“What exactly does ‘yingzao’ mean?” Someone asked. It is from this question that our story about the China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture Memorial Hall begins. This hall commemorates a group of dedicated scholars. They worked tirelessly in the 1930s and 1940s. Their goal was to study and preserve traditional Chinese architecture.
The name itself is significant. “Yingzao” comes from the book *Yingzao Fashi*. This book was written by Li Jie of the Song Dynasty. It was China’s earliest book on architectural standards and techniques. After this book “yingzao” became the term for traditional Chinese architecture. The China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture adopted this name.
In 1925 Zhu Qiqian along with Tao Xiang and Meng Xuantong proposed creating an organization. It would focus on ancient Chinese construction. Zhu and his friends searched for ancient texts. They formally established the China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture in February 1930. Zhu Qiqian became its president. He had previously been a Minister of Transportation. Later he dedicated himself to traditional Chinese architecture.
The society published the *Journal of the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture*. The China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture was initially funded by an American foundation. This funding supported lectures on the *Yingzao Fashi*. These lectures evolved into an organized academic group.
The society first set up offices inside Tiananmen. It housed two departments namely *Fashi* and *Literature*. Later Liang Sicheng and Liu Dunzhen led these departments. They studied architectural forms and historical materials. They also conducted fieldwork.
Between 1932 and 1937 the society surveyed ancient buildings. They used modern scientific methods. They gathered valuable data. This data remains important today. During the Sino-Japanese War the society moved. They went from Wuhan to Changsha to Kunming. Finally they settled in Lizhuang Sichuan. Despite hardships they continued their research. They also published many professional works.
After the war the society returned to Beijing. However funding was scarce. Zhu Qiqian had used all his resources. The society’s influence declined and in 1946 it quietly disappeared. In 2006 the former site of the China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture in Lizhuang was declared a National Key Cultural Relic.
Many documents from the society are now stored at Tsinghua University. Some of these documents have been digitized. The China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture played a crucial role. Before its work ancient Chinese architecture was not well understood. Scholars often used Japanese examples. The society changed that.
In just five years members surveyed 137 counties. They examined thousands of ancient structures. They created detailed drawings of hundreds of buildings. Their work revealed a clear history of Chinese architecture. Today many famous ancient buildings were rediscovered by the society. These include the Zhaozhou Bridge and the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda. The China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture made unmatched contributions to the study and preservation of traditional Chinese architecture.
The society also trained many talented architects. Unlike other groups membership required strict exams and training. The society was like a specialized school. Figures such as Liang Sicheng came from this society.
The China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture also published extensively. They wrote over 30 books on ancient Chinese architecture. Their journal is also a vital historical resource. The China Society for Research in Chinese Architecture Memorial Hall honors these achievements. It celebrates a group. They helped shape our understanding of China’s architectural heritage.