THIS contribution to the series of talks on China deals with the historical and political development, from the mythical and legendary periods of Chinese history to the unification of China under the First Emperor and tho stability under the Han dynasty. As interpreter to this difficult and (to Western minds) sometimes fantastic history, Dr. Lionel Giles is an admirable choice, since he is Deputy Keeper of Oriental Printed Books and MSS. in the British Museum and the author of ' Sun Tzu on the Art of War' and other translations of the Chinese Classics.