Matt Legend wanted to do that dangerous summer was to win the affections of a certain irresistible small town girl and get back to L.A. But something inside an ancient Indian burial mound has other plans. In the mound he discovers powers beyond his wildest dreams and an evil beyond any imaginings. Matt receives a warning telling him that if he tells anyone what he found terrible things will happen.
And terrible things do. The dean of a mysterious boarding school tries to help but death and destruction follow as supernatural forces attempt to stop Matt from warning the world that they are mutating.
A venomous archaeology professor finds out what is in the mound and uses it to unleash a deadly reign of terror on the earth. Matt and three friends alone hold the key to stopping him – but can they before it is too late? They find themselves in a war against the supernatural – a war they cannot possibly win. But if they win, Matt will live, and get the girl. If they lose, seven billion people will perish.
This is the first in the Matt Legend series of young adult fiction paranormal mystery adventures and encounters of the strange kind that deal with everything from giants and mermaids (yes, they did and do exist), to UFOs, fallen angels and other extra-dimensional beings, subterranean civilizations, and all other strange and terrible things.
Dark Passenger Book Trailer
Once they said…”God Himself could not sink her!”
On board the RMS TITANIC, Professor Dennis Parker believes he’s taking with him to New York the archaeological discovery of a lifetime. As the voyage progresses, passengers and crew become the victims of several grisly murders – not seen since the infamous Jack the Ripper. All clues point to the impossible: the murderer is a 3,000-year-old mummy named “Ka-Re.” Amid all the death and chaos, Parker is ultimately forced to choose between preserving his lifelong discovery and saving himself.
Could the Legends be True
S.M. Porter Author Interview
The Mystery of St. Arondight’s tells the story of six teenagers on a mysterious supernatural quest across Europe. What was the inspiration for the setup to this thrilling novel?
Like my characters I was a teenager when I had my first taste of field archaeology. It was exciting, that feeling that you never quite knew what was waiting under the ground for you. It didn’t seem to matter how many of the experienced archaeologists on the site told me that treasure is unlikely, I firmly believed that every shovel full of dirt could hold some priceless artefact of great importance. Now, having been a professional archaeologist for ten years I have learned that not every excavated site uncovers great historical mysteries. In fact the closest I have ever come to treasure is five scattered Roman Denarii, probably from a lost purse. But I still have that belief that something important could be hiding just under my feet.
History itself consists of so many unanswered questions, so many what ifs, so many intangible stories. Folk law suggests the presence of ghosts at sites of violence, or in places they knew when alive. Legends tell of strange women living in trees, lakes or isolated ruins, of heroes who transcend time. There are so many mysteries out there to solve, who is to say that the conclusions must always be rational. Some stories tell of tangible artefacts, a philosopher’s stone, a sacred cup or a powerful sword. Legends give us all the chance to daydream … What might happen if one day I excavate a sword of Arthurian date from a waterlogged deposit. Could the legends be true?
The story has a host of young characters all with their own unique personalities. What themes did you want to capture while creating your characters?
With my characters I aimed to create firstly a group with a shared interest, archaeology, but to give them their own skills, knowledge and personality. The intention was to balance them so that no one character held all the aces and there was essentially no go-to hero of the piece.
I wanted to make sure that the girls were just as capable as the boys. When I was growing up I spent most of my time wanting to be one of the lads. So called ‘girly’ activities did not interest me and I felt that as a teenager there were no characters in my world, with perhaps the exception of ‘George’ from Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’, that represented me as a perpetually bruised, knee skinned tomboy, hanging out with the boys, fencing with sticks and pretending that my bicycle was a motorbike. What I wanted to do here was to create characters that represented my sixteen year old self. The girly side, the tomboy side and the downright laddish part of me. Alongside my own traits I have borrowed elements of personality from the many wild, passionate, and possibly crazy archaeologists of all ages and genders, that I have met whilst digging holes all over the country. I had to try and capture some of that combination of crude humour, intelligence and boundless enthusiasm, encountered on all archaeological sites.
The action scenes and references to historical sites was well developed. Was there anything you pulled from you own life and used in this novel?
I first started fencing at university and was lucky enough to fence for my university, even becoming captain of the team and later the club. Fencing is a lot like chess, but played at the speed of light and with significantly bigger bruises, but you get a real appreciation that timing and intelligence are every bit as important as strength and skill. In writing the sword fights in St. Arondight’s, I wanted to put across some of my own experience as a fencer – the noises, the exertion required and the clear presence of mind required to make a successful attack.
Having lived in the UK all my life, I have visited many of the locations from the book, although I do admit that for a few of them I may have used a little creative licence – getting to the “beach” below the White Cliffs of Dover is much more difficult than Sarah and Jerry found it and I certainly wouldn’t advise trying it!
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on the sequel to The Mystery of St. Arondight’s, following the same characters on their next archaeological adventure. I’m hoping it will be available March/ April 2018 although the first draft is playing hardball right now, and it’s fair to say that working full time as an archaeologist, active fencer and motorcycle enthusiast does take up some writing time. So I’m afraid the date is tentative and it may be a little later.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | GoodReads | Facebook
Camping at ruined abbey at the end of the summer holidays, six teenage archaeologists find themselves witness to a violent haunting and discover a secret crypt below the abbey.
The discoveries they make set them on an epic quest across the country. In a race against an unhinged academic and armed with only their honour, knowledge and swordsmanship the group will have to trust one another and work together, as reality and mythology merge and the quest for an artefact of legend becomes a fight for survival.
Told in a unique blend of first and third person narration, The Mystery of St. Arondight’s follows Suzannah Jones, Melody Knight, Sarah Heddon, Claire Scott, Jerry Llewellen and Símon James Matherson in their first archaeological adventure.
LITERARY TITAN 