ARC 368R/388R
History of Asian Architecture

Unique Nos.: 00805 (368R); 01020 (388R)
Instructor: Gerlinde Leiding
Time and Place: TTh 9:30-11:00 SUT 2.102

Educational Objective

A. Chronological survey of Asian civilizations and architectural development
B. Design theory formulation through comparative study of specific building types

Evaluation Criteria:

Two or three tests based on slide-lectures and reading (75% of grade) plus a term project in the form of a model representation of Japanese traditional wood building technology establishes the final grade.

Course Content:

A. The Beginning : India: Indus Valley, Vedic Age to 800 BC

China: Shang, Zhou, Warring States to 221 BC
Japan: Jomon, Yayoi 250AD

Great Thaw : India: Buddhism to 642 AD
China: Qin, Han, 3 Kingdoms, 6 Dyn to 589 AD
Japan: Kofun, Asuka to 645 AD

Grandeur & Obedience : China: Sui, Tang, 5 Dynasties to 1126 AD
Japan: Nara, Heian to 1185 AD
India: Hinduism to 1268 AD

Light of Experience : India: Islamic influx 1400 AD
China: Liao, Yuan to 1637 AD
Japan: Kamakura to 1932 AD

Fallacies of Hope : India: Moghul Dynasties 1857 AD
China: Ming, Qing 1911 AD
Japan: Muromachi, Momoyama, Edo 1868 AD

B. Man measure of all things: architectural theories

Pursuit of happiness : temples/shrines/mosques
Smile of reason : tombs
Worship of nature : gardens
Hero as artist : palaces
Heroic materialism : castles
Romance and reality : cities

Basic Reference Texts:

Bussagli, Mario. Oriental Architecture. In History of World Architecture.
Volwahsen, Andreas. Living Architecture: Indian.
Volwahsen, Andreas. Living Architecture: Islamic Indian.
Masuda, Tomoya. Living Architecture: Japanese.
Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens, Michele. Living Architecture: Chinese.
Architecture of the World. Henri Stierlin, ed. Taschen Verlag.