Global architecture for eighteenth-century Beijing: Building Qing Enlightenments

This book reinterprets architecture in Beijing during the eighteenth century, focusing on the building processes of four churches and Western palaces in the Yuánmíng Yuán garden. It uses archival sources and digital technologies to explore religious tolerance, cosmopolitanism, and the global history of architecture. The study reveals a neglected chapter in global history and offers a re-examination of architectural remains.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 11 April 2022
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

This book delves into the reinterpretation of architecture in Beijing during the reigns of the Kangxi (1661-1722), Yongzheng (1723-1735), and Qianlong (1736-1795) emperors in the eighteenth century. It specifically focuses on examining the building processes of the four churches and the Western palaces within the Yuánmíng Yuán garden as a testament to cultural dialogue during the Enlightenment era. The study is rooted in a comprehensive analysis of archival sources from various institutions worldwide, utilizing cutting-edge Big Data management techniques. Moreover, it places a significant emphasis on the preservation and study of architectural remnants, both in international collections and at archaeological sites. To fully leverage these invaluable resources, some of the remains were meticulously recorded using close-range photogrammetry. Additionally, digital sunlight analyses were conducted to gain deeper insights into the interiors of these buildings. By amalgamating these emerging technologies with written sources, the study offers a fresh perspective on Beijing as an imperial capital characterized by growing religious tolerance and cosmopolitanism. Furthermore, it reevaluates the entire Yuánmíng Yuán Garden complex as a miniature replica of Beijing, facilitating easier comparisons with other imperial capitals of the time, such as London, Paris, and Istanbul. This groundbreaking study not only sheds light on a previously overlooked chapter in global architectural history but also provides a critical re-examination of the existing architectural remnants.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800856189