Reviews
Book
World encyclopedia in Chinese
After 11 years of painstaking work, the Hainan Publishing House has released the Chinese version of World Book, a popular encyclopedia originally compiled and published by World Book Inc of the United States since 1917. Translated and proofread by at least 600 Chinese academics and translators, the 20-volume Chinese version comprises 20,000 color photos and 1,300 maps and atlases, and has a total of 17,000 entries including more than 300 new entries on China, says Yuan Dachuan, editor-in-chief of the book's Chinese edition.
With easy-to-understand and richly illustrated articles, World Book provides a foundation of knowledge for students and adults.
Hainan Publishing House, 2006, 5,800 yuan ($750)
Zhu Linyong
Event
Nature online
Top scientists met Nature magazine editors in Beijing to celebrate the launch of Nature China website. The website will highlight the best research from Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, providing scientists from around the world with a convenient portal into publications drawn from across all scientific disciplines.
Each week, website editors will survey the scientific literature to identify the best new published papers and provide short summaries. A unique part of its service allows website users to recommend, comment and vote on the best research available.
Over the past 10 years, research output from China has quadrupled to almost 80,000 manuscripts a year. However, compared to the dramatic increase in number, the quality of the papers is relatively low, given the low acceptance rate by top scientific journals, according to Nature editors.
The editors said a lack of creative research subjects and supporting details was behind the rejection of these papers, rather than because Chinese scientists' English writing was inadequate.
Chen Zhiyong
Auction
Mixed classics
The Beijing Huachen Auctions will hold its spring sales from June 20-22 at the Jingguang Center Hotel.
Highlights include oil painter Yu Meicheng's 1976 work (pictured right) featuring late Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai with model worker Wang Jinxi at the Great Hall of the People in the 1960s; a majestic landscape painting entitled Pavilion and Waterfall, and a swan song by master Chinese ink painter Li Keran (1907-89) in 1989.
Master Chinese ink painter Fu Baoshi (1904-65) graceful 1940s work Portrait of a Young Lady will go under the hammer, as well as the imposing ink depiction of Roaring Lion, created by master painter Xu Beihong during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1937-45).
Other eye-catching items include three sets of porcelain works (pictured left) from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and at least 100 vintage photos featuring such big names as Winston Churchill and Michael Jordon.
ZLY
(China Daily 06/20/2007 page20)
