History of Ancient Chinese Architecture (Volume 5) - Qing Dynasty Architecture

Author: Sun Da Zhang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not Available
Features: A History of Ancient Chinese Architecture is divided into five volumes according to the development process of ancient Chinese architecture. This volume is the fifth. It covers the continuation of the third major development peak in the history of ancient Chinese architecture and the transition to modern architecture, focusing on Qing Dynasty architecture. There are two points to note regarding the content of this volume. First, although the history of ancient China is traditionally considered to end with the Opium War in 1840, the development of architecture does not abruptly terminate or transform with political events. Instead, it gradually evolves over a longer period as social structures, economic and technological advancements, and shifts in public thought progress. Therefore, to maintain the completeness of architectural phenomena, the selected materials in this volume are not strictly limited by the year 1840. Examples such as gardens, residential buildings, storefronts, and folk temples include many structures from the late Qing Dynasty. Additionally, some buildings underwent continuous renovation and expansion, such as the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace in Beijing, which were constructed throughout the Qing Dynasty and continued until the end of the era. Second, the Ming and Qing dynasties are closely related in the development of ancient Chinese architecture. Some buildings were completed through the gradual expansion and renovation during both dynasties. Examples include the palaces of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Temple of Heaven, the Confucius Temple, the Niujie Islamic Mosque, the Ta'er Temple in Huangzhong, the Xilitu Monastery in Hohhot, and the Huajue Lane Islamic Mosque in Xi'an. To avoid repetition with Volume IV, the overall layouts and architectural arts of buildings spanning the Ming and Qing dynasties are discussed in Volume IV. This volume focuses solely on the changes in the master plan during the Qing Dynasty and the individual buildings that were renovated, expanded, or newly constructed, ensuring continuity with the preceding volume.