This text covers aspects of the decorative arts from ancient times throughout the world. It provides coverage of a range of subjects including arms and armour, artists' colonies, ceramics craftsmen, design, furniture, glass, jewellery, metalwork textiles, workshops, and more.

Reports for <1980>-19 also include the Annual report of the National Council on the Arts.

The One-Armed Swordsman is the original tale of swordplay and honor that influenced generations of martial arts films. A betrayed kung fu student retreats to lead a peaceful existence, until duty forceds him to learn a deadly new fighting style and return to a world of violence and vengeance--Container.

Profiling milestones and movements in the arts, literature, music and religion from a specific period, each volume in this set helps students and researchers understand the various disciplines of the humanities in relation to each other, as well as to history and culture. An overview of the period and a chronology of major world events begin each volume.

A wealthy kung fu expert, made bitter and evil due to the slaying of his wife and the loss of his son's hands, bullies a town through terror and force. He finds pleasure by crippling those who stumble in his way. A hawker who is blinded, a blacksmith who is made mute and deaf, a drifter who loses his legs, and a fighter who loses his sanity, band together to use their disabilities to the best of their advantage. As the four are tested, they demonstrate...

"Picking up where Volume One left off, this sophomore collection of Hong Kong cinema classics draws together many of the best films from the final years of the Shaw Brothers Studio, proving that while the end was nigh, these merchants of martial arts mayhem weren't going to go out without a fight!"--Container. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin: A man studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple and unexpectedly finds spiritual enlightenment on the path to vengeance...