The Soul of Chinese Architecture: Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin as Seen by a Foreign Scholar

Author: Fei Wai-mei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-02-01
Features: If we look down from afar at the history of China in the 20th century, it is not difficult to see that it was a shocking waste of a century: a waste of opportunities, resources, and lives. The suffering of foreign invasions, compounded by the deterioration of domestic politics, could it possibly produce orderly national construction? How could individual creativity and the pursuit of knowledge flourish widely? The story of Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin seemed to confirm this pessimistic reflection from the very beginning. Countless social wastes disrupted and devoured their lives, again and again, leaving them no breathing space in this world. Yet, in Fei Wai-mei's portrayal, within those touching and intimate life fragments, we feel even more deeply the light of life that burst forth from their passionate yet tense marriage. It seems we can hear the sound of laughter floating amidst the clinking of cups and plates in their grand living room, with the bottom of each cup drained. It seems we can see them meticulously researching the restoration of ancient architectural classics, their skillful fingers guiding the pen through technical details with elegance in both Chinese and English. We also see that the long-lost ancient Chinese architecture has finally regained its rightful place in the national consciousness. We also feel their unwavering humor and resilience even amidst prolonged illness and suffering. Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin were both born in early 20th-century China, a time of conflict between tradition and modernity, where social status was uncertain. Lin Huiyin's father was a talented political dreamer and curious explorer. Due to the lack of offspring from his first wife, he took a concubine from a noodle shop. Lin Huiyin was the only child of this concubine and received an informal yet excellent education. In 1920, her father became the representative of the Chinese League of Nations Society in the UK, and he took sixteen-year-old Huiyin with him.