Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

65 results found

porcelain

(Encyclopedia)porcelain [Ital. porcellana], white, hard, permanent, nonporous pottery having translucence which is resonant when struck. Porcelain was first made by the Chinese to withstand the great heat generated...

Tung Chee-hwa

(Encyclopedia)Tung Chee-hwa, 1937–, Hong Kong business and political leader, b. Shanghai. The son of C. Y. Tung, a businessman who left China as the Communists were coming to power, Tung entered the family shippi...

Chinese examination system

(Encyclopedia)Chinese examination system, civil service recruitment method and educational system employed from the Han dynasty (206 b.c.–a.d. 220) until it was abolished by the Ch'ing dowager empress Tz'u Hsi in...

Pingtung

(Encyclopedia)Pingtung or P'ing-tung both: pĭngˈdo͝ongˈ [key], city (2010 pop. 198,903), S Taiwan. Located in an agricultural area, Pingtung produces metals, machinery, chemicals, and alcoholic beverages, and i...

Su Shih

(Encyclopedia)Su Shih: see Su Tung-p'o.

drying oil

(Encyclopedia)drying oil, any of several natural oils which, when exposed to the air, oxidize to form a tough, elastic film. The common drying oils are cottonseed oil (see cotton), corn oil, soybean oil, tung oil, ...

Guangdong

(Encyclopedia)Guangdong or Kwangtung both: gwängˈdo͝ongˈ [key], province, c.76,000 sq mi (196,891 s...

Taitung

(Encyclopedia)Taitung or T'ai-tung both: tīˈdo͝ongˈ [key], city (2010 pop. 110,901), W Taiwan. Rice, sugarcane, and peanuts are the major crops marketed and processed in Taitung. The lack of an adequate harbor ...

Browse by Subject