Series 4: "Chinese History", 1963-1980
- Scope and content:
-
The series is also known as the "China: The Enduring Heritage" series. This 13-part series on Chinese history and the affiliated film Buddhism in China were produced by Weng under the auspices of the China Institute in America, an organization for which Weng later served as president for several years in the 1980s. The series was filmed between 1972 and 1974, and was release in 1977. They were initially screened at museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, and the St. Louis Art Museum, then distributed as educational films by the Indiana University Audio-Visual Center on film and later, VHS. As with many of Weng's films, the footage consists largely of Chinese art and artifacts filmed in museums. The museum footage is supplemented by other documentary footage licensed from a variety of sources, including the BBC Film Library, the 1968 film Two Faces of China, directed by Magnum photographer René Burri, and Requiem for a Faith: Tibetan Buddhism, directed by Elda Hartley. The films run approximately 20 minutes each and feature color footage shot silently with English-language narration. Titles include in this series: Episode 1: The Beginnings; Episode 2: The Making of a Civilization; Episode 3: Hundreds of Schools to One; Episode 4: The First Empires; Episode 5: The Great Cultural Mix; Episode 6: The Golden Age; Episode 7: The Heavenly Khan; Episode 8: The Age of Maturity; Episode 9: Under the Mongols; Episode 10: The Restoration; Episode 11: The Manchu Rule; Episode 12: Coming of the West; Episode 13: The Enduring Heritage; Buddhism in China.
Contents
Access and use
- Parent restrictions:
-
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material from the C.V. Starr East Asian Library at least 5 business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Special Collections reading room.
Unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are (available online / available onsite) via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized.
This collection has no restrictions.
- Parent terms of access:
- Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The C.V. Starr East Asian Library maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers should request materials at least one week in advance to ensure availability. Due to limited storage, please request only the materials you plan to use during your visit.
- Contact:
- starr@library.columbia.edu