Customer Reviews

Chinese Architecture

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This survey of pre-modern Chinese architecture is very similar to the other books ("Chinese Sculpture" and "Chinese Painting") in the Yale series: it's big and expensive; generously photographed in color; multi-authored; organized by usage type (palace, temple, other) within dynasty; and consists essentially of a parade of individual items (buildings, in this case) with commentary. If that's your thing, then go for it!

The book is very skimpy on technical topics like bracketing, joinery, roofing, and decorations. Its lack of a glossary, and its hit-and-miss index, are additional minuses. There are hardly any architectural drawings. It does have numerous site diagrams, although *none* of them has a distance scale attached.

In short, this book omits an awful lot of needful information, just in order to survey an endless parade of individual buildings. That's why I think it will be more often consulted in a university or public library, than purchased by individuals.

I bought this book for a college-level Asian Art History class focused on China. This book proved an invaluable source of information on a subject not widely written about and not often found in your local bookstore. Each chapter is sectioned off by dynasty and gives the reader a short but informative background on the how the dynasty started and its major characteristics. Later within the chapter it delves into major sites of Chinese architecture and the terrific history and detail of the place.
I highly reccommend this book.

I was looking for a book on the history of Chinese architecture, not just the modern skyscrapers. I did my research and this book appeared to be the best one. It covers the origins to the beginning of the 20th century. While I have not read any others, this is a very in depth survey of Chinese architecture. It specifically analyzes the changes over time, fighting criticism that all Chinese architecture is the same. This cooperative project between Harvard and Beijing is worth the money for anyone who wants an academic approach to studying Chinese architecture.