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

Author: Wilma Fairbank (trans. Cheng Han)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Wilma Fairbank (1909-2002) was the wife of the renowned American sinologist John Fairbank (1907—1991) and also a scholar of ancient Chinese art. During the eight-year Chinese War of Resistance against Japan, she served as the Cultural Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Chongqing. John Fairbank, meanwhile, led Chinese studies at Harvard University, and the "Fairbank Center" at Harvard was established to commemorate his lifelong achievements. In 1932, while the newly married Fairbanks were studying in China, they met the Liang family, and their shared intellectual pursuits forged a deep friendship between the four. Over the next half-century of turmoil, the two couples maintained close ties and communication. If we look down from afar at the history of China in the 20th century, it becomes clear that it was a remarkable century of squandered opportunities, resources, and lives. The suffering caused by foreign occupation, compounded by the deterioration of domestic politics, could hardly foster orderly national construction. How could individual creativity and the pursuit of knowledge flourish widely? The story of Liang Sicheng and Lin Huiyin seemed to bear out this pessimistic reflection from the very beginning. Countless social wastes disrupted and devoured their lives, time and again leaving them no space to breathe. Yet, in Wilma Fairbank's portrayal, the touching and intimate glimpses of their lives reveal the light of life that burst forth from their devoted yet tense marriage. We seem to hear the sound of laughter floating amidst the clinking of cups as guests filled the room, their mirth echoing until the last drop was drained. We seem to see them meticulously restoring the original form of ancient architectural classics, their nimble fingers guiding the brush through technical details with equal elegance in both Chinese and English. We also witness the rediscovery of long-lost Chinese ancient architecture in the national consciousness, regaining its rightful place. We also sense 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 the face room. 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.