Chinese Art Encyclopedia: Architecture Edition (Pocket Version) · Religious Architecture

Author: Zhang Zhen Guang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features:
1. The selection range of The Complete Collection of Chinese Art: Architecture Volume - Religious Architecture includes Buddhist architecture, Taoist architecture, and Islamic architecture. Taoist structures such as the Five Sacred Mountains shrines and the Temple of Guan Yu are primarily included in the Temples and Shrines volume due to their emphasis on sacrificial significance. Islamic structures like madrasas (cemeeteries), qubbas (tombs), and residential buildings are categorized and included in the Tombs and Cemeteries and Residential Architecture volumes, respectively, and are not featured in this volume.
2. The selection criteria for this volume prioritize religious structures with high historical and architectural value, including Buddhist temples, pagodas, halls, grottoes, stupas, Taoist temples, mosques, and prayer halls. Structures that demonstrate exceptional artistic achievement in decorative details are also carefully selected.
3. The plate arrangement follows the classification of religious architectural types, with each type ordered by chronological construction date from earliest to latest. This sequence aims to help readers appreciate the temporal characteristics of religious architectural art.
4. The volume opens with an essay titled Chinese Religious Architecture Art, co-authored by Sun Da Zhang and Yu Wei Guo, as an introduction. The plate section features 192 selected photographs of religious architecture, showcasing overall, individual, and detailed artistic elements. Each photograph is briefly described in the plate captions, highlighting the historical and artistic significance of the structures to assist readers in comprehension and appreciation.