Wooden Eastern

Author: Shi Yingzhao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: On almost every roof, one can hardly find a straight line. They all pursue the dynamic momentum of figures rising upwards. This appreciation for curves and the pursuit of motion is an important principle in traditional Chinese aesthetics. Architecture often resembles Chinese ink painting or calligraphy. Its charm lies in how its essence is condensed, how it rises and falls, or how it spreads out, or how it unexpectedly gains inspiration in places unseen by ordinary people—all of which are natural and spontaneous masterpieces. The Chinese began building houses with wood as the basic material, and the Chinese nation has always been renowned for its collectivist cultural characteristics. They have continued and developed a tribal culture characterized by external centers and mutual support, which differs from Western culture centered on individualism and self-reliance. This may also be one of the main reasons why, while other ancient civilizations of the world perished before the advent of modern industrial civilization, the ancient Chinese civilization has endured to this day and may even flourish with the development of industry today.
If I were to tell a story with a small piece of wood and numbers, I would do so like this: The ancient Greeks initially made a one-stringed instrument from a small piece of wood, embodying the philosophical spirit of "everything is number," and then repeatedly experimented on it, eventually discovering all the elements of music. In distant China, the "Tian Xia" chapter of the Zhuangzi set a different tone: "A one-foot-long stick, if taken half each day, will never be exhausted."
This book revives the near-natural philosophical pursuit and life attitude of traditional Chinese culture, as well as its historical evolution, through the wood that surrounds the lives of the Chinese, such as architecture, furniture, chopsticks, coffins, wooden boats, and the pervasive cultural atmosphere composed of wood. The mystery, nature, tranquility, timelessness, elegance, and an alternative history of the East are all interpreted from a uniquely angled perspective in this book.