History of Chinese Architecture

Liang Sicheng, designer of the national emblem and father of modern Chinese architecture, a masterpiece of his soul
A foundational work that propelled Chinese architecture from ignorance into a modern discipline
An irreplaceable history of Chinese architectural technology and aesthetics to this day
Translated and annotated for accessible reading, restoring the original manuscript's appearance
Liang Sicheng's "History of Chinese Architecture" was completed in 1944, a time when research into Chinese architecture was still in its nascent stages. On-site investigations of ancient buildings were limited to the short period of 1932-1937. In such a brief time, to clarify the historical origins and development trajectory of Chinese architecture over two millennia, one could only begin with mainstream architecture. This is why the book focuses on palaces and temples (i.e., emphasizing large timber structures). It barely touches upon the highly distinctive gardens and rich and varied vernacular dwellings in Chinese architecture. After completing the book, Mr. Liang deeply felt that there were still many areas in architectural history that needed further in-depth study. However, at that time, with the victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the subsequent destruction of cities across the country, the arduous task of rebuilding the devastated land immediately followed the recovery of lost territories. The demand for talent would be in the tens of thousands, and the urgent priority was to cultivate construction professionals for the nation, especially architects. The nation's construction in the coming decades would depend on the cultivation of such talent. Therefore, he founded the Department of Architecture at Tsinghua University, and research into architectural history had to be temporarily postponed.
What is called "looking up to a high mountain" is often because the value of one's struggle is recognized by the world as unsurpassable; "high mountains and long rivers" is often because the value of one's contributions exceeds worldly understanding and benefits future generations. Looking back and commemorating Liang Sicheng's life is to better understand that past era, and even more so, to explore the future direction of the architectural community. —Xinhua News Agency
Liang Sicheng is "the grand master of research into Chinese architectural history." —Joseph Needham, British scholar
In our minds, he is a sublime example of one who was unafraid of difficulties and dedicated himself to his cause. He made invaluable contributions to the understanding of Chinese culture. —John King Fairbank, famous American scholar

2023-12-01

华龄出版社

Xiaoma BOOK

370

9787516926383