The primary purpose of this series is to inform and thereby diminish prejudice which continues to affect the world and is largely rooted in ignorance. We have seen the sad result of prejudice on a massive scale in the last century, be it in Bosnia, Rwanda or elsewhere.

亞洲是地球上一個遼闊而又多彩多姿的最大一塊大陸，擁有最古老的文明傳統，有著最璀燦的藝術寶庫。本系列共十三集帶領觀眾一同尋找文化精神的脈承，縱橫穿梭歷史的痕跡，親身感受數千年的經典旋律，輝煌而悠久的東方歷史。備有中文字幕。

1. CHINA: PART 1
中國（一）
Even the neolithic age shows a high cultural development (jade). The verifiable history begins in 1550 BC with the Shang Dynasty, famous for bronze artifacts. The art of writing developed ca. 1300. Shang culture dominated the following dynasties. The Spring & Autumn period (770-476) saw the emergence of Confucius and Lao Tse. The first Emperor of a united China was Qin Shi-huang. 28 mins.

新石器時代的翡翠玉器已展現了中國文化的源遠流長。公元前十五世紀的商朝青銅器的鑄造技巧已經發展至高峰。春秋時代孔子與老子思想嶄露頭角。秦始皇是中國皇帝制度的創立者，他是統一秦王朝的開國皇帝。備有中文字幕。

2. CHINA: PART 2
中國（二）
Qin Shi-huang administration. Technological advances. Confucianism becomes the State Religion (124). Trade flourishes - Silk Route - Emperor Wudi's conquests. Buddhism enters China. The great T'ang Dynasty, conquests and the arts. The An Lushan incident and decline of the T'ang. Reaction against Buddhism and the Mongol invasion. 28 mins.

從歷史的遺物再細看秦始皇統治下的中國，工藝技術的進步。孔子學說成為中國道德倫理的教育思想。絲綢之路橫貫歐亞突顯當時貿易的興旺，而佛教傳入中國弘揚至今。唐朝盛世天朝工藝品展現大唐風采，安史之亂招致唐朝滅亡。宋代南北朝出現反佛教之爭，另有蒙古外患之憂。備有中文字幕。

3. CHINA: PART 3
中國（三）
The Yuan Dynasty conquers the Song. Marco Polo. Anti-Mongol revolts and the Ming Dynasty. Emperor Yongle, builder of the Forbidden City. Maritime expeditions. The Manchu help defeat Hideyoshi and take control. Emperor Chienlung. Taiping rebellion and Cixi. Rise of the Communist Pary (1921). Chaotic times. The PRC is proclaimed 1 October 1949. The new and emerging China. 28 mins.

鐵木真大可汗滅亡南宋改國號為元，九十七年後被朱元璋滅亡建立明朝。明成祖派遣鄭和船隊下西洋，打通東南亞，印度洋的海上交通，向外誇示中國的富強。滿清打敗豐臣秀吉勢力強大，入主中國建立滿清皇朝，乾隆建立最後一個盛世，太平天國與慈禧招致滿清滅亡。共產黨抬頭，一九四九年中華人民共和國正式成立。備有中文字幕。

4. JAPAN: PART 1
日本（一）
Shinto, as old as Japan, has no sacred text, no founder, no creed. It is a way of life. Buddhism came via Korea and splintered into many sects, but dominated Nara. Shotoku, Prince Charming of Japan. The influential Fujiwara (for 1000 years) and the Kamakura era (shogun and ole of Emperor). The arts flourished: lacquer, painting. Mongols are defeated. Hundreds of fiefdoms vie for control. 28 mins.

神道教簡稱神教，是日本的傳統民族宗教。佛教自六世紀中葉從韓國傳入日本，而奈良佛教是指從中國移植來的佛教傳統所建立的奈良六宗，聖德太子時代大力弘揚佛教。平安時代過後進入鐮倉幕府時代，雖值戰亂頻生，但美術文化卻長足進展。備有中文字幕。

5. JAPAN: PART 2
日本（二）
Leadership emerges under Nobunaga, Hideyoshi (fascinating personality) and Ieyasu begins the rigid the Tokugawa era (1603 - 1867). Porcelain (initially from Korea) and painting (Utamaro, Hiroshige) flourish. Isolation till Commodore Perry appears and (indirectly) precipitates the Meiji restoration. Modernization and defeat in WW II. Japan rising from the ashes. 28 mins.

戰國時代群雄割據政局紛亂，織田信長，豐田秀吉，德川家族相繼崛起。這段時期瓷器藝術及浮世繪湧現。十八世紀美國海軍准將潑萊率領艦隊駛抵日本恢復對外貿易間接促成明治維新改革。第二次世界大戰後，戰敗的日本實施大規模革新運動，成為民主國家。備有中文字幕。

6. INDIA: PART 1
印度（一）
The urban Indus Valley civilization (Mohenjo Daro), the Aryan invasion, the origins of Hinduism (re-incarnation, caste system) without founder, sacred text or dogma, the beginning of Jainism (Mahavira) the ascendancy of Buddhism through Ashoka occupied the first 1500 years of Indian history. The Pallava in the South and other dynasties (Hoysala, et al) engaged in warfare. The Muslim conquest (Ghazni, Moh. of Ghur, Aibak, Baburr) laid the foundation of the Mogul Empire. 28 mins.

印度是世界四大文明古國之一，四千年前曾發明摩亨殊達魯文字。雅利安人入侵建立種姓制度。印度人自古以多種名字稱呼自己的宗教，直至十九世紀稱為印度教。印度教與佛教頗有淵源，由雅利安人帶入印度。南印度的帕那亞王朝與其他王朝戰雲密佈。回教傳入印度，蒙古人入侵建立莫臥爾帝國。備有中文字幕。

7. INDIA: PART 2
印度（二）
Akbar - greatest of Mogul Emperors, tolerant, able (administration, military). Shah Jehan built the Taj Mahal. Aurangzeb's intolerance (the Sikhs) began the decline of the Empire. The British gained influence through treaties and wars (Rajput, Marathas, Sepoy Rebellion). The National Congress and Ghandi faced the Muslim league and Jinnah and led to the division of India and the ultimate independence of both Pakistan an India. 28 mins.

巴布爾打敗印度大軍攻陷德里建立莫臥爾帝國，沙賈漢在位期間為他死於難產的第二個妻子修築了泰姬陵。隨莫臥爾帝國開始衰退，印度民族起義爆發後英國擊敗西帕衣團，在印度獨霸一方。後甘地發動獨立運動，把印度最終分成印度和巴基斯坦。備有中文字幕。

8. KOREA: PART 1
韓國（一）
Three kingdoms (Paekche, Kogoryo, Silla) fought internecine wars till Silla emerged (Kyongju - glittering capital) and accepted Buddhism, although Confucianism remained strong. Successful resistance to Chinese, Khitan and Mongols invasions to maintain Korean identity. The Yi Dynasty strongly favored Confucianism (celadon porcelain, moveable type).

百濟，高句麗，新羅建於一世紀，是古代朝鮮的三個王國，佛教傳入韓國產生巨大的影響。儒教是韓國的倫理體系，朝鮮王朝以儒教為國教。成功阻止中國，契丹及蒙古人入侵使韓國得以保留。備有中文字幕。

9. KOREA: PART 2
韓國（二）
Sejong the Great was interested in everything from science and agriculture to music. Buddhism (minor) and Confucianism (major) co-existed. The invasion of Hideyoshi (Japan) and others led to"The Hermit Kingdom." Christianity became significant. The Tonghak movement allowed Japan to interfere. Japanese occupation ended with WW II. The Korean War devastated the nation but the South emerged with renewed energy has become a major player in the word economy. 28 mins.

李朝世宗十分重視科學，農業及音樂，精通儒學並作為治國之策。日本豐臣秀吉與其他民族入侵這隱士王國。基督教傳入漸被韓國人接受。第二次世界大戰日本佔領韓國，日本戰敗撤退，但其後韓半島分為南北兩部份。備有中文字幕。

10. INDONESIA/MALAYSIA
印度尼西亞與馬來西亞
The 'indianization' of both countries gave way to Islam. Malacca (Malaysia) became the key trade center of Asia (China) and Portuguese, Dutch and British arrived. The latter gained ascendancy without warfare and gained Sarawak as well (Brooke) Srivijaya (maritime kingdom) did not survive. The Dutch faced formidable enemies in Indonesia (Mataram, Diponegoro) and after WWII both countries gained independence. 28 mins.

伊斯蘭教是印度尼西亞和馬來西亞主要的宗教。十六世紀歐洲人及荷蘭人佔領土地建立殖民地。馬來西亞是東南亞主要的貿易中心，商船川航其海峽使馬來半島崛起。第二次世界大戰後印度尼西亞與馬來西亞分別成功爭取獨立。備有中文字幕。

11. OTTOMAN: PART 1
土耳其（一）
Turkish tribes accepted Islam and moved west, founded the short-lived Seljuk kingdom destroyed by Mongols. Osman - founder of the Ottoman Empire-seized the moment. His son reached Europe and Murad extended the realm. Officials and Janissaries were ex-Christian slaves (no stigma attached). Mehmed conquered Constantinople. A new era began. 28 mins.

十一世紀塞爾柱突厥人入侵小亞細亞，形成一系列地方伊斯蘭政權。其後奧斯曼脫穎而出統一小亞細亞，征服西亞，東歐和北非各地建立土耳其帝國。奧斯曼帝國軍隊中最有名氣的耶尼切亞軍隊，隊員是前基督徒奴隸。穆罕默德二世攻陷君士坦丁堡。備有中文字幕。

12. OTTOMAN: PART 2
土耳其（二）
Suleiman, greatest of all Ottoman Emperors (Rhodes), legislator, educator, builder (Sinan) and worthy opponent of the Hapsburg. With his son the slow decline began. Harem politics, extravagant luxury hastened the decline (Topkapi, Beylerbei, Mosques). Ahmed built the Blue Mosque. Tulipmania was a strange phase. Young Turks organized, among them Kemal Ataturk, father of modern Turkey (1923). 28 mins.

在奧斯曼帝國蘇萊曼大帝領導下，土耳其達到光輝強盛的頂點，他是一名立法者，教育家，建築家並被哈布斯堡王朝視為值得尊敬的對手。可惜其子的奢華浪費及後宮鬥爭招致瓦解。一九二三年土耳其國父建立土耳其共和國。備有中文字幕。

13. THAILAND/CAMBODIA
泰國與柬埔寨
'Indianization' was followed by Hinayana Buddhism. The Khmer (Cambodia) flourished (Angkor Wat) and declined. Small Thai kingdoms (Ayudhia, Sukhotai, Lan Na - not properly Thai) were finally defeated by the Burmese, which led to a new beginning in Thonbury (Bangkok) under Rama. Thailand remained independent (Japanese occupation). Temples and Palaces. The French left Cambodia which gained independence as well.
28 mins.

進入兩個小乘佛教的國度，柬埔寨的吳哥窟充份發揮高棉人高超的建築和雕刻藝術，柬埔寨有兩千年以上的歷史，十一世紀小乘佛教自北方的印度傳入至今有九成柬埔寨人信奉佛教。泰國歷史可追溯至史前時代，因地域性不同加上融合鄰國文化，呈現不同文化與建築風格。蘭那王國時期與緬甸發生多次戰爭。備有中文字幕。