Biography of Liang Sicheng

Author: Dou Zhongru
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The author wrote "The Biography of Liang Sicheng" without any special reason, except for the invitation and encouragement from Ms. Gan Yiwen of Baihua Literature and Art Press, as well as the strong support from Mr. Luo Zhewen, the head of the Ancient Architecture Expert Group of the National Cultural Relics Administration. The only other reason was my deep respect for Liang Sicheng. As for setting aside the already partially completed "China · World Heritage Exploration Series," which had been written for over thirty volumes, and dedicating myself entirely to the interview and writing of "The Biography of Liang Sicheng," without worrying about delaying or "rehashing" the former, I almost forgot about it. Who could blame me for having long harbored a desire to write about Liang Sicheng and being overly fond of it? To say so might sound a bit pretentious or self-suffering. In reality, like many authors, I am deeply fond of Liang Sicheng. However, I have only mastered the superficial knowledge, far from the essence of this literary master, but personal preference is something that cannot be cured. Of course, how many biographies of figures can rival this one? To not strive for the pinnacle is not the behavior of a cultural "fighter" (the author once served in the military for 13 years), as I have always believed. That is all.
As I said, I did not originally feel qualified to write "The Biography of Liang Sicheng," because this world-renowned architectural giant passed away the year after I was born, and I had never had the chance to meet him, so I dare not say I understand him very well. Later, I came to believe that I was qualified to write his biography, not only because my respect for this great scholar is boundless, but also because I have read almost all the texts and images about him that I can access, especially through the magnificent nine-volume "Complete Works of Liang Sicheng," the 36,000 yuan RMB-priced, as well as many of his personal handwritten notes that have yet to be widely known, along with the vivid and heartfelt recollections from his relatives, as well as many of his former students and colleagues who are now renowned experts at home and abroad. Therefore, when I felt confident that I had understood Liang Sicheng, I decided to write this biography. Unbeknownst to me, as I gradually came to know Liang Sicheng, I realized that my admiration for him had grown into a deep affection. This affection, to some extent, reflects self-love, because I have come to admire and secretly pursue the character traits he embodies, such as determination, focus, authenticity, humility, perseverance, resilience, loyalty, and the ability to discuss matters without holding grudges. I am not intentionally using these noble qualities to boast about myself; rather, they are what I constantly feel when reading Liang Sicheng's life of 71 years. Therefore, whenever I face the computer screen, it is as if I am engaging in a heartfelt conversation with this academic master. I understand everything he did, especially his willingness to stand against the tide of history to protect humanity's cultural treasures—ancient architectural heritage—even if he was battered by the tide, he never regretted it. As long as he had the chance, or even when he had none, he would create opportunities to speak, and even when he was later stripped of his right to speak, he still carried it with him, never forgetting.
There is no doubt that Liang Sicheng was someone who enjoyed expressing and clarifying his architectural thoughts and theories. He was willing to share his insights and experiences about the beauty of architecture and its impact on people with others. However, it was not death that silenced his "loquacious" mouth, but rather the ruthless political environment that suppressed his ability to speak. Imagine the feelings of someone who loves "sharing joy with others" being silenced in life—it would be a terrible experience. Readers may want to reflect on this, though of course, those who are eloquent and skilled in debate might feel more deeply if they choose to remain silent in fierce arguments, or if ordinary people refrain from speaking for three days in their daily lives. However, even that would only deepen the feeling slightly, because Liang Sicheng was deliberately prevented from expressing his architectural ideas for years in his final years of life due to illness, so no reader can truly empathize with him.
Of course, we hope that neither contemporaries nor future generations will ever have to experience such empathy. But can reality be wished away? Even if the external environment silenced Liang Sicheng, did he remain silent in his heart? Absolutely not. For a scholar with a conscience about society, humanity, and academia, he would never ignore the suffering of the people (such as the current plight of Beijingians under irrational urban planning). Moreover, Liang Sicheng, with his great character, could not possibly do so. Imagine the mindset of Liang Sicheng under such intense pressure—how could my clumsy pen or any words adequately describe it? Still, as I strive to express myself clearly, I ask readers to pause and reflect at this point, perhaps gaining some insight. This would be enough for me.
In the brilliant Chinese academic world, there are warriors who would lay down their lives to defend truth, and they truly deserve our highest praise. There are also those who endure humiliation to preserve the purity of scholarship, and they too should be remembered by the world. For them, I cannot help but express my sincere apologies, though I have always respected true scholars and aspired to transition from writer to that rank. Though they have always stirred me deeply, keeping me up at night lost in their spiritual world, my current favorite scholar is only one—Liang Sicheng. This is not just because of self-love. After all, why love others if one does not love oneself? Moreover, Liang Sicheng's character traits are so distinct and flawless, never once ambiguous. Of course, Liang Sicheng was not perfect—his determination could sometimes border on rigidity, for example. But precisely because he was a real person, he transcended two centuries and was never forgotten by the masses, and his brilliance will only grow more radiant with time. This is why I wrote "The Biography of Liang Sicheng."
If someone criticizes Liang Sicheng for his political career in New China, leading to tragedy, I would like to clarify that he may have only wanted to use that platform to serve society and the people to the fullest extent of his knowledge. He never aspired to enter politics but was swept along by the tides of the era, helpless. On the other hand, Liang Sicheng's political tragedy might not be entirely bad, or perhaps it was a tragedy of one person and one era. If future generations can learn from it, not only would Liang Sicheng's tragedy be worthwhile, but even he, if he knew, would feel content. What is truly frightening is that similar human, social, or personal tragedies continue to unfold, just as leaders in many Chinese cities today are destroying ancient architectural heritage in the name of "urban renewal," or as the number of ancient buildings Liang Sicheng fought to protect that have been destroyed in Beijing today. Thus, tragedy continues, seemingly intractable. This is truly a tragedy of humanity itself.
Tragedies keep unfolding, and fighters keep emerging. The ebb and flow of this is a natural law, but it does not fit the situation of protecting or destroying ancient architectural heritage, because the forces of destruction and the efforts to defend them are always imbalanced. This is another tragedy. The tragedy is not that defenders of cultural heritage are overconfident but that the number of those who knowingly or unknowingly destroy it is growing exponentially. What can be done?
As for why tragedies cannot be eradicated, Mr. Zhou Ganzhi, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, explained it accurately and clearly, which I have quoted at the beginning of the fourth part, "Fate is Uncertain," in this book. People like Liang Sicheng were truly ill-timed. In just 71 years, he endured too much: overseas exile, warlord conflicts, foreign invasions, civil strife between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, and relentless political movements. Yet, he never showed resentment or bitterness in his character, nor did he become harsh or disillusioned due to his hardships. Instead, these experiences made his humanity warmer and more caring.
People like Liang Sicheng were truly of their time. Without his firm and wise efforts to dispel the thick historical fog, Chinese architecture would have remained in darkness for many more years. Without his tireless calls for the protection of ancient architectural heritage, countless precious human treasures would have been lost. In truth, life is a spiral of ups and downs, marked by passion and conflict. One era is just the backdrop for its people, and while it may determine the fate of ordinary individuals, the wise understand how to grasp the pulse of the times or transcend its limitations. Liang Sicheng should be the epitome of this.
As an architect, his architectural works always emphasized human-centric design, prioritizing people above all. As an urban planning expert, he even envisioned the magnificent city walls of Beijing as a "circular city park," a design unparalleled in the world and a testament to his deep care for people. As an architectural educator, he embodied the principle of "loving others with virtue," teaching his students not only his knowledge but also his meticulous care for each one in need. As an expert in the preservation of ancient architecture, he not only proposed principles like "May it live longer, not return to childhood" and "restore as it was," which are now vital to the preservation of cultural heritage in China and the world, but also made the heart-wrenching cry, "To tear down a city wall is like tearing away a piece of my flesh; to strip the bricks from the outer city walls is like peeling off a layer of my skin."
As the son of the political figure and academic master Liang Qichao, he did not lose himself in his father's glory but forged his own path. As the husband of the beautiful and talented Lin Huiyin of the 20th century, he supported her lightness and grace with his solid, steady, and grand structure, while also achieving unparalleled achievements in their shared academic pursuits. As a father, he nurtured his two children with kindness, warmth, humor, optimism, and democracy, passing on his noble character to them, allowing them to thrive freely in their respective fields.
Indeed, a person as rich in life experience and emotion as Liang Sicheng is impossible to fully capture in words. Of course, if someone wants to extract the shining highlights of wisdom from his rich life, they can easily do so, but that would only be a glimpse of his life. And if the name "Liang Sicheng" brings to many Chinese people the image of "large roofs," that is also a misunderstanding or prejudice, because he never advocated for the architectural style of "large roofs."
As a pioneer of modern architecture, the architects he trained were expected to possess the mind of a philosopher, the perspective of a sociologist, the precision of an engineer, the sensitivity of a psychologist, and the insight of a writer—all while being cultured and versatile artists. In these aspects, Liang Sicheng was unparalleled, a rare gem in the world, yet one that could not be missing. This is Liang Sicheng!
As I attempt to discern the essence of Liang Sicheng's spiritual qualities with this clumsy pen, I have instead been nourished infinitely. Therefore, even though I am not a publicity agent or a book salesman, I still want to sincerely recommend "The Biography of Liang Sicheng" to readers. I dare not say it is the finest text about Liang Sicheng, but I can responsibly tell you that every word was written with care.
Of course, due to my own limitations in knowledge and cultivation, I may not fully grasp the profound works of many experts on Liang Sicheng, so errors in this book are inevitable. I sincerely hope that experts and readers will kindly point them out, as this is no mere humble gesture.
This book does not include footnotes in the main text to avoid disrupting the flow of reading, but only a reference list at the end. However, even if some citations are not immediately clear, I want to solemnly declare that all quoted texts were carefully selected. Regarding different names for the same place or person in the book, I have strived to maintain consistency to avoid confusion for readers.
As for the photographs in the book, I am grateful to Ms. Lin Zhu for her suggestion and care, as some were sourced from her related works. Moreover, I know that many people still favor or misinterpret Liang Sicheng, so if you read something different from my perspective in this book, I hope those who favor or misinterpret him will remain calm. Although I also favor Liang Sicheng, I will never bias in his favor, as I have yet to discover anything in him that is not worthy of respect. If anything, I can only say that because I understand him, I favor him. That is all.