HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF ANCIENT CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

Here, for the first time, is a comprehensive, richly illustrated survey of the history and major achievements of ancient Chinese architecture. Made available through the Institute -of the History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, this book reflects the work of more than 200 prominent Chinese scientists, scholars, and other experts in ancient Chinese architecture. They have travelled the length and breadth of China to collect their research.

China is a great country with an ancient civilization, and immense population and a vast territory. Its recorded history dates back as far as 4,000 years, and it boasts a rich cultural heritage. The people of China have made outstanding contributions to the world in many branches of science and technology.

The history of Chinese architecture may be traced back several thousand years. Over the centuries, China's architecture gradually formed a style all its own, characterized by the harmonious unity of highly developed technology and perfect artistic form. Among the outstanding examples of Chinese architecture are the Imperial Palace in Beijing, the Great Wall, the Dunhuang Caves in Gansu, and many others. In addition, there are gardens, domestic dwellings, temples, pagodas, and gallery bridges scattered throughout China. The technological and artistic achievements mirrored by these constructions constitute a most valuable legacy.

The fruit of many years' painstaking research, History and Development of Chinese Architecture touches on many aspects of ancient Chinese architecture - the layout, construction methods, architectural styles, and so on-thus presenting a complete picture of the historical development of Chinese building technology since the beginning of recorded history. It contains an impressive collection of data, 130 full-color photographs, plus more than 1, 100 black-and-white illustrations, many of which have never been published before.

History and Development of Ancient Chinese Architecture is an outstanding reference work for art historians, students of the history of architecture, orientalists, and all those interested in the history of science, technology and the culture of China.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1. Architectural Technology in Primitive Society;
Chapter 2. A General Survey of the Development of Architec-tural Technology in Feudal Society; 
Chapter 3. Techniques of Earth Construction ;
Chapter 4. Building Technology of Wood Construction;
Chapter 5. Techniques of Masonry Construction;
Chapter 6. Techniques of Stone Construction;
Chapter 7. The Art of Architectural Decoration;
Chapter 8. Techniques of Constructional protection;
Chapter 9. Building Technology of Minority Nationalities;
Chapter 10. City Planning and Construction;
Chapter 11. Garden Technique -Design and Construction;
Chapter 12. Architectural Design and Construction;
Appendix 1. Chronicle of major events in connection with the building technology of ancient China
Appendix 2. Map of the People's Republic of China