/ The Yingzao fashi project / Teaching materials / Coursework / Reaction / Papers / Who's who / Related sites /

The Yingzao Fashi Project

Located at
Department of Architecture
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
www.arch.cuhk.edu.hk/yzfs

Welcome to the Yingzao Fashi Project. We use computer models to study and teach 12th-century Chinese wood-frame architecture, which is described in detail in the government building manual, Yingzao fashi (Building Method), published in 1103. At this site, we have assembled some of the materials that we have been developing since 1993.

Our most important tool is a virtual model kit--a kit of parts, rather like Lincoln Logs. This kit is not yet publicly available because it is still in development, but all the computer models and images you see at this site were made with it. We have used the virtual model kit and other materials in our teaching, and we are pleased to say that our students were enthusiastic about it.

We hope that you find our site interesting, and will be glad to hear your comments.

• On-line teaching materials
  We have developed these materials, which include instructions, student work, glossary, and bibliography, to support our teaching.
• Coursework
  Assignments, courses, and student projects since 1993
• Students' reactions
  Thoughts from our students about Chinese architecture and the virtual model kit.
• Papers
  In these academic papers, we discuss how and why we use computer models both to study and to teach Chinese architecture.
• Who's who
  The people behind this site
• Related sites
  Other sites about computing and Chinese architecture

In a hurry? Here are some shortcuts to instant gratification.

• Photographs, drawings, and descriptions of extant buildings
  Selected examples from the time of the Yingzao fashi.
• Interactive image of a bracket set
  Shows the variations possible according to the Yingzao fashi.
• Animated construction sequence
  How all the components of a small building fit together.
• Animated walk-through
  A walk-through of a small building built according to the Yingzao fashi. (Size)
• Interactive model of a building component
  A VRML model of a smoke tree block (lu dou). Requires a VRML viewer. (Size)
• Interactive model of a bracket set
  A VRML model of the characteristic Chinese subassembly in the roof. Requires a VRML viewer. (Size)
• Stereo model of a building
  An Inventor model of a small building built according to the Yingzao fashi. Requires an Inventor viewer and stereo glasses. (Size)