Language: English
ISBN/ISSN: 7119044583
Published on: 2006-01
Paperback
Wood has been regarded by theChinese as an important material fora wide range of uses since ancienttimes. When making furniture andarticles of daily use, and constructingbuildings and gardens, wood has longbeen the favorite natural material ofthe Chinese people. Wood is aneloquent instructor helping people tounderstand China's ancient civilization.This book tells the story of wood inChina down through the ages.
Chapter 1 Wood, a Favor with Man
Entrance to the East
Wooden Houses
Worship of a Single Log
Wood as the Foundation
Chapter 2 Carpenters
Lun Bian and His Carriage
Master Carpenter Lu Ban
Carpenters in Folklore
Chapter 3 Traditional Buildings
The Earliest Use of Wood
Characteristics of Ancient Buildings
Timber for Official Buildings
Structural Carpentry
Folk Arts and Crafts
Chapter 4 Visits to Palaces
Epang and Weiyang Palaces
A Glimpse of Major Palaces
Traditional Roofs
Height, Colors and Grades
Big Trees
Chapter 5 Memories of Quadrangular Residential Compounds
Quadrangular Residential Compounds and Hutong
Under the Same Roof
Patriarchal Clan Rules and the Clan System
Retrogressing Individuals
Chapter 6 The Mean in the Wood
Doctrine of the Mean
Happiness of the Rational
Chinese Buddhism
The Taoist Spirit
Chapter 7 The Corbel Bracket as an Example
Oriental Structure
The Main Beam
Dismembering of Corbel Bracket
Chapter 8 The Arc of the East
Perfection of the Facade
Man as an Integral Part of Nature
Primitive Forms of Worship
Graceful Curves
Chapter 9 Garden Aesthetics
Strolling in Garden
Garden of the Creator
Borrowing Scenes
Wangchuan Garden
Chapter 10 Furniture of the East
Looking for Sandalwood
Grains and Painting
Mortise and Tenon Joints
Furniture of Ming and Qing Dynasties
Chapter 11 Chopsticks as the Fulcrum
Lengthened Fingers
Chopsticks vs. Knife and Fork
Taboos and Superstition
Chapter 12 The Final Lodging
Mystery of Cliff Coffins
Outlook on Death in the East
Chapter 13 Wood Artistry
Wood Carving
Legend of the Pear Garden
Traditional Musical Instruments
Chapter 14 Vessels on the Sea
Sail on a Raft
Zheng He's Voyages to the West
Maritime Exclusion
Chapter 15 Eternal Fields
Living in the Fields
Return to Han and Tang Dynasties
The Laws of Nature
Appendix: Reference Books
……
