China's Sacred Sites

Nan Shunxun, Beverly Foit-Albert

Accolades for China's Sacred Sites:
• 2008 Nautilus Book of the Year Gold Medal Winner
• 2007 ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Gold Medal Winner in two categories

China is home to some of the world's most impressive architectural achievements. But there is far more to this complex and subtle world than the Great Wall or the majestic Imperial Palace. Tucked away in remote valleys, perched on high cliffs, or set along winding rivers and placid lakes, China's lesser-known sacred architectural sites convey a vision of human culture existing harmoniously in nature. This vision is highly relevant today as we look for sustainable models of development in the face of unprecedented ecological changes.

Part One of China's Sacred Sites introduces mountainscape feng shui, a traditional science of building design based on close observation of natural phenomena and drawing on the philosophical ideals of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Chapters by Nan Shunxun convey the basics of this science in an accessible format and set out a visual grammar of the architectural elements found in mountainscape feng shui.

Part Two features 42 selected architectural sites that convey the essence of mountainscape feng shui. This section is the result of extensive travel and careful documentation on the part of Professor Nan and his associates, including co-author Beverly Foit-Albert and photographer John Valentino. While far from a comprehensive survey, it includes previously undocumented sites as well as some that will soon be lost to the increasing demands of human society on the natural world.

This beautiful volume illustrates the principles of mountainscape feng shui with 300 color photographs and 100 architectural drawings. A glossary, timeline of Chinese dynasties, bibliography, and index provide resources for further exploration.

About the Authors

Professor Nan Shunxun has taught architectural design theory at universities in the United States and China. He has been a professor at the Beijing Institute for Civil Engineering and Architecture for over fifteen years. He is the author of numerous articles and books in China, including Earth Architecture in Northwest China and Folk Dwellings of Shaanxi. 

Beverly Foit-Albert, R.A., Ph.D., is the founder of Foit-Albert Associates architectural firm in Buffalo, New York, and an Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The firm is known for its commitment to urban revitalization and historic preservation projects. In 1989, as an exchange scholar, Dr. Foit-Albert went to China to conduct a lecture series exploring the preservation of historic buildings in China. She returned to China in 1995 to research and document Chinese historical mountainscape architectural sites with Professor Nan. 

Product Details

Publisher: Himalayan Institute
Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-0-89389-262-3
Hardcover 
259 pages / Full color photos
9.5" x 11"

Architecture / Spirituality

Purchase for Wholesale