Chinese Imperial City Planning (Paperback)

by Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Steinhardt has done a magnificent job of textual scholarship."

Product Description
Discusses what is known from textual and archaeological evidence about every Chinese imperial capital, from the earliest times to the end of the 20th century. It explains the fundamental architectural principles and the visual characteristics of imperial planning in China.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824821963
• ISBN-13: 978-0824821968
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #515,696 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #62 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > International > Asian
  #74 in	Books > Nonfiction > Politics > Regional Planning

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steinhardt's work shows the importance of Chinese cities, April 11, 2000

By	Andrew James Jacobs (USA) - See all my reviews

Chinese Imperial City Planning is an excellent historical account of the spatial development of China's ancient cities. Extremely well researched, Steinhardt does a nice job of chronicling the impacts each empire had on urban form in China.

As a scholar interested in Japanese and other East Asian cities, the author's chapter discussing China's historical legacy to urban form in Ancient Japan, was especially interesting. This chapter clearly illustrates how necessary the study of Chinese cities is to the understanding of other Asian cities. It also demonstrates the care Steinhardt took in her research.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the historical origins of urban planning and spatial form in China and Japan.

5.0 out of 5 stars book, May 30, 2008

By	Y. Shirai "yhs" (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A classic book -- the paperback version is less intimidating (much lighter in weight and also cheaper in price) than the hardback, so this is a must-have for those interested in Chinese historical studies.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, one of the best on preindustrial cities, June 6, 2008

By	Michael E. Smith "Archaeologist" (Arizona State University) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The tradition of Chinese imperial cities is one of the longest and best-documented traditions of preindustrial urbanism. Steinhardt identifies the principles that structured traditional Chinese city planning, construction, and use. The book is well written with many good plans and illustrations. A major contribution to urban history.