Chinese Vernacular Architecture

What follows is far from being a completed bibliography, content- or style-wise. But I’m getting increasingly anxious to share whatever I have gathered so far with everyone. Please forgive me for (especially) the sloppy style; I found most of these titles online, and they come in all sort of styles. As for the content, I can not even imagine how many more significant works out there that’s not yet in these lists, but I’ll do my best to update them as frequently as I can.  Please leave notes/make suggestions about my omissions or any other aspects of these lists. I appreciate any help you can offer; and many thanks in advance!

I’m organizing the works roughly into five categories: part I will be what Liang Sicheng called “the grammar books” on Chinese architecture. These include mostly historic manuals and other primary sources on Chinese architecture, or particular aspects of Chinese architecture (for example, gardening, city/urban planning, a singular type of traditional Chinese architecture, etc). They will be complemented by later/current readings and studies. I will also include a list of dictionaries in this part.

Part II and III will be, respectively, on Chinese architecture generally and the vernacular specifically. The “general” works will provide a broader context for the studies of Chinese vernacular architecture.

Part IV will be devoted (more or less) to various aspects of historic preservation/heritage conservation/ old city renewal studies. As I see it, the study of vernacular architecture in contemporary China is so deeply entwined with these issues as to make exclusion of them impossible. This part will include not only books/articles on these topics, but also relevant laws/regulations and international charters and principles concerning/guiding conservation practices in present-day China.

Part V will be a short list of other sources available, including bibliographies in print and some great websites that are also much helpful.

I realize that these categories are completely artificial and arbitrary. There won’t be any particular guiding (except for a very loosely chronological) order of all the books listed either. I apologize for any possible annoyance/offense this might cause of some of you; my intension is to provide a list of works on Chinese (vernacular) architecture that is hopefully somewhat helpful to anyone who is interested in this subject as you and I.

Part I of the bibliography is as follows (I’ve included my translation of Chinese titles in brackets in some cases):

Ying Zao Fa Shi/ 营造法式 (published in 1103 of the Song Dynasty, this construction manual, thought to be the first of its kind and the first architecture book in China, was “rediscovered” in the 1920s. It has been published many times since then. Below are some samples.)

李誡, 1035-1110. Ying zao fa shi. 營造法式. Shanghai: Shang wu yin shu guan上海, 商務印書館, 1925.

Li, Jie, 1035-1110. 李誡, 1035-1110. Li Mingzhong ying zao fa shi: [36 juan] / [Li Jie zhuan] 李明仲營造法式: [36卷] / [李誡撰] Shanghai: Shang wu yin shu guan, Minguo 18 [1929] 上海: 商務印書館, 民國18 [1929]

Li, Jie, 1035-1110. 李誡, 1035-1110. Ying zao fa shi: 34 juan, kan xiang: 1 juan, mu lu: 1 juan / Li Jie feng chi zhuan. 營造法式: 三四卷, 看詳: 一卷, 目錄: 一卷 / 李誡奉敕撰. Shanghai: Shang wu yin shu guan, 1954. 上海: 商務印書館, 1954.

Li, Jie, 1035-1110. 李 誡, 1035-1110. Ying zao fa shi / bian xiu zhe Li Jie. 營造法式 / 編修者李誡. Taibei: Taiwan shang wu yin shu guan, Min guo 57 [1968] 臺北: 臺灣商務 印書館, 民國57 [1968]

Ying zao fa shi: [34 juan] / (Song) Li Jie feng chi zhuan. 營造法式: [34卷] / (宋) 李誡奉敕撰. Taipei: Taiwan shang wu yin shu guan, [1983] Taipei: 臺灣商務印書館, [1983]

Li, Jie, 1035-1110. 李誡, 1035-1110. Ying zao fa shi / [Li Jie bian xiu]. 營造法式 / [李誡編修]. Beijing: Zhonghua shu ju, 1992. 北京: 中華書局, 1992.

Gong Cheng Zuo Fa Ze Li/工程做法则例（A similar work of the Qing Dynasty, also highly influential and useful to the study of traditional Chinese architecture)

China. Gong bu. 工部. Gong cheng zuo fa ze li: 74 juan / Yinli deng feng chi zuan. Qing Yongzheng 12 [1734] xiu kan. 工程做法則例: 七四卷 / 胤禮等奉敕纂. 清雍正12 [1734] 修刋. [China: s.n.], Xianfeng 4 [1854] bu kan ben. [China: s.n.], 咸豐4 [1854] 補刋本.

Gong cheng zuo fa: [74 juan] / Yunli deng zhuan 工程做法: [74卷] / 允禮等撰 Shanghai: Shanghai gu ji chu ban she, [1995]-2002. 上海: 上海古籍出版社, [1995]-2002.

Zhou Li Kao Gong Ji/ 周礼·考工记（

The most frequently cited section: Jiang ren ying guo [On Building A (Capital) City?]/匠人营国 is copied here:

匠人營國。方九里，旁三門。國中九經九緯，經涂九軌。左祖右社，面朝後市，市朝一夫。夏後氏世室，堂修二七，廣四修一。五室，三四步，四三尺。九階。四旁兩夾，窗白盛。門堂三之二，室三之一。殷人重屋，堂修七尋，堂崇三尺，四阿，重屋。周人明堂，度九尺之筵，東西九筵，南北七筵，堂崇一筵。五室，凡室二筵。室中度以幾，堂上度以筵，宮中度以尋，野度以步，涂度以軌。廟門容大扃七個，闈門容小扃參个，路門不容乘車之五個，應門二徹參个。內有九室，九嬪居之；外有九室，九卿朝焉。九分其國以為九分，九卿治之。王宮門阿之制五雉，宮隅之制七雉，城隅之制九雉。經涂九軌，環涂七軌，野涂五軌。門阿之制，以為都城之制。宮隅之制，以為諸侯之城制。環涂以為諸侯經涂，野涂以為都經涂。

Below are some secondary works on Kao gong ji.

Fang, Bao, 1668-1749 方苞, 1668-1749. Zhou guan xi yi: [36 juan]; Kao gong ji xi yi: [4 juan] / Fang Bao zhuan 周官析疑: [36卷]; 考工記析疑: [4卷] / 方苞撰 Shanghai: Shanghai gu ji chu ban she, [1995]-2002. 上海: 上海古籍出版社, [1995]-2002.

Dai, Zhen, 1724-1777 戴震, 1724-1777. Kao gong ji tu: [2 juan] / Dai Zhen zhuan 考工記圖: [2卷] / 戴震撰 Shanghai: Shanghai gu ji chu ban she, [1995]-2002. 上海: 上海古籍出版社, [1995]-2002.

Lü, Tiaoyang, 19th cent. 呂調陽, 19th cent. Kao gong ji kao: [1 juan, tu 1 juan] / Lü Tiaoyang zhuan 考工記考: [1卷, 圖1卷] / 呂調陽撰 Shanghai: Shanghai gu ji chu ban she, [1995]-2002. 上海: 上海古籍出版社, [1995]-2002.

He, Yeju. 贺业钜. Kao gong ji ying guo zhi du yan jiu / He Yeju zhu. 考工记营国制度研究 / 贺业钜著. Beijing: Zhongguo jian zhu gong ye chu ban she, 1985. 北京: 中國建筑工业出版社, 1985.

Wen, Renjun. 闻人军. Kao gong ji dao du / Wen Renjun. 考工记导读 / 闻人军. Chengdu: Ba Shu shu she, 1988. 成都: 巴蜀书社, 1988.

Wen, Renjun. 闻人军. Kao gong ji yi zhu / Wen Renjun yi zhu. 考工记译注 / 闻人军译注. Shanghai: Shanghai gu ji chu ban she, 1993. 上海: 上海古籍出版社, 1993.

Dai, Wusan. 戴吾三. Kao gong ji tu shuo / Dai Wusan bian zhu. 考工记图说 / 戴吾三编著. Ji’nan Shi: Shandong hua bao chu ban she, 2003. 济南市: 山東畫報出版社, 2003.

史念海. 《周礼·考工记·匠人营国》的撰著渊源. 传统文化与现代化199803 (online sources: http://economy.guoxue.com/article.php/8372 )

 

Later readings/illustrations of Ying zao fa shi and Gong cheng zuo fa:

Liang, Sicheng, 1901 – 1972. 粱思成, 1901 - 1972. Ying zao fa shi zhu shi / Liang Sicheng zhu. 營造法式註釋 / 粱思成著. Taibei Shi: Ming wen shu ju, min guo 73- [1984- 台北市: 明文書局, 民國73- [1984-

Chen, Mingda. 陈明达. Ying zao fa shi da mu zuo yan jiu / Chen Mingda zhu. 营造法式大木作研究 / 陈明达著. Beijing: Wen wu chu ban she, 1981. 北京: 文物出版社, 1981.

Qinghua Guo, “Yingzao Fashi: Twelfth-Century Chinese Building Manual”, in Architectural History, Vol. 41. (1998), 1-13.

Pan, Guxi. 潘谷西. “Ying zao fa shi” jie du / Pan Guxi, He Jianzhong zhu. 《营造法式》解读 / 潘谷西, 何建中著. Nanjing Shi: Dong nan da xue chu ban she, 2005. 南京市: 东南大学出版社, 2005.

Ying zao fa shi xin zhu/ zong jian zhi Liu Ciwei ; zhu pian ji zhuan wen Guo Daiheng. 营造法式新注/ 总监制刘慈尉; 主编及撰文郭黛姮. Beijing: Zhongguo jian zhu gong ye chu ban she, 2002. 北京: 中囯建筑工业出版社, 2002.

Liang, Sicheng, 1901- 1972 梁思成, 1901- 1972 Qing shi ying zao ze li / Liang Sicheng zhu. 清式营造则例 / 梁思成著. Beijing: Zhongguo jian zhu gong ye chu ban she, 1981 (1993 printing) 北京: 中國建筑工业出版社, 1981 (1993 printing)

Liang, Sicheng, 1901-1972. 梁思成, 1901-1972. Qing gong bu “gong cheng zuo fa ze li” tu jie / Liang Sicheng zhu. 清工部《工程做法则例》图解 / 梁思成著. Beijing: Qing hua da xue chu ban she, 2006. 北京: 清华大学出版社, 2006. ISBN 7302132291 9787302132295

Liang, Sicheng, 1901- 1972 梁思成, 1901- 1972 Qing shi ying zao suan li ji ze li. 清式營造算例及則例. Taibei Shi: Fa xing Zhuang yuan chu ban she, min guo 53 [1964] 台北市: 發行狀元出版社, 民國53 [1964]

Liang, Sicheng, 1901-1972. 梁思成, 1901- 1972. Xin ding Qing shi ying zao ze li ji suan li / Liang Sicheng zhu; He Zhongyi jiao bu. 新訂清式營造則例及算例/ 梁思成著; 何仲伊校補. Taibei Shi: Ming wen shu ju, min guo 74 [1985] 台北市: 明文書局, 民國74 [1985]

 

Xin juan Jing ban gong shi diao zhuo zheng shi Lu Ban jing jiang jia jing: (you ming: Lu Ban zao fu jing) / Wu Rong bian; Li Feng zhu jie. 新镌京版工师雕斫正式鲁班经匠家镜 : (又名: 鲁班造福经)/ (明)午荣编; 李峰注解. Haikou Shi: Hai nan chu ban she, 2003. 海口市: 海南出版社, 2003. ISBN 7544305538

Ruitenbeek, Klaas. Carpentry and building in late imperial China: a study of the fifteenth-century carpenter’s manual Lu Ban jing. New York: E.J. Brill, [1992], c1993.

Ruitenbeek, Klaas. The Lu Ban jing: a fifteenth-century Chinese carpenter’s manual. 1989.

Ji, Cheng, b. 1582. 計成, b. 1582. Yuan ye: [3 juan] / Ji Wufou [Ji Cheng] zhu. 園冶: [3卷 ] / 計無否[計成]著. Beiping: Zhongguo ying zao xue she, Min guo 21 [1932] 北平: 中國營造學社, 民國21 [1932]

Ji, Cheng, b. 1582 計成, b. 1582. Yuan ye: [3 juan] / Ji Cheng zhuan 園冶: [3卷] / 計成撰. Shanghai: Shanghai gu ji chu ban she, [1995]-2002. 上海: 上海古籍出版社, [1995]-2002.

Ji, Cheng, b. 1582. The craft of gardens / Ji Cheng; translated by Alison Hardie; photographs by Zhong Ming; with a foreword by Maggie Keswick. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1988.

Zhao, Nong. 赵农. Yuan ye tu shuo / Ji Cheng zhu; Zhao Nong zhu shi. 园冶图说 / 计成著 ; 赵农注释. Jinan Shi: Shandong hua bao chu ban she, 2003. 济南市: 山東畫報出版社, 2003.

Zhang, Jiaji, 1932- 张家骥, 1932- Yuan ye quan shi: shi jie zui gu zao yuan xue ming zhu yan jiu / Zhang Jiaji zhu. 园冶全释: 世界最古造园学名著硏究 / 张家骥著. Taiyuan: Shanxi ren min chu ban she, 1993. 太原: 山西人民出版社, 1993.

Chen, Zhi, 1899- 陳植, 1899- Yuan ye zhu shi / Ji Cheng yuan zhu; Chen Zhi zhu shi. 園冶注釋 / 計成原著 ; 陳植注釋. Beijing: Zhongguo jian zhu gong ye chu ban she, 1981. 北京, 1981.

 

Chen, Zhi, 1899- 陳植, 1899- Yuan ye zhu shi / Ji Cheng yuan zhu; Chen Zhi zhu shi; Yang Bochao jiao ding; Chen Congzhou jiao yue. 園冶注釋 / 計成原著; 陳植注釋; 楊伯超校訂; 陳從周校閱. Beijing: Zhongguo jian zhu gong ye chu ban she, 1988. 北京, 1988.

Tong, Jun 童寯 （1900-1983）. Jiangnan yuan lin zhi. 江南園林志. Beijing: Zhongguo gong ye chu ban she, 1963. 北京: 中國工業出版社, 1963 (later editions in 1980, 1984).

 

Tong, Jun 童寯 (1900 -1983). Yuan lun. 园论. Tianjin: Bai hua wen yi chu ban she, 2006. 天津: 百花文艺出版社, 2006.

Tong, Jun 童寯 (1900- 1983). Zao yuan shi gang/ 造园史纲. Beijing: Zhongguo jian zhu gong ye chu ban she, 1983. 北京: 中國建筑工业出版社, 1983.

Dictionaries of Chinese Architecture

Zhongguo chuan tong jian zhu shu yu ci dian / zhu bian Wang Xiaoqing; fu zhu bian Wu Rui … [et al.]; jiao ding Yan Yaning … [et al.]. 中國傳統建築術語辭典 / 主編王效靑; 副主編吳銳 … [et al.]; 校訂閻亞寧 … [et al.]. (Taiyuan: 1996. Taibei: Jian zhu qing bao, 2003. 台北市: 建築情報, 2003).

Guo, Qinghua. Zhongguo jian zhu Ying Han shuang jie ci dian = A visual dictionary of Chinese architecture Vic.: Images Pub., 2002.

Zhongguo yuan lin tu jie ci dian / Wang Qijun zhu bian. 中国园林图解词典 / 王其钧主编. Beijing: Ji xie gong ye chu ban she, 2007. 北京: 机械工业出版社, 2007.

Zhongguo gu dai jian zhu ci dian / Beijing shi wen wu yan jiu suo bian; Lu Songyun, Liu Shizhong zhi bi. 中国古代建筑辞典 / 北京市文物研究所编; 吕松云, 刘诗中执笔. [Beijing]: Zhongguo shu dian, 1992. [北京]: 中國書店, 1992.

Xin Ying Han jian zhu gong cheng ci dian = New English-Chinese dictionary of architecture and construction / “Xin Ying Han jian zhu gong cheng ci dian” bian wei hui. 新英汉建筑工程词典 = New English-Chinese dictionary of architecture and construction / 《新英汉建筑工程词典》编委会. Beijing: Zhongguo jian zhu gong ye chu ban she, 1991. 北京: 中國建筑工业出版社, 1991.