Carved beams and painted rafters: Ancient residential culture

Author: Chen Ping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-04-01
Features: Throughout the long historical evolution, the Chinese nation has created a splendid and brilliant culture, including the philosophies of the sages, Tang and Song poetry, temples, palaces, and shrines, as well as intangible and tangible cultural heritage such as mausoleums and grottoes. We are still proud of these achievements. However, as a pervasive presence in society, culture, beyond the few monumental landmarks, is more often reflected in the daily lives and customs of the common people. The social interactions, family life, rituals, customs, food, clothing, housing, travel, leisure, and entertainment of our ancestors were all rich in culture and wisdom, and through generations of transmission, they haveed deep into the consciousness of the Chinese people.
In modern China, despite the turmoil and revolutionary shocks it has endured and the impact of the strong Western culture, traditional lifestyles and values still persist and occasionally resurface in our lives. Take the example of cultural fashion: TV screens are filled with historical dramas in ancient costumes, taxi cabs broadcast traditional storytelling, "Tangzhuang" (Tang-style jackets) have become fashionable overnight, middle and primary schools are filled with the recitation of ancient poetry, and martial arts novels by Jin Yong that promote chivalry attract Chinese people worldwide. We can praise their ability to reform society and hearts, or condemn their hypocrisy, affectation, and vulgarity, but the shadow of tradition remains inescapable.
The lives of the ancients were like this—whether right or wrong, they were constantly interpreted by modern people and continue to influence our lives. We compiled this series of books to rediscover the lost cultural memories and walk in the footsteps of the ancients. The series covers various aspects of ancient society, rituals, daily life, and entertainment. Five volumes have been published so far, each focusing on ancient clothing, food, housing, travel, and leisure. Each book will primarily use images and artifacts left by history as clues, adopting a visually rich and engaging format, supplemented by concise and captivating textual descriptions. They will categorically depict the social lives of the ancestors of the Chinese nation, allowing readers to understand all aspects of ancient life through vivid and accessible means.
We do not intend to judge the right or wrong of the lifestyles and values of the ancients, nor do we merely list and appreciate them; we hope to draw wisdom and nourishment from the lives of the ancients and transform it into resources and strength for creating the future.