Season 2023 - 2024
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Celestial Bridges: An Introduction to Architecture Over Water and Space From China's Past, Part 1 Dennis Lee 8 June, 2024 9:30 am - 11:00 am, PT |
China has a long history of building bridges - the oldest, Anji Bridge, has stood since its completion in the year 605. Now numbering several million, China's bridges have become an important symbol of ancient Chinese civilization's intelligence and ingenuity, and are the embodiment of many important Chinese characteristics. They also hold an important and essential part in the development of bridges and the history of bridge building throughout the world.
Join First Saturday PDX as founding member, Dennis Lee, looks at how bridges have served the many needs of China and how they evolved to meet changes in time. China's bridges are small and large, are constructed from various materials, and take on many different forms. They connect buildings and roads, cross over mountains and span rivers. Chinese bridge design and construction comprises engineering, history, and aesthetics. The engineering aspect is highly technical and deserves a separate, dedicated discussion. This talk will focus on the historical and aesthetic elements of bridge design, highlighting the "Wind and Rain" bridges of Guanxi, the white marble stonework of imperial bridges in Beijing, and the covered bridges of southern Zhejiang.
Join First Saturday PDX as founding member, Dennis Lee, looks at how bridges have served the many needs of China and how they evolved to meet changes in time. China's bridges are small and large, are constructed from various materials, and take on many different forms. They connect buildings and roads, cross over mountains and span rivers. Chinese bridge design and construction comprises engineering, history, and aesthetics. The engineering aspect is highly technical and deserves a separate, dedicated discussion. This talk will focus on the historical and aesthetic elements of bridge design, highlighting the "Wind and Rain" bridges of Guanxi, the white marble stonework of imperial bridges in Beijing, and the covered bridges of southern Zhejiang.
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Suggested Resource: Ronald G. Knapp, Chinese Bridges: Living Architecture from China's Past, A. Chester Ong, Photography (Oxford University Press, 1993) |
Video of this presentation can be seen here
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Join us after the webinar 11 - 11:30am in our First Saturday PDX Tea House to further the discussion and online social time. Bring your cup of tea! (Separate access link for this will be provided in your single registration for this event ) |
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This presentation is offered via Zoom Webinar:
- Join with computer, tablet, or smartphone.
- Register Here to receive the links to join the webinar and Tea House in the same registration confirmation email
- See our Zoom page for information on how to connect to our online events.
Our Stop Asian Hate Resources information is available here
Our program series is supported by Portland State University's Institute for Asian Studies, the Northwest China Council, Portland Chinatown Museum, and the Lan Su Garden Chinese Garden. All our programs are free and open to the public.
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