Customer Reviews

China's Sacred Sites

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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.

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.

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.

A magnificent survey of temples, caves, and sculptures in many distant parts of China: there is so much more to be seen than on the dumb tourist trail.

The commentary opens one's eyes to the importance of the placement of the buildings in the landscape - feng shui - and explains concisely and beautifully the interplay between nature and culture.

A must for anyone interested in China's civilisation