Chinese vernacular dwellings : people's daily life with their houses

In the year 2000, Xidi and Hongcun, the ancient villages in Anhui Province of China were formally approved on the 24th session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to be inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List. In early spring of that year, the Japanese Expert Dr. Naomi Okawa, assigned by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, highly valued the villages after his field investigation by saying that “it’s really an unrivalled village scene such as Hongcun”. “The village Xidi still remains its beautiful ancient streets and alleys, which is seldom in the world”. In 1997, old town of Li Jiang in Yunnan Province and ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi Province were inscribed into the World Heritage List; nowadays, the famous river town Zhouzhuang in Jiangsu Province is on application for the list. At the turn of the century, the Chinese traditional vernacular dwelling is unveiling itself to the world, becoming a big stage for China’s access to the world and for the world to have a better understanding of China China has a vast territory and an extremely long history with the natural and cultural environment differing fromregion to region. Therefore the diversification of Chinese vernacular dwelling is rarely seen in the architectural history of the world. This book has chosen some settlements which are representative and widely spread to introduce basing on the interaction of the living customs, action characteristics and the space mode of people who inhabit the traditional vernacular dwellings. This book has described the origin, architectural characteristics and the passing-down value of the Chinese traditional vernacular dwellings in a popular way but with the professional accuracy. This book is dotted with related historical legends and folklores. Thus, a vivid scroll of Chinese vernacular dwelling was clearly drawn. Contents 3 Introduction: Chinese Vernacular Dwelling 5 Huizhou Dwelling in Green Hills and Blue Waters 19 Ganlan Wood House and Storm-Tossed Bridge 33 The City along Jade Water and Full of Historcal Charm 47 Harmonious Combination of Chinese and Western Elements 59 Small Bridges, Flowing Streams and Cottages 73 Imposing Dwellings and Spacious Courtyard 87 Natural Rhythm and Intelligent Conversion 99 Comfortable and Harmonious Dwelling Prizing the Culture and Martial Art 113 Magnificent and Beautiful Dwellings 129 China has a great diversification in vernacular dwellings, rarely see in the architecture of the world and reflecting a wide variety of different natural and cultural environments. This is a representative selection of traditional Chinese dwellings, considering their architecture and environmental setting, and the lifestyles and customs of the people who inhabit these homes.