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This book considers urban development in China, highlighting links between China's history and civilization and the rapid evolution of its urban forms. It explores the early days of urban dwelling in China, progressing to an analysis of residential environments in the industrial age. It also examines China's modern and postmodern architecture, considered as derivative or lacking spiritual meaning or personality, and showcases how China's traditional culture underpins the emergence of China's modern cities. Focusing on the notion of "courtyard spirit" in China, it offers a study of the urban public squares central to Chinese society, and examines the disruption of the traditional Square model and the rise and growth of new architectural models.
List of contents
INTRODUCTION.- PART ONE HISTORY OF URBAN HABITATION.- The Commencement of Urban Habitation.- The Urban Habitation of the Slavery Society.- The Urban Habitation in the Early Feudal Society.- The Urban Habitation in the Middle Stage of the Feudal Society.- Urban Habitation in Late Feudal Society.- The Features of the Modern Urban Dwelling Areas.- The Features of Spatial Structure of the Urban Residential Areas After 1949.- The New Workers' Villages and Residential Environment of Industrial Cities in 1950s.- The "Villages in the City": A Phenomenon of On-the-Spot Urbanization.- PART TWO HISTORY OF CHINESE URBAN PUBLIC SQUARES.- Urban Public Squares and Social Public Life.- Chinese Traditional Squares: the Most Longevous Square Systems.- The Disruption of Traditional Squares and the Rise of New-Type Squares.- An Exploration of the Vigorous Growth of Urban Squares.- A Cultural Comparison between Chinese and Western Squares.
About the author
Chonglan Fu is a Research Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and has served successively as the Director of the Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies at CASS, the Director of the Urban Development Department of CASS Graduate School, and Professor at the Department of Sociology of GSCASS. He is also a member of the Urban Planning Society of China, Dean of the Institute of Modern Urban-Rural Development Planning of CASS and member of the Beijing Municipality Specialist Counsel Body.
Wenming Cao is an Associate Professor of the People's Public Security University of China, China. After attending Shandong Normal University's Department of History and the Department of Politics and Law, he started work in 1995 at the Shangdong Annal Compilation Office compiling provincial annals. In 2005, he was awarded a degree of Doctor of Laws from the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Summary
This book considers urban development in China, highlighting links between China’s history and civilization and the rapid evolution of its urban forms. It explores the early days of urban dwelling in China, progressing to an analysis of residential environments in the industrial age. It also examines China’s modern and postmodern architecture, considered as derivative or lacking spiritual meaning or personality, and showcases how China's traditional culture underpins the emergence of China’s modern cities. Focusing on the notion of “courtyard spirit” in China, it offers a study of the urban public squares central to Chinese society, and examines the disruption of the traditional Square model and the rise and growth of new architectural models.
