Chinese architecture : a history
Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman2023
eBook
Throughout history, China has maintained one of the world's richest built civilizations. The nation's architectural achievements range from its earliest walled cities and the First Emperor's vision of city and empire, to bridges, pagodas, and the twentieth-century constructions of the Socialist state. In this beautifully illustrated book, Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt presents the first fully comprehensive survey of Chinese architecture in any language. With rich political and historical context, Steinhardt covers forty centuries of architecture, from the genesis of Chinese building through to the twenty-first century and the challenges of urban expansion and globalism. Steinhardt follows the extraordinary breadth of China's architectural legacy--including excavation sites, gardens, guild halls, and relief sculpture--and considers the influence of Chinese architecture on Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Tibet. Architectural examples from Chinese ethnic populations and various religions are examined, such as monasteries, mosques, observatories, and tombs. Steinhardt also shows that Chinese architecture is united by a standardized system of construction, applicable whether buildings are temples, imperial palaces, or shrines. Every architectural type is based on the models that came before it, and principles established centuries earlier dictate building practices. China's unique system has allowed its built environment to stand as a profound symbol of Chinese culture.Abstract: With rich political and historical context, Steinhardt covers forty centuries of architecture, from the genesis of Chinese building through to the twenty-first century and the challenges of urban expansion and globalism.
Main title:
Chinese architecture : a history / Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt.
Author:
Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman, authorCredo Reference (Firm), distributor
Edition:
[Enhanced Credo edition]
Imprint:
Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, [2019]©2019Boston, Massachusetts : Credo Reference, 2023.
Collation:
1 online resource (102 entries) : 360 images ; digital files.
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 357-376) and index.Description based on title page of print version.
System details:
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Linking notes:
Print version: ix, 388 pages : illustrations (chiefly color), maps, plans
Contents:
Introduction. Beyond the forbidden cityChapter 1. Genesis of Chinese buildings and cities. Cities and buildings before written records ; Cities and buildings of the Bronze Age ; Western Zhou to warring statesChapter 2. Architecture of the First Emperor and his predecessors. Rulers' cities ; Rulers' tombs ; Architecture of China's First EmpireChapter 3. Han architecture. Han Chang'an: the First Emperor's vision realized ; Han Luoyang and other cities: realistic imperial vision and nonimperial presence ; Han Tombs outside the capitals ; Additional evidence of Han architecture ; China's earliest Buddhist architectureChapter 4. An age of turmoil: three kingdoms, two Jins, sixteen states. Urbanism and palaces in an age of disunion ; New buildings for a Buddhist age ; TombsChapter 5. Northern dynasties and southern dynasties. Cities and palaces ; Tombs of royalty ; Tombs in Gansu, Koguryo, and Datong ; Great age of Buddhist cave-chapels ; China's earliest pagodas ; Toward a timber frame ; A Buddhist monument to Pious deeds ; Sarcophagus as architectureChapter 6. Sui and Tang: architecture for empires. Three great cities ; Palace architecture in and outside the Sui-Tang capitals ; Sacred wooden architecture ; Exemplary Tang pagodas ; Tombs ; Five extraordinary buildings ; Tang architecture outside the empireChapter 7. Five dynasties and ten kingdoms. Humble halls for aspiring rulers, 963–966 ; Tenth-century timber architecture before 960 ; Official and royal tombs ; Architecture of the Dali KingdomChapter 8. Grandeur and magnificence under Liao and Western Xia. The ancestral prefecture ; Magnificent halls--Liao style ; Liao pagodas ; Liao tombs ; Octagonal construction: Liao and Western XiaChapter 9. The Chinese building standards. Fundamentals of the Chinese timber frame ; Bracket sets and roofs ; JiehuaChapter 10. Song elegance and Jin opulence.Religious architecture north and south, 960-1127 ; Religious architecture, 1127-1279 ; Secular architectureChapter 11: The Chinese city between Tang and Ming. Urbanism on the grasslands ; Metropolises of millions ; Jin capitals ; The road to Dadu ; Yuan Dadu and Zhongdu ; Cities and princely retreats outside the capitalsChapter 12. The Mongol century. Eminent halls ; Other Yuan buildings ; Architecture of foreign faithsChapter 13. The Chinese imperial city and its architecture, Ming and Qing. Imperial Nanjing ; Imperial Beijing ; Building standards in Qing palatial architecture ; Altars ; Thirteen Ming tombs ; Qing imperial architectureChapter 14: Late imperial architecture in Chinese style. Ming Buddhist monasteries ; Monasteries on sacred peaks ; Architecture of Confucianism ; Three towers in ShanxiChapter 15. Convergences: Lamaist, Dai, Islamic. Architecture of Lamaist Buddhism ; Chengde: Qing vision realized ; Buddhist architecture in the Yunnan marshes ; Dong towers ; Ming and Qing Islamic architectureChapter 16. Garden and house. Gardens of South China ; Imperial gardens of Beijing ; Residential architectureChapter 17. China comes to Europe, Europe comes to China, Chinese students come to the United States. Chinoiserie ; Sequestered European architecture ; China's First Generation of Architects ; Conclusion. Resolving the Forbidden City. The Counteraxis.
Access restrictions:
Access restricted to authorized users and institutions.
ISBN:
0691169985 (hardcover)9780691169989 (hardcover)9781803162225 (electronic version)
Dewey class:
722.11
LC class:
NA1540
Language:
English
BRN:
677368
Electronic access:
Chinese architecture : a history - Click here for electronic version: