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The Great Wall: From Beginning to End Review

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The Great Wall: From Beginning to End ReviewThis book is as complete as anyone could want. It combines excellent photography and known history of the construction with commentary on the current area and the people of the regions it traverses. Highly recommended.The Great Wall: From Beginning to End Overview

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The Garden as Architecture: Form and Spirit in the Gardens of Japan, China and Korea Review

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The Garden as Architecture: Form and Spirit in the Gardens of Japan, China and Korea ReviewThe highest compliment which I can pay to a book is to say that it has a place in my "Desert Island" library - that is to say that if I were to find myself stranded on an island and could only have a few books on a given subject, this would be one of them. The Garden as Architecture is such a book; it is fascinating, well-written and profusely illustrated, and is lucid enough to be enjoyable the first time but sufficiently rich and complex in it's material that it continues to yield additional insights after repeated re-readings.It consists of a cross-cultural comparison of the relationships between architecture and the adjacent outdoor spaces, in the traditional cultures of Japan, China and Korea. I use the term "outdoor space" rather than "garden" because the author makes the point that these 3 cultures differ significantly in the use and meaning which they give to these spaces, which use of the word garden for all 3 does not adequately convey.The section on Japanese gardens and architecture is somewhat longer than the Chinese and Korean sections; it alone is worth the price of the book. The author describes the evolution of residential and temple architecture (starting with Heian-period Shinden style estates and proceeding thru the Shoin and Sukiya styles of the medieval and Edo periods) as well as the changes which occurred in the adjacent gardens. He shows that architecture and the gardens appear to have changed together as part of a mutually-dependant co-evolution, rather than having evolved independently of one another. For example, he describes how as a result of changes in the design of the shutters (shitomido), doors (mairado), and shoji screens used to screen the exterior from the interior of the building, the views of the garden were dramatically altered over time, which influenced the design of the garden. Elsewhere he argues that the south dry-landscape gardens of the Zen temples and the pond-and-hill gardens of warrior residences both evolved from the same prototypical Heian-period Shinden south garden by a process in which certain elements of the latter were emphasized (while others were condensed or retained only by implication rather than explicitly), with the later gardens differing from each other by what was chosen for emphasis. This is a fascinating idea because it is very similar to the process of idealization and abbreviation which many authors have used to describe the relationship between the Japanese garden and the larger natural landscape.The sections on Chinese and Korean gardens are more concerned with the influence of geographic/climatic and social factors than they are with their evolution over time. I'm not sufficiently versed in these subjects to comment on them except to note that the material in these sections is equally interesting, and concerns a subject about which little has been published in English compared with the volume of material on the Japanese garden & architecture. Since the Chinese and Japanese gardens were strongly influenced by Taoism and Zen respectively, the differences between them provide a degree of insight into the contrasting philosophies of these two religions. I have only one minor complaint concerning this book. The numbering of the illustrations is complex and at times confusing, and they are widely separated from the text which discuses them with distressing frequency - expect to be flipping the pages a lot. On a final note, you will get the most out of this book if you already have some familiarity (from more introductory sources) with the subjects covered. The illustrations are all in black & white, so a good large format color book (e.g. by Marc Keane or Teiji Itoh) on Japanese gardens would make an excellent companion, while the visual and spatial arguments in this book can be appreciated more deeply after having worked thru David Slawson's "Secret Teachings in the Art of Japanese Gardens" (which is also in my "Desert Island" library).The Garden as Architecture: Form and Spirit in the Gardens of Japan, China and Korea Overview

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Kashgar: Oasis City on China's Old Silk Road Review

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Kashgar: Oasis City on China's Old Silk Road ReviewThe old, inner city of Kashgar, rather than the relatively new and bland buildings surrounding the area are the focus of this interesting cultural and anthropological examination of the fabled junction city on the southern Silk Road, at the edge of a shifting sandy desert and beneath ancient mountain ranges, north of Pakistan and just east of Kazahkstan. The color photographic images and brief introductions of this old town within a city of 3.5 million take us on a virtual exotic adventure. Architecture and design are a unique blend of Indian Moghul, Turkman, Mongolian, and Han Chinese styles, plus traditional Arabic Muslim forms. Donkey, horse, and camel share the roads with motorcycles. The traditional markets and mosques, alleys, homes and cemeteries remind me of another preserved ancient area, the medina of Fes, Morocco. My only complaint is that there were not more photographs and a more refined inspection of the way of life in this distant land. Nonetheless, this is probably the first modern photographic essay of Kashgar, one that should be included in any study of the Silk Road.Kashgar: Oasis City on China's Old Silk Road Overview

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Totalitarian Art in the Soviet Union, the Third Reich, Fascist Italy, and the People's Republic of China Review

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Totalitarian Art in the Soviet Union, the Third Reich, Fascist Italy, and the People's Republic of China ReviewIgor Golomstock bravely explores the frightening aesthetic similarities of four of the 20th Centuries most notorious dictatorships, and totalitarian cultures. While his focus is primarily on Nazi Germany under Hitler and The Soviet Union under Stalin, he also briefly covers the art of Fascist Italy and The Peoples Republic of China. This intelligently written book reveals how they used and abused the Western Realist Tradition in the so called fine arts, while also exploiting homegrown artistic achievements that appealed to nationalist pride and xenophobic fears. Each of these regimes employed surprisingly similar thematic content, in epic painting and colossal sculpture. Depictions of happy families and dutiful mothers, contented workers merrily laboring away in fields or factories, and of heroic soldiers on the crucible of the battlefield were particularly favoured. Depictions of the bountiful Fatherland and the industrial might of all four states figured heavily too, especially in The Third Reich and The Soviet Union. And of course looming in importance above all other subject matter was the iconic and idealized portrait of the loving and benevolent, visionary and wise leader himself. The architecture of classical antiquity served as the model for most state buildings (irrespective of political ideology) in the form of monumental stripped or neoclassical architecture that was used to oppressive and soul destroying ends. Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin for example had audaciously bold plans to completely rebuild their respective capital cities - Rome, Berlin and Moscow - on a stupendously massive scale to suit their pompous tastes, though fortunately for later generations of people to live in these three beautiful cities these grand and delusional visions were never fully realized.
Mr Golomstock's revealing book deftly shows how politics can so very easily twist and subvert the arts to chilling ends; thus reducing them to the level of sterile, blatant and at the same time kitsch propaganda. He details how with the aesthetic philosophy of "socialist realism" art was cynically utilized by political leaders and parties as an important tool of state sponsored terrorism to indoctrinate and control the teeming masses, and subject peoples. All four totalitarian states led the populace to believe that they were variously being "liberated" from aristocratic, bourgeoisie, foreign or alternatively jewish cultural dominance; and that the only solution to societies ills was of course provided by them. This insightful and perceptive book illustrates that the far right and the far left have alot more in common than many people at either extreme of this broad political spectrum would ever like to admit! I also think it's a great shame there aren't more colour photographs in Totalitarian Art, for I believe art books really do need them, however with a book such as this it is the message that's unquestionably the most important factor, and not the pretty pictures. So if you're interested in the murky relationship between art, architecture and politics in totalitarian cultures or regimes, then do yourself a big favour and read this perceptive and timely book. And be warned that civil liberties, democratic freedoms and human rights could easily be taken away in your beloved homeland, so don't be an unthinking patriot, and always question your government... always.Totalitarian Art in the Soviet Union, the Third Reich, Fascist Italy, and the People's Republic of China Overview

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Architecture in China Review

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Architecture in China ReviewThe overall view of the book is considered to be an excellence book.
There are a few projects that need to have drawing documentation and in my preferences drawings could be bigger but they are readable.
The photographs in this book are excellent representation of the essence of the projects under the study cases. Perhaps the narratives could include deeper conclusions of the architect's ideas-to explain the arrival of their conclusions.
I would really appreciate if all drawings were black w/ grey scale.
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China Review

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China ReviewI have only had the book for a few days but am very impressed with the photographs. There is a wide depth and breadth of material from all regions of China. Every photo has a caption. There is a great mix of single and two-page spread photos. The only drawbacks are in some places the English is just horrible and the font on the narrative pages is somewhere around 6 pt (tiny!!). But the quality of the photographs more than makes up for the word issues.China Overview

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Shanghai: The Architecture of China's Great Urban Center Review

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Shanghai: The Architecture of China's Great Urban Center ReviewThere were no photos in my collection to match the ones in this book. It captures the architecture and feel of Shanghai perfectly! Love this book.Shanghai: The Architecture of China's Great Urban Center Overview

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New China Architecture Review

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New China Architecture ReviewLike all books depicting the "new," what is shown can get dated quickly over time. This is especially true of buildings not yet finished during publication that were changed after publication. Nonetheless, this book has very interesting if not always inspiring examples of new ideas and designs ranging from institutional buildings to private houses. There's enough in here that keeps one wondering where will the Chinese go in the future. Being a non-architect, I feel many of the designs tend to be more daring than those in the West. The quality of the book is very good.New China Architecture Overview

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China Modern Review

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China Modern Reviewwritten by obviously one of the region's foremost authorities on Chinese design and interiors having been in Hongkong with Elle Decor and other excellent publications for many years, Sharon Leece knows her way around the traditional feng shui and new leanings of the China elite as well as the western expat with a home and heart in Asia. Creative and informative text and fabulous photos take the reader on a trip into another world of China Decor uptil now unseen but sure to be come a trend worldwide. Check out her other China interior books for even more wonderful shots of lush and lavish spaces.China Modern Overview

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China's Sacred Sites Review

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China's Sacred Sites ReviewREVIEW SUBTITLE: Curses! Thanks to this book, a decidedly secular person is now hooked on yet another region's spiritual architecture!

The editorial reviews perfectly describe the contents and appeal of this well-written book with its abundance of stunning photographs. That CHINA'S SACRED SITES is also well-bound, printed on good stock and yet relatively affordable seems almost too good to be true. It is difficult to imagine that anyone will regret buying it, including those whose only interest is in viewing the breathtaking integration of man-made structures and nature at sites few will ever be fortunate enough to see in person.
For those unable to find a copy of this book to preview, its contents are as follow:
PART I: MOUNTAINSCAPE CULTURE AND ARCHITECTURE (49 pgs)
-The Silent Music of Architecture
-Mountainscape Culture and Fen Shui
-Geography and Building Layout
-Architectural Elements
PART II: SELECTED SITES (172 pgs.)
-Spacious Summits (32 pgs; 7 sites)
-Cliff Structures (32 pgs; 8 sites)
-Cave Sites (28 pgs; 8 sites)
-Mountainside Temples (40 pgs; 9 sites)
-Mountain Villages (20 pgs; 5 sites)
-Riverside and Lake Sites (20 pgs; 5 sites)
The APPENDIX includes 1) a map locating the sites, 2) a glossary, 3) a timeline of Chinese dynasties, 4) a selected bibliography, and 5) an index.China's Sacred Sites Overview

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Coming Home to China Review

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Coming Home to China ReviewYi-Fu Tuan is a towering figure in cultural geography -- so towering that he rises above the discipline's ceiling and is visible and inspiring as a writer/philosopher to a far broader audience of academics and "lay" readers. You certainly don't need to be a geographer to admire this book for its constant stream of observations and commentary on modern China reflecting Tuan's distinctive sensibility and preoccupations with home and place. Dr. Tuan wrote the book shortly after returning to Wisconsin from his visit to China, which he had not visited in over 60 years. The work is immediate and fresh, not re-worked into thick academic prose. It's a real gift for fans of Dr. Tuan.Coming Home to China Overview

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Wind Loading of Structures Review

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Wind Loading of Structures ReviewThis book needs to be more rigorous to become a scientific book. It lacks depth, and the author makes some ambiguous statements in the book. Sometimes, premature claims are also made on subjects that are currently under investigation and subjected to debate. This can be seriously misleading in certain cases. In addition, the author could have done a better job referencing.Wind Loading of Structures Overview

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