Treatise on Superfluous Things by Wen Zhenheng - ISBN: 9780241799857
Paperback
Discover Ming dynasty’s elegant tastes for everyday joys.
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Treatise on Superfluous Things

$21.25

  • Paperback

    192 pages

  • Release Date

    10 November 2026

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Summary

The first complete English translation of a classic late Ming Chinese treatise on good taste.

Written in the 17th Century by Chinese scholar Wen Zhenheng, Treatise on Superfluous Things offers a compelling glimpse into the tastes and cultural values of the educated elite in late Ming China. This guide to everyday items - from window frames and old master paintings to caged birds, fruits, and vegetables - is the most complete surviving account of the material and cultural tast…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780241799857
ISBN-10:0241799856
Author:Wen Zhenheng, Tony Blishen, Craig Clunas
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Imprint:Penguin Classics
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:192
Release Date:10 November 2026
Weight:200g
Dimensions:198mm x 129mm x 15mm
About The Author

Wen Zhenheng

Wen Zhenheng (1585-1645) was a bibliophile and expert in garden design who excelled in poetry, prose, and painting. He was the grandson of noted Ming Dynasty painter, calligrapher, and literary figure Wen Zhengming (1470-1559).

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