Ancient Chinese Beads is a comprehensive historical study of bead ornaments in China, offering the first systematic chronological framework that traces their development from prehistory to the modern era. Filling a significant gap in the field, the book is the result of nearly ten years of dedicated research. It is based on extensive use of ancient texts, archaeological discoveries, and museum collections, and presents its findings in a clear, scientific, and objective manner. 

Organized chronologically, the book begins with the origins and definitions of beads, exploring their functions, materials, and cultural meanings. It then examines bead cultures from early village societies through complex Neolithic settlements across the Yellow, Yangtze, and Liao River regions. Subsequent chapters analyze the development of bead ornaments in the Western Zhou ritual system, the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and the Han dynasty, highlighting regional diversity, trade networks, and early Silk Road exchanges. Through this wide-ranging synthesis, the book reveals the artistic evolution and cultural significance of beads in ancient China. Illustrated with over 300 color photos, text in Chinese.

2019, Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House, paperback, 355pp., as new.