Visual History of Chinese Architecture

An introductory book for understanding the organic structure of ancient Chinese architecture;
An incomplete but unique pictorial history of Chinese architecture.
Mr. Liang Sicheng, a renowned Chinese architect, architectural historian, and architectural educator, dedicated his life to the study and preservation of ancient Chinese architecture. Beginning in the 1930s, he conducted a lengthy, scientific investigation of ancient Chinese architecture. Working with colleagues from the Architectural Society, despite the social unrest, scarcity of resources, and extremely inconvenient transportation at the time, he surveyed and meticulously mapped over 2,000 ancient buildings in nearly 200 counties across China in less than a decade. He accumulated a wealth of detailed text and image material for the study of ancient Chinese architecture and compiled a comprehensive scientific research report.
"A Pictorial History of Chinese Architecture," along with "A History of Chinese Architecture," was written in Lizhuang, Sichuan Province, during the Anti-Japanese War. During that time, "there was no shelter from the wind and rain, and only coarse vegetables for food," "poverty and illness plagued us, and friends were few and far between." Yet, Liang Sicheng, with the heart of a martyr, dedicated himself to preserving Chinese civilization and traditional culture. For various reasons, the manuscript was delayed in publication. More than a decade after Liang Sicheng's death, thanks to the efforts of Fei Weime, the work was finally published.
Written in English, "A Pictorial History of Chinese Architecture" aims to introduce ancient Chinese architectural techniques to Western readers and architectural researchers. The text is vivid and accessible, providing a comprehensive overview of the development of the "organic" structural system of ancient Chinese architecture and its evolutionary forms. The book also includes numerous precious images taken by members of the Architectural Society during surveying and mapping, as well as exquisite illustrations by Liang Sicheng and Mo Zongjiang. This work will enable Western readers to gain a deeper understanding of the unique spiritual connotations and external forms of ancient Chinese architecture, and will also be of great significance to contemporary Chinese understanding of the relationship between traditional culture and architecture.
This book is available in both Chinese and English, translated into Chinese by Liang Sicheng's son, Liang Congjie, whose name is derived from Li Jie, the compiler of the "Yingzaofashi" (Building Methods). Although he did not inherit his father's legacy, Liang Congjie, through his Chinese translation of "Illustrated History of Chinese Architecture," contributed, along with his father, to the study and preservation of ancient Chinese architecture.
The book includes a brief biography of Liang Sicheng by Wilma Fairbank, an English preface by Wu Liangyong, and a translation introduction by Liang Congjie. Furthermore, this new edition features an introduction by Liang Sicheng's student and assistant, Fu Xinian, who provides a comprehensive assessment of A Pictorial History of Chinese Architecture and Liang Sicheng's academic achievements.

2023-11-01

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