Chinese Traditional Architecture
中国传统建筑

Judging from known archeological remains and sites, Chinese architecture can be traced back at least seven thousand years. Though differences in geography and climate caused remarkable diversity in the architecture of various regions, a unique system based on a wooden framework, particularly the wooden framework construction for weight bearing and the dougong 斗拱 (interlocking bracket structure), gradually took shape over several millennia of innovation. Spanning the Bronze Age through the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), this exhibition featured two hundred photographs of traditional Chinese architecture and related excavations, as well as architectural drawings, models, and diagrams based on current fieldwork at major excavation sites. Rather than listing exhibited items, the catalogue included an introductory survey of Chinese architecture by Fu Xinian and essays by other scholars, along with photographs and detailed architectural drawings.