Modern Catholic Churches In Chongqing

The thesis deals with catholic churches in Chongqing area built from mid-19th century on, including its historical and social background , development process, locations, building styles, and art achievement ,especially its creative treatments, in Western-Chinese style combination. Systematical field investigation and analysis reveal that Catholic Church as built in Chongqing area in 19and early 20 centuries, as a part of western architectural culture, developed and changed to yield a variety of architectural form and to become a valuable part of Chongqing cultural legacy. The authoress focuses her investigation and collection on the main catholic churches, doing typological analysis, making appraisal of their valves and comparison between them, then draw the following conclusion:Influenced by political , economic and cultural factors, the catholic churches in Chongqing area are much simpler than western countries in architectural technology and art. Though simple in exterior and in interior design and decoration, these buildings still represent mature gothic architectural style in compositional motive and proportion. These buildings make Chinese architectural culture richer and beautify landscape of cities. As a part of cultural legacy, these buildings should be considered and maintained.This article are divided into five parts: Part One: The dissemination of Catholics in China began in late Ming Dynasty, then, wellspread in China. In late Ming Dynasty and whole Qing Dynasty, the history of thedissemination of Catholics has had an extraordinary significance in the wholehistory of missionary in China. Part Two: dissertate the dissertation and evolution of modern Catholic churches inChongqing. Part Three: a brief introduction to the building style of modern Catholic churches inChongqing: Gothic, Romany, Baroque, Rococo , combination of Chinese andwestern building styles. Part Fore: By some typology analysis, the author give a show of modern Catholic churchesin Chongqing from the follow aspects: form of plan; form of elevation; interiorspace; the ornaments. Part Five: indicate the achievements of modern Catholic churches in Chongqing and itshistorical cultural value and characteristic of architectural art.