中国和埃及、两河流域、印度并列为人类文明的发源地。在这四大发源地中，古代文化保存得最系统、最完整的，惟有我们中国。中华五千年文化不仅有大量的文字材料，而且有极为丰富的出土文物，其中包括精美绝伦的青铜器、玉器、陶瓷器、雕塑、绘画和其它艺术品、工艺品等等。这是我们的祖先留给我们的宝贵财富。该书以图为主的形式生动地反映和表现了明代的文化精华。它既是五千年历史中不可或缺的一环，反映历史的连续性，又是五千年历史中的一个独特的存在，体现出该历史时期文化特有的风貌，在众多古文化整理研究读物中，以它的鲜明特色和永久价值而独树一帜。

Introduction

Chapter One: Cities, Palaces, and Tombs

Chapter Two: Temples, Gardens, and Residence Buildings

Chapter Three: Scholarly Trends and Popular Customs

Chapter Four: Embracing Aristocratic Aesthetics: Calligraphy and Painting of the Early Ming

Chapter Five: Spread the Literati Taste: The Wu School Calligraphy and Painting

Chapter Six: Prosperous and Diversified: Calligraphy and Painting of the Late Ming

Chapter Seven: Temple Murals and Sculpture

Chapter Eight: The Continuous Development of Traditional Arts and Crafts

Chapter Nine: New Fashions in Arts and Crafts

Chapter Ten: The Rise of Popular Culture: Fiction, Drama, and Woodblock Painting

Chapter Eleven: Continuation and Creation in Science and Technology

Chapter Twelve: East-West Exchanges: Zheng He's Voyages and the Coming of Matteo Ricci