Ask anyone what single object they associate with China & the most common answer will be a Ming vase. Probably without even knowing the dates of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), people are aware of the fragility of its porcelain, its rarity & value. But porcelain is just one part of the story of one of the most glorious epoques of Chinas past. By focusing on the significant years of the early Ming dynasty & through the themes of court people & their lives, extraordinary developments in culture, the military, religion, diplomacy & trade, this magnificent book brings the wider history of this fascinating period to colourful life. This was an age of great voyages of exploration, undertaken for many reasons including trade & diplomacy. Long before the regular arrivals of Europeans in China, court-sponsored expeditions were sent to Asia, the Middle East & the African coast, bringing back knowledge of & objects from lands thousands of miles away gold, gems & foreign fashions. This period also saw the compilation of the worlds first comprehensive encyclopaedia (worked on by over 2000 scholars); the undertaking of major building projects such as the Forbidden City & Ming tombs; the creation of beautiful textiles, paintings, ceramics, gold, jewellery, furniture, jade & lacquer. The engaging narrative is richly illustrated with over 250 images, drawing on the objects specially selected for the British Museums major exhibition. Some of these are the finest pieces ever made in China.