China's Sacred Sites [Hardcover]

Professor Nan Shunxun (Author), Beverly Foit-Albert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

From the heavenly peaks of the Five Sacred Mountains to the exotic shores of the Yangtze River, Chin'as majestic mountainscapes, scenic lakeshores and riverbanks, cliffs and caves are home to some of the world's most moving and breathtaking sacred architecture. China's Sacred Sites reveals how Chinese mountainscape culture merges architecture and nature, embodying the philosophical ideal of heaven, earth and man as one. Co-authros Nan Shunxun and Beverly Foit-Albert break new ground documenting more than 50 ancient, architectural and environmental sites--temples, monasteries, pagodas and pavilions, bridges and covered walkways, caves, cliffside and lakeshore dwellings--throughout Southern, Central and Northern China, many of which are being introduced outside China for the first time. Richly illustrated with over 250 color photographs and 100 architectural drawings, this unique book captures the mystery and heritage of China's past, revealing the historical roots of basic Chinese concepts of fengshui, yin and yang, and chi.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This stunning volume, co-written by two architects, suggests that Chinese religious architecture is fundamentally different from Western religious architecture. In the West, builders inspired by the biblical mandate to take dominion over the earth have designed towns in which architectural elements visually assert ownership over the landscape. In China, by contrast, "the building merges with the site." The authors explain, in terms that any layman will grasp, central concepts of Chinese architecture, such as the void (expansive spaces found in temples and terraces, which echo the Buddhist focus on nothingness), and the integration of nature and architecture. Shun-xun and Foit-Albert explore over 50 short portraits of sacred sites in caves, on cliffs, in mountain villages, and on lakes, explaining the distinguishing natural and architectural features. Readers will visit the Sweet Dew Temple (the yang of the temple balances the yin of the cave in which it is nestled), and the town of Xituo, in which a famous street shaped like a ladder "opens communication through time and space." Lush color photographs make this book a feast for the eyes, not just the soul. Readers interested in architecture, feng shui or Eastern spirituality will enjoy visiting China with Shun-xun and Foit-Albert as their guides. (Feb.)
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About the Author

Professor Nan Shunxun has taught architectural design theory at universities in the United States and China. He has been a professor at the Beijing Institute for Civil Engineering and Architecture for over fifteen years. He is the author of numerous articles and books in China, including Earth Architecture in Northwest China and Folk Dwellings of Shaanxi. Beverly Foit-Albert, R.A., Ph.D., is the founder of Foit-Albert Associates architectural firm in Buffalo, New York, and an Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The firm is known for its commitment to urban revitalization and historic preservation projects. In 1989, as an exchange scholar, Dr. Foit-Albert went to China to conduct a design studio and lecture series exploring the preservation of historic buildings in China. She returned to China in 1995 to research and document Chinese historical mountainscape architectural sites with Professor Nan and architectural photography with John Valentino. Dr. Foit-Albert is the recipient of the American Institute of Architects national award for teaching excellence in architecture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Himalayan Institute Press (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893892629
• ISBN-13: 978-0893892623
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Irresistible!, November 30, 2007

By 

B. Evans (Chicagoland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: China's Sacred Sites (Hardcover)

REVIEW SUBTITLE: Curses! Thanks to this book, a decidedly secular person is now hooked on yet another region's spiritual architecture!

The editorial reviews perfectly describe the contents and appeal of this well-written book with its abundance of stunning photographs. That CHINA'S SACRED SITES is also well-bound, printed on good stock and yet relatively affordable seems almost too good to be true. It is difficult to imagine that anyone will regret buying it, including those whose only interest is in viewing the breathtaking integration of man-made structures and nature at sites few will ever be fortunate enough to see in person.

For those unable to find a copy of this book to preview, its contents are as follow:
PART I: MOUNTAINSCAPE CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE (49 pgs)
-The Silent Music of Architecture
-Mountainscape Culture and Fen Shui
-Geography and Building Layout
-Architectural Elements

PART II: SELECTED SITES (172 pgs.)
-Spacious Summits (32 pgs; 7 sites)
-Cliff Structures (32 pgs; 8 sites)
-Cave Sites (28 pgs; 8 sites)
-Mountainside Temples (40 pgs; 9 sites)
-Mountain Villages (20 pgs; 5 sites)
-Riverside and Lake Sites (20 pgs; 5 sites)

The APPENDIX includes 1) a map locating the sites, 2) a glossary, 3) a timeline of Chinese dynasties, 4) a selected bibliography, and 5) an index.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Wonderful, February 25, 2008

By 

Don "phlyin phast" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Sacred Sites (Hardcover)

I must be honest. Normally a book of this nature would not interest me. However, China's Sacred Sites is unlike any book I have ever read before. I felt like I was actually in China exploring these sacred sites. The photography is phenomenal and breath taking. The explanation of fung shui was clear and concise. This book is simply beautiful.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Includes Buddhist and Confucian sites, among other major Chinese religions, June 6, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: China's Sacred Sites (Hardcover)

One of the oldest and greatest civilizations of the world - China. "China's Sacred Sites" is a comprehensive and complete listing of sacred areas to Buddhism, Confucianism, and other major Chinese religions, along with the sites' history and breathtaking full-color photography. Composed in a greatly accessible format, "China's Sacred Sites" is a must for fans of Chinese history, armchair travelers, and photography buffs alike, and would do well to find itself in any community library collection.