Best Chinese-Asian Art Reference Books

I love good books, as much as I collect, buy and sell objects I also love the hunt for a great reference book for my library. Many have been on my shelf when not on my desk or nightstand for over 35 years.

Finding the best Chinese-Asian art reference books for your library is essential, but a challenge. Art reference books, after all, tend to be pretty pricey due to their limited volume runs and the absolute need for numerous color images. Color printing is expensive but is also crucial content for reference books to be of real value.

About these Chinese-Asian Art Reference Books

Nearly all of the books on this page I already own and have been included because I personally have found them to be of value. They have stood the test of time, many for decades. A few others were highly recommended by dealers and collectors I trust in their recommendations. A number of them are by authors I've gotten to know over the years, for whom I have huge respect.

A lot of books on Chinese and Asian are not worth owning for a couple reasons. Some are too far reaching in what the author was trying to accomplish or have content/images we've all seen dozens of times.

All of the books below are available and linked to AMAZON, we've made sure to include used and second-hand versions whenever possible. The prices can vary widely but are all basically the same. NOTE: Some include both Hardbound and Paperback editions, so order accordingly dependent on your needs.