A stunning new title in the popular V&A Far Eastern series. Each Chinese textile tells a story and this book tells many stories of Chinese life and legend through the sumptuous textiles that adorn its pages. Breathtaking in workmanship, colour and design, they were made for a purpose, whether to celebrate life or to mourn the dead. As well as dealing with technique and influence, Wilson tells the story of each piece – why it was made and for whom – and introduces us to a galaxy of characters from China’s history and legend. The superb photography allows us to see how richly these textiles reflect the culture from which they come. Verity Wilson was a curator in the Asian Department at the V&A. She has published on Chinese export silk, cross-cultural dressing, ancient and medieval Silk Road textiles, and the vestment traditions of Daoism.