Tuttle Publishing

Kojiki: The Birth Of Japan: The Japanese Creation Myth Illustrated

Take a step back in time to the origins of Japan's creation myth--told here for the very first time in illustrated form.

In the beginning there was nothing--a void. Then the heavens and the earth took shape, as the ancient gods of Japan breathed the first sparks of life into these islands. The 1300 year-old Kojiki myth traces the beginnings of the Japanese people, following the rise of the Japanese islands from their humble origins as a lump of clay to a great nation that would one day take its rightful place among the leading nations of the world.

Like all creation myths from around the world, the Kojiki story occupies a treasured place in the nation's literature and collective imagination. Kazumi Wilds's striking illustrations capture the drama and intensity of a mythic tale where chaos and demons are unleashed and where darkness is slowly pushed back by the righteous, as good prevails over evil.

Kojiki: The Birth of Japan combines the raucous rhythms and startling imagery of today's best graphic novels with a retelling of a classic and timeless Japanese story. This book will be remembered and treasured for years to come by lovers of mythology, folklore and anyone interested in Japanese culture and history.

For readers ages 14 & up

Pan de Sal Saves the Day (New Bilingual English and Tagalog Edition)

Winner of the Carlos Palance Memorial Award for Literature. This colourfully illustrated multicultural children's book presents an entertaining story from the Philippines in both English and Tagalog.A heart-warming story of a young Filipino girl who builds self-confidence after spending a day with her classmates, Pan de Sal Saves the Day: A Filipino Children's Story is an award-winning inspiring tale for young children everywhere.

It's the story of a young girl named Pan de Sal who lives in the Philippines and thinks she's the unluckiest girl in the whole world. Aside from not liking her own name and finding her appearance strange, she doesn't have all the fancy things her classmates have. She can't even muster the courage to try out for the Glee Club, even though she has a beautiful voice. Things change suddenly when an unexpected event forces her into the limelight. With her innate talent and resourcefulness, Pan de Sal wins admiration of her classmates and finds the confidence she needs to fulfill her dreams. For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or experienced adversity, Pan de Sal Saves the Day teaches children to see the unique qualities in everything and everyone, even themselves.

Create cute and realistic felted animals with this fun and easy-to-follow needle felting book. Nothing feels better than a cute, fuzzy animal you can hold in the palm of your hand. Adorable Felted Animals shows you how you can create more than 30 endearing dogs, cats, birds and other animals using a little wool roving, a felting needle, and a few simple techniques. Starting with basic shapes you roll in your hands, you can sculpt the most lifelike miniature animals, using your felting needle to join the individual parts and give them their firm and final shape. With little bits of contrasting wool you can give your felted friends expressions that are irresistible. It's easy, creative, and very relaxing. These cute felted animals range from the wonderfully realistic to enchantingly cute. Included in this book are: Beloved dogs such as Golden and Labrador retrievers, a Pug, a Poodle, and Dachshund and more Exotic cats, like the Siamese and Abyssinian Feathered friends such as the parakeet, cockatiel, lovebird and finch Other household companions like the ferret and hamster Outdoor dwellers like the chipmunk and rabbit. The animals range from about 2-4 inches high, and instructions are included for turning a few of your felt creations into fun dangly accessories. A full lesson takes you though one of the projects from beginning to end, covering all the basics to ensure that you have all the skills you need to make any critter you want.

Tales Of Korea - 53 Enchanting Stories Of Ghosts, Goblins, Princes, Fairies And More!

A must-have collection of folktales for anyone interested in Korean literature and culture!

Tales of Korea is a classic collection of Korea's best-known folktales—presenting all the imagination and wonder of Korean storytelling in a single volume. Collected and written down by Yi Ryuk and Im Bang over three centuries ago, these 53 tales explore fantasy worlds filled with enchanted animals, fairies, goblins, ghosts, princesses and more!

The stories collected in this volume include:

"The Home of the Fairies" —A young man happens upon a magical fairy town where he stays for several years before returning home to an uncertain future.

"Charan"— A beautiful dancing girl befriends a governor's son. As their friendship blossoms into love, their lives take an unexpected and agonizing turn!

"Ten Thousand Devils"— A prince welcomes a distant relative for a visit only to discover that the guest controls thousands of evil creatures that converge on the prince's home.

"An Encounter with a Hobgoblin"— A man experiences horrifying visitations in his home and fears that he is living with a sinister force!

"The Snake's Revenge"— After a soldier kills a snake, the reptile is reborn as the man's son and seeks revenge in a gruesome way!

This new edition includes thirty full-color minhwa paintings (Korean folkart) to bring the magic and mystery of this collection of Korean folklore to life. A new foreword by Korean folklore expert Heinz Insu Fenkl explains the lasting importance of this fascinating collection of traditional stories. Tales of Korea is perfect for mythology fans and bedtime story lovers of all ages.

About the Author:

Im Bang, born in 1640, was a disciple of Song Si-yol, one of Korea's foremost writers. In 1719, at the remarkable age of seventy-nine, he became governor of Seoul and simultaneously held office as secretary of the cabinet. His writings have long been revered in Korea, and his reputation as a great scholar has endured for centuries.

Yi Ryuk, who lived during the reign of King Sejo in the mid-15th century, was no less a scholar than Im Bang. The Kuk-cho Inmul-chi (Korea's Record of Famous Men) speaks of him as "a man of many offices and many distinctions in the way of literary excellence."

James S. Gale (1863-1937) was a Presbyterian minister who arrived in Korea in 1888 to teach English and help translate the Bible into Korean. He founded two middle schools in Seoul, and was a professor at Pyongyang Theological Seminary. His books include History of the Korean People and a translation of The Cloud Dream of the Nine, the first work of Korean literature to be translated into English.

Heinz Insu Fenkl is an author, translator, educator, and folklorist. He also translated Korea's most prized literary masterpiece, The Nine Cloud Dream named one of the year's most anticipated books by The New York Times. He is Professor of English at SUNY New Paltz and sits on the editorial board for the journal. Azalea: Journal of Korean Literature and Culture. He wrote the novel Memories of My Ghost Brother and Korean Folktales and edited Kori: The Beacon Anthology of Korean American Literature.

Thai Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in English and Thai (Free Online Audio)

The most enjoyable way to learn about an unfamiliar culture is through its stories—especially when they're told in two languages!

Thai Stories for Language Learners introduces 28 entertaining Thai stories with bilingual Thai and English versions presented on facing pages. The stories are adapted from traditional folktales with roots in the Thai oral tradition, classic Thai literature, and Thai versions of the Indian Jataka Tales—which describe the past lives of the Buddha.

The stories in this book include:

"The Frightened Rabbit" is a well-known story about rabbit who hears a loud thundering sound and concludes it is a landslide, without investigating further. He runs about telling others of the landslide, thus causing unnecessary panic.

"A Horse-faced Woman" is one of the most popular folktales in Thailand because the heroine's appearance and character differ vastly from other Thai heroines. Her equine appearance, unpopularity with fellow villagers, and passionate desires to marry the handsome Prince Pin Thong collide.

"A Myth of Phra Ruang" is a classic tale popular among Thai people. It tells the story of a legendary hero—Phra Ruang—who frees the people of Lavo (Lopburi) from the ancient Khmer rulers. When the Khmer king tries to kill him, Phra Ruang escapes and is ordained as a monk.

And many more!

Alongside each story, readers will find:

A list of key vocabulary in the Thai script, Romanized form, and the English meanings

A set of questions and writing activities

A Thai pronunciation guide

Online audio recording in order to improve pronunciation and comprehension.

This book will be of interest to learners who are beginning to read and write the Thai language and would like additional practice, as well as to general readers interested in learning about Thai culture.

Essential Vietnamese Grammar - A Comprehensive Guide For Foreign Learners (Free Online Audio Recordings)

Essential Vietnamese Grammar is designed for use by English-speakers to help them speak and write Vietnamese more naturally.

The twelve chapters in this book cover the essential sentence constructions of Vietnamese—from beginning to intermediate and advanced levels. Strong emphasis is placed on the differences between translating directly from English, which can yield awkward and incorrect sentences, and the use of idiomatic Vietnamese grammar and expressions. This book can be used for self-study or classroom instruction, as well as for review or brushing up your language skills.

All Vietnamese grammatical concepts are clearly explained and copiously illustrated with example phrases and sentences. The chapters progress from fundamental concepts (the sounds of Vietnamese, spelling, the use of accent marks and tones) to structural elements (parts of speech, grammatical functions, the structure of phrases and sentences), and then to nuances expressed through word choice, word order and cultural elements.

Each chapter is accompanied by a set of exercises (with answer keys provided) that the learner can use to reinforce their understanding of the materials and their ability to apply them to real-life situations.

Audio recordings by native speakers are available online for all the Vietnamese sentences to help the learner acquire good pronunciation and intonation patterns for various types of sentences.

About the Author:

Tri C. Tran, PhD, teaches linguistics and Vietnamese at the University of California, Irvine. He obtained his PhD and MA in Romance Linguistics and Literatures from the University of California, Los Angeles, and his BA in Spanish Linguistics from the University of California, Irvine. His publications include Spanish and Vietnamese language textbooks and a bilingual dictionary for students of linguistics. He is the author of Reading and Writing Vietnamese and co-author of Vietnamese Stories for Language Learners, both published by Tuttle.

Japanese Kanji For Beginners

The method that's helped thousands in the U.S. and Japan learn Japanese successfully.

The Japanese language has two primary writing systems, kanji characters—which are based on Chinese characters and hiragana and katakana—a mnemonic based alphabet. This handy book teaches you a new mnemonics-based method to read and write the 430 highest-frequency kanji characters. Along with its sister book: Japanese Hiragana and Katakana for Beginners it provides a complete introduction to written Japanese.

Japanese Kanji for Beginners contains everything you need to learn the kanji characters required for the Advanced Placement Japanese Language and Culture Exam. It is designed for high school or college students as well as independent learners. The kanji learned in this book carefully adhere to those introduced in every significant Japanese language textbook.

Key features of Japanese Kanji for Beginners include:

The 430 highest-frequency kanji characters

44 simple, easy-to-follow lessons

Concise information on kanji elements, readings and pronunciations

Extensive exercises, drills, and writing practice

Downloadable flash cards, practice quizzes and extra exercises

Online audio with native speaker pronunciations and readings

About the Author:

Timothy G. Stout lived in Japan for 20 years and has taught Japanese language for 23 years in public and private schools, and at the university level. While teaching at the American School in Japan, he conducted research on the use of keyword mnemonics in the instruction of Japanese. Stout has a Doctorate in Education (EdD) from Utah State University, an M.A. in Japanese Pedagogy from Columbia University and a B.A. in Japanese Teaching from Brigham Young. He currently teaches Japanese at Utah Valley University and resides in Lehi, Utah with his wife and five children. Stout is the author of Japanese Hiragana and Katakana for Beginners and Let's Learn Japanese, both available from Tuttle.

Hello Korean Volume 2

Learn Korean as it's actually spoken today in Seoul!

Korean is one of the fastest-growing second languages in the world, due to the huge popularity of K-pop music, Korean food and K-dramas. This book picks up where the first volume ends, and is designed for people who want to learn to speak Korean quickly and correctly—especially K-Pop and K-Drama fans!

Hello Korean features colorful drawings and a cast of young foreigners who are living in Seoul, hanging out together and having fun exploring the city. It features Korean film and TV star Lee Joon-gi, who not only reads the dialogues but contributes a series of stories about his favorite places and things to do in Korea!

Each chapter is organized as follows:

An opening dialogue on an everyday topic such as going out or meeting someone

A list of useful vocabulary and everyday expressions

Grammar explanations, conversations and practice exercises

"Talking with Lee Joon-gi": Respond to the prompts as though you are speaking to him!

"Lee Joon-gi's Top Travel Sites": describing the actor's favorite places in Korea!

This book is designed by two leading Korean language teachers—Jiyoung Park and Soyoung Yoo—to be used for self-study or classroom instruction.

About the Author:

Jiyoung Park is associate professor at the Korean Language Education Center at Seoul National University. She has worked as a visiting researcher at Korea Broadcasting System, as contributing editor for the KBS Standard Korean Language Pronunciation Encyclopedia, and was a member of the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) committee of examiners. She has authored several Korean language teaching books.

Soyoung Yoo is professor at the International Language Program at Dankook University's Global Language Institute. She holds a master's degree in Japanese language education and was a visiting Japanese language professor at the Korean National Police University. She has authored other Korean language teaching books.

Lee Joon-gi is an actor, singer, dancer and model. He became famous playing the clown in the movie The King and the Clown (2005) and has also appeared in many popular K-dramas including Iljimae (2008); Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016); Lawless Lawyer (2018); and The Flower of Evil (2020), which is available on Netflix.

Essential Japanese Phrasebook & Dictionary - Speak Japanese With Confidence

Essential Japanese Phrase Book & Dictionary teaches you the practical phrases and expressions needed for common, everyday interactions in Japan in a clear, concise, accessible and enjoyable way.

Key features of this Japanese phrasebook and dictionary include:

Over 1,500 practical phrases for everyday use

An English to Japanese dictionary with over 2,000 terms and expressions

Essential expressions used for meeting people, starting conversations, and asking and replying to simple questions

Manga illustrations to illustrate critical phrases and situations

A pronunciation guide and Japanese grammar notes explain the basic sounds and sentence patterns of the Japanese language

The latest Japanese vocabulary and phrases for smartphones, social media and more

Japan travel tips, cultural notes and much more!

All words and phrases are in Romanized form as well as the Japanese script. Basic Japanese grammar and pronunciation notes get you speaking right away, and tips on culture and etiquette allow you to interact in Japanese without making serious blunders.

Whether you're a novice or have some experience with the language, this is a reference you'll turn to again and again when visiting Japan and interacting with Japanese people.

About the Author:

Tuttle Studio draws inspiration from the modern and traditional cultures of Asia to create its language workbooks and resources, journals, stationery, gift wrapping products and origami paper. It is a division of Tuttle Publishing, a leading publisher of books on the languages, history, art and cultures of Asia. The company was founded in 1832 in Rutland, Vermont (USA) and opened a branch in Tokyo, Japan in 1948.

Learn Japanese With Manga Volume 2

Learn to speak, read and write Japanese quickly using manga comics strips!

If you enjoy manga, you'll love learning Japanese with this book. The language lessons are interspersed with entertaining manga comic strips that make it easy to learn and remember all the key vocabulary and grammar. The plot picks up where Learn Japanese with Manga Volume 1 left off — following Nuria, a journalist who is sent to Tokyo to research a news story, where she keeps encountering a mysterious "shadow" or kage.

Use your knowledge of hiragana and katakana from Volume 1 to help you decipher hundreds of new kanji vocabulary — without romanizations!

Learn to form complex sentences, with relative clauses, honorific forms and more!

Learn hundreds of useful words and phrases — from how to order food in a restaurant to dealing with unexpected events and emergencies

Five manga episodes are woven throughout the book, reinforcing your language skills

A bidirectional dictionary and answer keys for all the exercises are included!

Learn Japanese with Manga is designed for self-study by adult learners, but is also suitable for classroom use. Audio recordings by Japanese native speakers are available for free online to help you improve your pronunciation and listening skills. With a focus on the casual speech used by young people in Japan today, you'll find yourself speaking and writing Japanese before you know it!

About the Author:

Marc Bernabe is a Japanese-Spanish/Catalan translator and interpreter focused on manga and anime translations. He also teaches Japanese language and cultural etiquette courses for non-Japanese speakers. Bernabe lives in Barcelona, Spain.

J. M. Ken Niimura is an illustrator of Spanish-Japanese descent. He has a degree in fine arts and has won more than thirty awards. His illustrations appear in many books published in his native Spain, and he frequently exhibits his work and teaches illustration. Niimura lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Learn Japanese With Manga Volume 1

Learn to read, write, and speak everyday Japanese with manga stories!

If you enjoy manga, you'll love learning Japanese with this book. The language lessons are interspersed with entertaining manga comic strips, making it easy to learn and remember all the key vocabulary and grammar. With a focus on the casual speech used by young people in Japan, you'll find yourself feeling confident with speaking, reading, and writing Japanese quickly!

Designed for self-study use by adult learners, this book is a fun resource for beginners—no prior knowledge of Japanese required!

Readers will find:

Help with learning to write and pronounce the 92 Hiragana and Katakana letters plus 160 basic Kanji characters

Hundreds of useful words and phrases—from numbers and greetings to expletives and insults!

Seven manga stories woven throughout the book, reinforcing your grasp of the language

The basic vocabulary and grammar needed to communicate in Japanese!

Hundreds of exercises with free online audio recordings by Japanese native speakers

A bidirectional dictionary and answer keys for all the exercises

**Recommended for language learners 16 year old & up. Not intended for high school classroom use due to adult content.**

About the Author:

Marc Bernabe is a Japanese-Spanish/Catalan translator and interpreter, working on manga and anime translations. He also teaches Japanese language and cultural etiquette courses for non-Japanese speakers. He combines his professional and academic activities with the web page MangaLand.es, which he founded and is now co-webmaster and a regular contributor.

Main Manga content by: (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1978) is an artist and illustrator, and he contributes to several local media magazines specializing in manga and anime. He currently spends his time producing storyboards and various illustration projects.

Essential Korean Vocabulary - Learn The Key Words And Phrases Needed To Speak Korean Fluently

This user-friendly Korean language book pushes readers towards greater fluency in spoken and written Korean.

With Essential Korean Vocabulary you will learn to speak Korean the way that Koreans do by learning key words and expressions they use every day in their natural contexts. You'll also learn closely-related vocabulary together, which will help you remember and use a more extensive vocabulary. Each word in this book is explained clearly, and useful sentences are given to demonstrate how it's used. Author Kyubyong Park also provides tips on Korean grammar and modern colloquial usage in South Korea, so you can learn to speak like a native speaker.

Essential Korean Vocabulary presents the 8,000 most common Korean words and phrases organized into 36 different subject areas. Beginning students can focus on the most basic items, which are marked. As you progress to greater fluency, you can pick up more complicated words and expressions to bring your overall vocabulary and understanding of Korean up to an advanced level.

With Essential Korean Vocabulary, you will:

Upgrade your Korean skills in stages by learning the most useful words in sequence along a graded spectrum from beginner to advanced.

Learn how real Koreans speak in authentic sentences by native speakers.

Get specific tips about tone, nuance, and correct usage of terms.

Learn the vocabulary needed to pass standard Korean proficiency tests.

A Japanese Reader: Graded Lessons for Mastering the Written Language

This book is a selection of graded Japanese readings written in modern Japanese.

An excellent way to learn Japanese, A Japanese Reader is designed for the foreign student of Japanese who is interested in attaining and developing proficiency in reading Japanese, the style of which is in current use in books, magazines, and newspapers in Japan. It also includes authentic excerpts from works by 20th-century Japanese masters Mishima, Akutagawa, Kawabata, and others.

Although A Japanese Reader supposes some acquaintance with the spoken Japanese language, it does not assume any knowledge of written Japanese and starts from and very beginning, advancing in graded readings up through quite difficult materials. Learning the modern Japanese written language is by no means a difficult task for the student of the Japanese language as it is often made to appear. The most important thing in such a study is to get yourself started in the correct direction—after that, the progress you make and the eventual proficiency you will gain in reading (and writing) the language are limited only by the amount of time and effort you are able or willing to devote to the task. Attention has been given throughout the volume to grading materials in the order of progressive difficulty, though in many cases familiarity on the part of a student with the subject matter involved may well make a particular selection somewhat easier for him than others further on in the book. Partly to assist in the understanding of the reading selections and partly because it is felt that few students will wish to become proficient in reading Japanese and still remain uninterested in Japanese culture and cultural history, an attempt has also been made to indicate where possible significant collateral readings available in English, especially for some of the sections which deal with distinctive aspects of Japanese life and culture.

Lessons 1 through 17 deal with the essentials of the Japanese writing system, as it is used in Japan today.

Lessons 18 through 30 deal with building a working knowledge of Japanese grammar and introducing the Japanese system of writing.

Lessons 31 through 38 are selections of intermediate difficulty and largely deal with Japanese life and customs. Included are readings of Japanese literature, archaeology, ceramic art, painting, Buddhism, the theater, and political science and philosophy.

Lessons 48 through 59 are of increasing difficulty and include criticisms, resumes, a short text from Meiji and Taisho literature, and excerpts from important Japanese novels.

Lessons 60 through 75 are of advanced difficulty and provided further readings with a considerable variety of content including Sinology, Zen Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity, newspapers, economics and finance, and Japanese government policies.

Instant Chinese - How To Express Over 1,000 Different Ideas

It's amazing how 100 key words and phrases provide instant communication!

Do you want to speak conversational Mandarin Chinese but are too busy to study it? Are you visiting China for a short time and want a Mandarin phrase book to help you communicate in the Chinese language? If so, this Mandarin phrasebook and dictionary is for you. It's tiny 0.4 x 4.1 x 5.9 inches size makes it incredibly convenient to travel with but without losing the essential content for communication. This new, expanded edition contains 15% more content, fun manga-style illustrations, and additional information on which destinations, personalities and trends are hot in China right now!

The idea of Instant Chinese is simple—learn 100 words and phrases and say 1,000 things. The trick is knowing which 100 words to learn, but the author Boye Lafayette De Mente has solved the problem, choosing only those words you'll hear again and again. Even with a vocabulary this small, you'll be surprised how quickly and fluently you too can communicate in Mandarin Chinese. Words are repeated in different combinations, building familiarity without effort. All phrases are given in both simplified Chinese characters and standard Hanoi Pinyin romanization. A brief guide to pronunciation allows the user to say the phrases correctly. An English-Chinese dictionary makes looking up a word or phrase simple and quick. Here's a sample of what you'll be able to do with this Chinese phrasebook:

Meet people.

Go shopping.

Ask directions.

Ride the subway.

Order food and drinks.

And much more.

Essential Korean Grammar: Your Essential Guide to Speaking and Writing Korean Fluently!

Essential Korean Grammar is designed for people who already know a bit of Korean and wish to speak and write the language correctly and naturally—as Koreans do!

This book is a great resource for reviewing for an exam, preparing for a business meeting, or traveling to Korea for work or pleasure. Accessible to learners at any level, it synthesizes all the essential Korean grammar points and presents them in a compact and logical form, and enables you to build up a natural-sounding fluency.

Essential Korean Grammar is a toolbox to help you form correct and natural-sounding sentences, and determine which grammar you need for reading or writing Korean. It details:

Expressing yourself clearly the way native Korean speakers do

How to use Korean expressions, idioms and sentences correctly

Avoiding common grammatical errors made by non-native speakers

Communicating using simple, everyday vocabulary and sentences

The grammar items are cleverly rated so you can determine what's most useful for you to study, based on your Korean knowledge level and your plans. The star rating system ranges from 5 stars ("critical"; with these under your belt you can communicate almost everything you need to say) to 1 star (don't worry about this unless there's some reason you need to know it—for example, the TOPIK exam).

Essential Vietnamese Phrasebook & Dictionary - Speak Vietnamese With Confidence

Essential Vietnamese Phrasebook & Dictionary presents the practical language of everyday interactions, conveyed in a way that's clear, concise, accessible and enjoyable. It includes fundamental sentences used when meeting people, starting conversations, and asking and replying to questions, as well as a basic grammar and pronunciation guide to help you start speaking Vietnamese right away.

Terms and phrases covering mobile phones, wireless and social media help you make the most of the language. In addition, sentences on the essentials of travel help visitors navigate the basics of arranging accommodations, dining out, dealing with transportation and emergencies and more.

Essential Vietnamese Phrasebook & Dictionary includes:

Over 1,500 essential sentences for everyday use

A glossary containing over 2,000 terms and expressions

A handy format for finding the information you need quickly and easily

Latest Vietnamese vocabulary and phrases for smart phones, social media and more

In this book you'll find:

Expressions for meeting people, asking and answering simple questions and starting up friendly conversations

A pronunciation guide and grammar notes explaining the basic sounds and sentence patterns of the language

New manga illustrations showing key phrases and situations

Phrases for technology, WiFi, smartphones and social media

A useful English-Vietnamese dictionary so the right word and phrase is always at your fingertips!

Travel tips, cultural notes and more—allowing you to interact with Vietnamese speakers without making serious blunders

Whether you're a total beginner or have some experience with the language, this is a reference you'll turn to again and again when visiting Vietnam or interacting with Vietnamese speakers.

Basic Mandarin Chinese - Speaking & Listening (Audio & Video Recordings Included)

This is the complete beginning-level course for spoken Mandarin Chinese designed to have you speaking quickly and accurately!

The Basic Mandarin Chinese series offers a complete introductory Chinese language course specifically designed for native English speakers. These books teach spoken and written Chinese separately, allowing you to focus on the area most important to you, and to learn the spoken and written forms of Chinese at different speeds depending on your available time and interest.

The free audio and video recordings included with this book reinforce the content and make the learning process easy. Whether you're learning Mandarin for work, travel or other reasons—the Basic Mandarin Chinese approach of having two separate but integrated "tracks" helps you to learn the language more efficiently and more successfully.

Key features of this Chinese textbook and discs include:

Clear and detailed pronunciation, grammar and cultural explanations

Exercises and activities based on real-life experiences in China

Hours of video recordings filmed on location featuring dozens of native speakers in various parts of China and beyond

Six hours of native-speaker audio recordings for all the book's dialogues and exercises

Special software allowing you to interact with the recordings.

This Mandarin textbook is designed to be used with its separately available workbook, Basic Mandarin Chinese—Speaking & Listening Practice Book which provides a range of drills and exercises designed to dramatically enhance your spoken proficiency and improve your Chinese language skills. This book is a new edition of Basic Spoken Chinese.

All media content is accessible on the Tuttle Publishing website.

The Sustainable Asian House - Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

With over 350 vibrant photographs, extensive commentary and architectural plans, this architecture and design book showcases the modern luxury homes of Asia.

The Sustainable Asian House celebrates modern architecture as an expression of environmental, social and cultural sustainability, as seen in some of the most breathtaking luxury homes in Southeast Asia. Gorgeous residences in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines beautifully exemplify the trend towards sustainable architecture that engages with the natural world.

The 27 houses featured in this fascinating and stunningly photographed architectural digest provide endless inspiration for architects, designers, builders and home buyers. The Sustainable Asian House illuminates the region's reinterpretation of tropical architecture and the growing interest in traditional materials and craftsmanship.

There is a new emphasis on fresh air, natural light and spatial variety, reflecting the importance of well-being. Designers are considering issues such as orientation to the sun and prevailing winds to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint. Instead of treating the tropical climate as something to overcome, the architects featured in this book present regional solutions on how to live appropriately in the contemporary tropical world.

Basic Mandarin Chinese - Reading & Writing

A complete beginning-level course for written Chinese designed to teach you to read and write Chinese quickly and efficiently!

The Basic Chinese series offers a complete introductory course superior to any other language product for Chinese. These books teach spoken and written Chinese separately, allowing you to focus on the area most important to you, and to learn the spoken and written forms of Chinese at different speeds depending on your available time and interest.

The free audio recordings included with this book reinforce the content and make the learning process easy. Whether you're learning Chinese for work, travel or other reasons—the Basic Chinese approach of having two separate but integrated "tracks" helps you to learn the language more efficiently and more successfully.

Key features of this Chinese textbook and discs include:

Learn to read and write the 288 highest-frequency characters and over 700 words

Designed to have you reading and writing simple, connected Chinese sentences quickly

Both simplified and traditional characters are taught; you may choose to learn either or both

Features a variety of fonts and styles—typeset and handwritten—preparing you to use Chinese characters in different contexts, from reading signs to texting on your phone

The free audio files included with this book provide over 6 hours of audio recordings by various native speakers, including recordings of all the reading selections, new characters, and vocabulary.

This textbook is designed to be used in conjunction with the Basic Chinese—Reading & Writing Practice Book which provides a range of drills and exercises designed to enhance your proficiency in reading and writing Chinese quickly. This book is a new edition of Basic Written Chinese.

All media content is accessible on the Tuttle Publishing website.

Korean Grammar: The Complete Guide to Speaking Korean Naturally

Korean Grammar: The Complete Guide to Speaking Korean Naturally covers all the basic sentence structures, verbal forms and idiomatic expressions taught in the first two years of a college-level Korean language course.

It is uniquely designed for the following learners:

Students taking a Korean language course

Self-study learners or those studying Korean with a tutor

Heritage learners who wish to speak Korean more correctly

Those who previously studied the language and wish to review and brush-up

Anyone wanting to improve their Korean language ability

Each chapter provides clear grammatical explanations with charts and examples for each construction, showing how it is used in various contexts. All Korean words and sentences are given in both Korean Hangul script and Romanized form, with English translations to assist beginning learners. Fundamental concepts like honorifics, formal and informal speech styles, verb endings and complex sentence constructions are all presented in simple and clear terms to make these constructions accessible to learners at every level. Exercises at the end of each chapter reinforce the learning process.

Indonesian For Beginners - Learning Conversational Indonesian (With Free Online Audio)

Selamat datang! Learn to read, write, and speak Indonesian!

By completing the 12 lessons in Indonesian for Beginners, you will learn not only to understand, speak, read and write basic Indonesian, but also about many important aspects of Indonesia's amazingly diverse culture, people, and places. This book provides a gateway to understanding the Indonesian language and country, and helps you to apply what you learn in a way that is relevant, meaningful and fun.

The course is structured around the concept of spending a year in Indonesia—experiencing different seasonal events which bring the learner on a journey. In this way, the cultural and background information becomes a natural part of the understanding of the Indonesian language and helps you to place what you learn into context within a full narrative about life in Indonesia.

Each chapter contains the following elements:

An introduction with images and captions

Grammar points

A word bank presenting key vocabulary

One or more sample conversations

Listening practice and readings

An "Indonesian and me" section that uses Indonesian to talk about yourself

Key questions and statements

Drills and exercises

Indonesian for Beginners includes reading, writing and speaking tasks based on authentic real-life materials. While aimed at learners taking a classroom course, it can also be used by anyone studying Indonesian in other ways—in a high school course or as a self-study book.

Basic Korean - Learn To Speak Korean In 19 Easy Lessons

With an emphasis on practical daily communication, Basic Korean is a great introduction to those looking to learn the language—whether on their own or with a teacher.

Learn Korean quickly and easily with the help of real-life conversations by native speakers, everyday Korean vocabulary and expressions, easy-to-understand grammar explanations, notes on social etiquette for those traveling to Korea and so much more!

With the help of 19 individual lessons, free online audio recordings, lively manga illustrations, comprehensive vocabulary lists and a bi-directional English-Korean/Korean-English dictionary, students get a complete overview of this exceedingly-popular language with the help of this book.

Each self-contained lesson contains the following key elements:

Authentic conversations to introduce new words and expressions

Vocabulary lists with an emphasis on everyday words and phrases

Simple notes explaining how to form sentences

Practice drills and exercises to help internalize what you have learned

Cultural notes explaining dos and don'ts, honorific language, etc.

Native speaker audio recordings to help with pronunciation

Whether used for self study or in a formal classroom setting, Basic Korean allows you to begin communicating from the very first lesson!

Chinese Dress - From The Qing Dynasty To The Present Day

Featuring over 450 archival photographs and line drawings, Chinese Dress traces the evolution of Chinese clothing from court and formal costumes to the everyday fashions of twenty-first century China.

Author Valery Garrett skillfully weaves the story of Chinese dress in all its variations—elaborately embroidered robes, military uniforms, children's dress, wedding and funeral attire, working clothes, Mao-inspired fashion—against a backdrop of historical, cultural and social change.

A comprehensive and sumptuously illustrated book, this book includes images of garments and accessories from museum and private collections, as well as unpublished or little-known archival photos and printed materials.

Chapters include:

Dress of the Qing Manchu Rulers 1644-1911

Dress of the Manchu Consorts 1644-1911

Attire of Mandarins and Merchants

Attire of Chinese Women

Republican Dress 1912-1949

Clothing of the Lower Classes

Clothing for Children

Dress in New China 1950-Present Day

For both modern fashion inspiration and accurate historical representation, Chinese Dress is the essential reference for costume historians, fashion designers and collectors, as well as lovers of beautiful clothes!

Scale Model Paper Airplanes Kit: Iconic Planes That Really Fly! Slingshot Launcher Included! - Just Pop-out And Assemble (14 Famous Pop-out Airplanes)

Take a hands-on flight through history with this model airplane kit!

Scale Model Paper Airplanes Kit is filled with famous and historical model planes, just waiting to be assembled. It features 14 paper replicas spanning the history of aviation--from the Spitfire to the Concorde. The pop-out plane pieces are made of high-quality cardstock and printed in full color on both sides.

With this kit, you can build and fly:

This kit includes:

Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy making their way through history with model paper airplanes that actually fly. Please note that young aviators will need help with assembly.

1. Scale Model Paper Airplanes Kit: Iconic Planes That Really Fly! Slingshot Launcher Included! - Just Pop-out And Assemble (14 Famous Pop-out Airplanes)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Samurai Castle & Cherry Blossoms - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Cherry Blossoms At Himeji Castle (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

1000 pieces

Quality design & easy to handle pieces

Finished puzzle 24 x 18 inches

Features a beautiful, full-color photograph of Japan's Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its imposing size, elegant white appearance and spectacular grounds. It is one of Japan's original 12 castles, dating back more than 400 years.

1. Samurai Castle & Cherry Blossoms - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Cherry Blossoms At Himeji Castle (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

A Japanese Garden In Summertime - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: A Scene From The Tale Of Genji, Woodblock Print (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

1000 pieces

Finished puzzle is 24 x 18 inches

Quality design & easy to handle pieces

Features the classic Japanese woodblock print Songs of the Four Seasons: Summer (1853) by Kuniteru Utagawa

This print is of Prince Genji and some courtiers enjoying a summer evening in the palace garden

1. A Japanese Garden In Summertime - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: A Scene From The Tale Of Genji, Woodblock Print (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Cherry Blossom Season In Old Tokyo- 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Woodblock Print By Utagawa Kunisada (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

1000 pieces

Finished puzzle is 24 x 18 inches

Quality design & easy to handle pieces

Features the classic Japanese woodblock print Flowers (1854) by Toyokuni III/Kunisada

This print is of women in Edo's (modern day Tokyo) Yoshiwara district, surrounded by beautiful cherry blossoms

1. Cherry Blossom Season In Old Tokyo- 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Woodblock Print By Utagawa Kunisada (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

MassKara Festival, Philippines - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

- 1000 pieces

MassKara (literally meaning "many faces") is a popular festival held in Bacolod, Philippines every October. The colorful, smiling masks were initially designed to lift the spirits of locals during a time of challenge and tragedy. Today, the festival and its Carnival-inspired masks are a favorite of locals and tourists alike-with dance competitions, street parties, food festivals, concerts and more. Bacolod has even become known as the "City of Smiles" thanks to these colorful accessories.

1. MassKara Festival, Philippines - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Japan's Most Famous Shinto Shrine - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Fushimi Inari Shrine In Kyoto: Finished Size 24 x 18 inches (61 x 46 cm)

1000 pieces

Quality design & easy to handle pieces

Finished puzzle 24 x 18 inches

Features a mesmerizing photo from Japan's Fushimi Inari shrine

Fushimi Inari is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-known Shinto shrine in Japan

It is famous for the 10,000 vermilion Torii gates which form a 4-km (2.5-mile) pathway leading up and around the mountain

1. Japan's Most Famous Shinto Shrine - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Fushimi Inari Shrine In Kyoto: Finished Size 24 x 18 inches (61 x 46 cm)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Tokyo By Night - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle : Tokyo's Kabuki-cho District At Night: Finished Size 24 x 18 inches (61 x 46 cm)

- 1000 pieces

1. Tokyo By Night - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle : Tokyo's Kabuki-cho District At Night: Finished Size 24 x 18 inches (61 x 46 cm)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Singapore's Gardens By The Bay - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

- 1000 pieces

The Gardens by the Bay are Singapore's most recognizable sight. They aim to be both an entertaining and educational destination, presenting horticulture and garden design in an all new way. With plants from all over the world, the gardens aim to model conservation and sustainable development. The Gardens by the Bay have earned numerous international awards, including World Building of the Year (2012), and are in the Guinness World Records for largest glass greenhouse (Flower Dome).

1. Singapore's Gardens By The Bay - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Viewing The Moon Japanese Garden- 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Finished Size 24 x 18 inches (61 x 46 cm)

- 1000 pieces

This scene by prolific ukiyo-e artist Toyohara Chikanobu (1838-1912) depicts a court lady beautifully adorned in her kimono, strolling through a scented garden on a warm summer's evening under the full moon. On the right, a young girl leans over the railing, while a woman plucks the strings of a koto (a 13-string zither) to accompany the stroller. Chikanobu's woodblock prints cover many common ukiyo-e subjects, but he is most famous for his portrayal of women's fashions, pastimes and customs.

1. Viewing The Moon Japanese Garden- 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Finished Size 24 x 18 inches (61 x 46 cm)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Gyeongbok Palace In Seoul Korea - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

- 1000 pieces

Commonly referred to as the Northern Palace, Gyeongbok Palace was built in 1395 in the heart of Seoul (the then newly-appointed capital city). It is the first and largest of Korea's Five Grand Palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and remains one of Korea's top sights.

1. Gyeongbok Palace In Seoul Korea - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: (Finished Size 24 in x 18 in)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Asian Rainforest Wildlife - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Finished Size 29 in x 20 inch (73.7 x 50.8 cm)

1000 pieces

Quality design & easy to handle pieces

Finished puzzle 29 x 20 inches

Features a colorful jungle scene filled with diverse Indonesian wildlife

1. Asian Rainforest Wildlife - 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle: Finished Size 29 in x 20 inch (73.7 x 50.8 cm)

2. Bộ Bo Góc Bảo Quản

Taoism For Beginners: A Guide To Balanced Living

Taoism for Beginners is a practical guide to applying the key notions, concepts and beliefs underlying Taoism's various branches and schools.

Authors C. Alexander and Annellen Simpkins tap into their years of training and study in meditation, martial arts and Eastern philosophy to provide readers with a comprehensive introduction to the spiritual tenets and attainments that mark the holistic pathway to a life more in balance.

This book offers readers:

This new edition has been updated by the author to include the connections between Taoism and mindfulness and meditation, as well as ritualized practices to heighten mind-body connection in order to control chi (energy). Taoist principles and concepts have guided people on the path to harmony, wholeness, balance and greater well-being for millennia. This beginning resource makes an ancient religion, its practices and history accessible for a twenty-first century reader.

Black Belt Fitness For Life: A 7-Week Plan To Achieve Lifelong Wellness

Develop and maintain a healthy body using advanced Taekwondo training principles.

In Black Belt Fitness for Life, Grandmaster Tae Sun Kang applies his four decades of experience to guide you through an innovative method of fitness using Taekwondo principles. Whether you're a beginner or veteran to stretching and exercise, you can easily follow Grandmaster Kang's 7-week routine based on the belt system of Taekwondo, an ancient Korean martial art. With each week of the regimen, you will learn new skills and techniques that culminate in the mastery of the techniques necessary to continue exercising and eating right for life.

Through the use of Taekwondo stretches and movements, this black belt "Combined Dynamic Stretching" method will improve your flexibility and balance, stamina and strength, as well as your focus and mental health. You'll stretch multiple parts of your body at the same time, improving circulation and building mental strength while warming up to minimize injuries. As part of his holistic approach to health and fitness, Grandmaster Kang also outlines an eating plan designed to help you lose weight naturally. Unlike extreme diets and workouts that emphasize drastic results quickly, the Grandmaster's approach is a balanced, easy-to-follow, and--most importantly--realistic plan designed for your life.

Friend and longtime student of Grandmaster Kang, actor Michael Imperioli wrote the foreword for the book and shares his experience in training under Grandmaster, as well as the benefits he has received in following Grandmaster's philosophy.

Forest Bathing: The Rejuvenating Practice Of Shinrin Yoku

Shinrin Yoku: "taking in the forest atmosphere," the medicine of simply being in the forest, "forest bathing."

This book offers guidelines for finding peace and replenishment in any space —from turning off your phone to seeking the irregularities in nature, which in turn can make us less critical of ourselves. It offers tips not only on being fully present and mindful while in the forest, but also on how to tap into that mindfulness at home—even if home is the busiest and most crowded of cities.

Forest Bathing explains the traditional Japanese concepts that help readers understand and share in the benefits of the Japanese approach to forest bathing—a cornerstone of healing and health care in Japan. These concepts include:

From the healing properties of phytoncides (self-protective compounds emitted by plants) to the ways we can benefit from what forest spaces can teach us, this book discusses the history, science and philosophy behind this age-old therapeutic practice. Examples from the ancient Celts to Henry David Thoreau remind us of the ties between humankind and the natural world—ties that have become more and more elusive to Westerners.

The Ikigai Journey: A Practical Guide To Finding Happiness And Purpose The Japanese Way

In The Ikigai Journey, authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles take their international bestseller Ikigai: the Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life a step further by showing you how to find your own ikigai through practical exercises, such as employing new habits and stepping outside your comfort zone.

Ikigai is the place where our passion (what we love), mission (what we hope to contribute), vocation (the gifts we have to offer the world) and profession (how our passions and talents can become a livelihood) converge, giving us a personal sense of meaning. This book helps you bring together all of these elements so that you can enjoy a balanced life.

Our ikigai is very similar to change: it is a constant that transforms depending on which phase of life we are in. Our "reason for being" is not the same at 15 as it is at 70. Through three sections, this book helps you to accept and embrace that—acting as a tool to revolutionize your future by helping you to understand the past, so you can enjoy your present.

Japan has one of the longest life spans in the world, and the greatest number of centenarians—many of whom cite their strong sense of ikigai as the basis for their happiness and longevity. Unlike many "self-care" practices, which require setting aside time in an increasingly busy world, the ikigai method helps you find peace and fulfillment in your busy life.

How To Draw Animals - A Visual Reference Guide To Sketching 100 Animals Including Popular Dog And Cat Breeds!

A one-of-a-kind visual reference with sketch studies for 100 different animals.

Loaded with hundreds of tips and examples, this sourcebook contains sample sketches of a hundred different animal species—including mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles and fish. In addition to notes, sidebars and anatomical diagrams, there are step-by-step drawing exercises, watercolor painting tutorials and an artist's gallery containing the author's own artworks that will surprise and inspire you to further develop your own drawing skills.

This unique reference work includes creatures from all branches of the animal kingdom:

- Land Mammals including cats, dogs, monkeys, bears and horses

- Amphibians & Reptiles including komodo dragons, lizards and crocodiles

- Marine Mammals including dolphins and whales

- Birds including eagles, owls, cranes, parrots and penguins

And dozens of others!

Author Sadao Naito is a leading wildlife illustrator who has won numerous awards for his detailed and expressive animal drawings and paintings. He is a member of the World Wildlife Fund, the Wild Bird Society of Japan and the international Society of Animal Artists.

Modern Japanese Painting Techniques: A Step-by-Step Beginner's Guide (over 21 Lessons and 300 Illustrations)

This book makes it easy to create and admire wonderful Japanese-style paintings and portraits!

Modern Japanese-style paintings are recognizable by their restrained use of three-dimensionality and perspective, reliance upon expressive lines, and the bold use of color to direct the viewer's eye. There are other ways that artists imbue their work with Japanese- inspired attributes, including through the skillful use of shape, texture, and facial expression.

Author Shinichi Fukui introduces readers to 7 notable modern Japanese artists (Kazuo Kawakami, Chiaki Takasugi, Miho Tanaka, Ryohei Nishiyama, Jose Franky, Ryohei Murata, and Keiji Yano) who specialize in shin hanga-style portraiture of Japanese women. He then presents instructions to create 21 different original paintings—from sketching models, preparing and mixing paints, blocking in color, and rendering fine details.

Using these techniques, and a bit of acrylic paint, readers will be able to create eye-catching works of art that express a timeless Japanese aesthetic.