Beijing Famous Residence

Author: Zhang Zhan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: ★12-inch format, copperplate color printing, bilingual (Chinese/English), published by Beijing Ancient Books Press ★Includes residential buildings such as the former residence of Ji Xiaolan, the former residence of Song Qingling, and the former residence of Chiang Kai-shek ★Exquisite images, concise introductions, rich content ★A map is appended at the end, indicating the geographical locations of the included famous residences ★Cultural research and tourism reference value
Beijing Famous Residences is selected based on architectural remnants from the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, as well as modern and contemporary cultural heritage. The concept of Beijing Famous Residences prioritizes famous residential architectural remnants or famous cultural heritage sites with residential remnants, with architectural remnants being the preferred choice. Architectural remnants and cultural heritage are inseparable; each residential courtyard has witnessed countless stories over the centuries. Beijing has long been a hub of culture and talent, but with the passage of time, even the most enduring estates, like the Jia family in Dream of the Red Chamber, have faced fate. Thus, from today’s perspective, the current famous residences can only trace their owners back to one or two generations. Most of the existing famous residences in Beijing date back to the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, and their former owners were figures from the past century. Their destinies, whether noble or wealthy, were closely tied to the changes of their era, with complex backgrounds and varied interpretations. Therefore, this book selects "famous residences" while striving to detach them from complex political contexts, focusing on architectural perspectives for the selection. When governments announce protected cultural relics, they follow their own political criteria for evaluating the relationship between architecture and individuals. Some buildings are designated as "former residences of," while others are simply labeled as "siheyuan," each with its own rationale. Beijing Famous Residences selects based on two criteria: the existence of architectural remnants and the designation as national, municipal, or district-level protected cultural relics. All residences in this book are intended for habitation, hence the title "." The book includes four major categories of residential architecture: imperial palaces, former residences of famous individuals, siheyuan, and villas. Imperial palaces refer to the residences of Qing Dynasty nobles. The term "former residence of a famous individual" is determined by the official names of protected cultural relics announced by governments at various levels. Some siheyuan in this category were also inhabited by famous individuals, such as Chiang Kai-shek and Wan Rong, but their classification is based solely on the compilers' recognition. Siheyuan are entirely designated as "siheyuan" protected cultural relics, and it is more appropriate to refer to them as "famous residences" rather than focusing on whether they were inhabited by famous individuals.