Great Imperial Capital -- Architectural Heritage of Beijing Through the Ages

Author: Xiao Mo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Beijing is a world-renowned cultural ancient capital with a history of over 3,000 years as a city and more than 850 years as the capital of China. It is the city with the most and highest-quality historical architectural heritage in China, making it a model of architectural art for China and even the world. This book primarily introduces the achievements of ancient architectural art in Beijing, including its history, the urban layouts of Beijing from the Warring States period to the Yuan Dynasty and their evolution, characteristics, and remains, as well as the urban layouts and artistic features of Beijing during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It provides detailed descriptions of surviving heritage such as the Forbidden City, temple complexes, imperial tombs, Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic, and Christian churches, pagodas, guild halls, gardens, princely residences, and ordinary houses, as well as the Great Wall. The book is organized chronologically, combining macro-historical perspectives and comparative studies to link architectural phenomena with social and historical processes. It follows a coherent academic framework, showcasing the outstanding traditional architecture of Beijing, especially from the Ming and Qing dynasties, while also incorporating theoretical discussions. The writing style is fluent and vivid, making it highly readable. Additionally, it is richly illustrated, making it a delightful and excellent read.