| Shan Shiyuan(1907-1998)is a crucial representative of the first-generation architectural historians after the founding of New China.As a scholar who stepped into the research field of architectural history with the academic background of the MingQing history,in the nearly 70 years of discipline development history after the establishment of the Society for the Reaearch in Chinese Architecture,he adhered to the principle of construction and made many pioneering contributions in the research of architectural history and the protection of cultural relic architecture.Taking Shan Shiyuan’s academic course and thoughts as the research object,this paper aims to clarify his primary academic course,refine his research methodology of architectural history and analyze the causes of the methodology.Meanwhile,it tries to reveal the characteristics of architectural history research and the main ideas of cultural relic architecture protection,repair and systems derived from this.Also,it analyzes the contribution and significance of Shan Shiyuan’s academic practice under the guidance of relevant thoughts.This paper collects 45 oral histories from Shan Shiyuan’s colleagues,relatives and friends through interviewing,reviews Shan Shiyuan’s works,the existing studies,archives,as well as relevant background literature and other foundational materials.In the meantime,it systematically untangles his life story and research environment.Based on this,this paper reveals his initially formed architectural history methodology during the Society for the Reaearch in Chinese Architecture from the perspective of academic history.In other words,by anchoring in the angle of social history,he regards architecture as the outcome of human creation and discusses the formation and evolution of Chinese architecture from the elements such as “tools,crafts,building materials,craftsmen and the imperial system of engineering management’s system”,which go hand in hand with the architectural process.By doing so,he aims to disclose the precious experience and philosophy of human beings in creating and changing their living environment to seek harmonious coexistence with nature.With this as the core clue that integrates the text,this paper first demonstrates the “causal” relationship between the historical background of Peking University & the literature management of the Forbidden City & the backdrop of working at the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture and the formation of his philosophy.At the same time,it puts forward his pioneering contribution in the arrangement and research of the royal architecture literature in the Ming and Qing dynasties in the transformation of China’s architectural history research from the traditional academic way of historical literature to the new academic system.Secondly,it points out that Shan Shiyuan has opened up an exceedingly potential field of architectural history research since the founding of the PRC under the guidance of this thought.Then,by combing the relationship between Shan Shiyuan and many academic groups,this paper notes that he extended this idea to the Forbidden City and even the national architectural heritage conservation.Thus,the concepts such as “focusing on maintenance”,the “four original” rudiment,and the restoration and protection of “National Famous Historical and Cultural Cities” take shape.What’s more,“ "Communication between the intellectuals and the craftsmen " ”,improving the decision-making and implementation system of heritage protection,and strengthening craft inheritance and personnel training are also proposed to lead to the final realization of the protection system featuring mass participation.In the process of researching and revealing these problems,not only does this paper basically show Shan Shiyuan’s understanding of architectural history research and the evolvement of his academic course & thought,but it also confirms his vital status in and contribution to China’s architectural history.In terms of academic history,it complements the historical memory that he gathered droves of scholars to jointly promote the development of the architectural history discipline in different historical periods as an excellent organizer and academic leader.Moreover,it is of great significance to architectural history research,architectural heritage protection and professional education in architecture. |
