ARC 4301A
Issues in architectural theory and design
Fall 2004–05

5, The plan diagram in extant buildings

Predictions and extant buildings

How do we evaluate the predictions? Do we have an objective test? No.

Can we consider extant buildings? Strictly speaking, no, because to do so would get us into some difficulties, such as:

• We would have to assume that extant buildings follow the system of the Yingzao fashi.

• If there is no extant building to verify a prediction, how should we interpret that?

On the other hand, we have little or no other information, so perhaps we should think of ways to use that information. And we should think before we start using it.

Here’s a starting point. If extant buildings, largely match the text, then that would suggest a correlation. However, a correlation does not establish a cause–effect relation. (Think of the marriage premium.) On the other hand, if extant buildings do not largely match the text, then obviously they are not generally following it.

Sources of information on extant buildings

Dimensions: Chen (1992)

Field reports: many are given in Steinhardt (1997)

Field work: do it yourself!

Assignment 3

To get a sense of stylistic change over time, read Liang (1984). Strange to say, this seems to be the only work that addresses the question. Compare, for example, another work on the same subject, also by Liang (1985), but written in Chinese; it is little more than a list of facts.

Start to think about a paper topic. Here’s a new one:

• Discuss the gaps in the Yingzao fashi and Chen’s (1993) attempts to fill them.

List of references

Chen Mingda 陳明達. 1992. Tang Song mu jiegou jianzhu shice jilu biao [Field measurements of Tang and Song wood frame buildings] 唐宋木結構建築實測記錄表. In Jianzhu lishi yanjiu [Studies in architectural history] 建築歷史研究, edited by He Yeju 賀業鉅, 231–261. Beijing: Zhongguo jianzhu gongye.

———. 1993. Yingzao fashi da muzuo zhidu yanjiu [A study of structural carpentry in the Yingzao fashi] 營造法式大木作制度研究. 2nd ed. Beijing: Wenwu.

Glahn, Else. 1984. Unfolding the Chinese building standards: research on the Yingzao fashi. In Chinese traditional architecture, edited by Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt, 47–57. New York: China Institute in America.

Guo, Qinghua. 1999. The structure of Chinese timber architecture. London: Minerva.

Liang Sicheng 梁思成. 1983. Yingzao fashi zhushi [The annotated Yingzao fashi] 營造法式註釋. Beijing: Zhongguo jianzhu gongye.

———. 1985. Zhongguo jianzhu shi [A history of Chinese architecture] 中國建築史. In Liang Sicheng wenji [The collected works of Liang Sicheng] 梁思成文集 3, 1–272. Beijing: Zhongguo jianzhu gongye.

Liang Ssu-ch’eng [= Liang Sicheng]. 1984. A pictorial history of Chinese architecture: a study of the development of its structural system and the evolution of its types. Edited by W. Fairbank. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

Steinhardt, Nancy Shatzman. 1997. Liao architecture. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.

Stiny, George. 1990. What is a design? Environment and planning B: planning & design 17: 97–103.

Stiny, George, and William J. Mitchell. 1978. The Palladian grammar. Environment and planning B: planning & design 5: 5–18.

Turabian, Kate L. 1996. A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.