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Anke Hein is Associate Professor in Chinese Archaeology at the University of Oxford and St Hugh’s College. She is an anthropological archaeologist focusing on issues of culture contact, identity formation and expression, and the history and practice of archaeology as a discipline, particularly in the Chinese border regions. Christopher J. Foster is a British Academy postdoctoral fellow, affiliated with the School of History, Religions and Philosophies at SOAS University of London. He is an historian of premodern China, focusing on intellectual history, manuscript culture, primary education, and canonization.
In a world fraught with uncertainties about verity the collection of essays entitled Understanding Authenticity in Chinese Cultural Heritage comes at a particularly germane time. Assembled by leading scholars in Chinese art and social history, the essays dig deeply into definitions of antiquity, authenticity, replication, and deception-intended and not. William Chapman, Dean, School of Architecture, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Does authenticity matter in the context of Chinese heritage? How do we understand 'copycat' culture? From the forbidden city, to tea, to Chinese literacy, this book delves into these questions on a delightful journey through Chinese heritage from ancient to contemporary times. A must-read for anyone interested in China, or antiquity in general. Yujie Zhu, Senior Lecturer, Research School of Humanities & the Arts, Australian National University The problem of this volume can be fairly stated as why the idea of authenticity in China cannot be reduced to questions of copying and representation. But nor can they be dismissed. All the contributors have their different answers to this paradox which, by following their real value, we are led to a new pathway for a comparative understanding of authenticity. Michael Rowlands, Emeritus Professor of Material Culture, University College London
