The Publication of Zhu Qiqian and Beijing Brings Us Closer to Zhu Qiqian, “the Founder of Research on Ancient Chinese Architecture”

Zhu Qiqian is the founder of the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture （SRCA）， a pioneer in studying ancient Chinese architecture， an expert in Beijing city protection and planning， and an architectural historian. He was involved in constructing railways， opening coal mines， running shipping companies， collecting cultural relics， and building construction. Each of these activities left a significant mark in history.

The book explores the little-known history behind Beijings modern urban transformation and how Zhu Qiqian， with a spirit of patriotism， emphasis on principles， pragmatism， and selfless dedication， wrote a new chapter on the protection of ancient Chinese architecture， including the complex and twisting stories within. Lets follow the author to delve into these stories in the book.

Zhu Qiqian and Beijing， narrated by Zhu Qiqians great-grandson Zhu Yanyi and compiled by the 20th Century Architectural Heritage Committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics， is a commemorative collection documenting Zhu Qiqians life stories and historical contributions. As the only living person who has shared a life with Zhu Qiqian， Zhu Yanqi brings a more real and vivid image of this architectural master through his narration. It turns out that the “first person in Beijing city construction” and the “pioneer of urban renewal in China “was also a thrifty， kind， and approachable elder. The book also includes essays on Beijings urban construction by Zhu Qiqian and many commemorative articles by others， which are of considerable historical， documentary， research， and practical value.

The foreword of the book is written by Shan Jixiang， president of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics and director of the Academic Committee of the Palace Museum， and the book title is inscribed by Liu Zonghan， a famous Chinese educator， calligrapher， and oracle bone script expert.

Shan Jixiang stated in the foreword， “Zhu Qiqian and Beijing is not a collection of essays but primarily based on the oral account of Zhu Qiqians great-grandson， Zhu Yanqi， which is especially precious. The editorial department of Chinese Architectural Cultural Heritage organized experts to conduct meticulous research on the historical facts and character connections， making the books narration more accurate and lively. It is very rare to understand the contributors to the protection of Beijings cultural heritage and the history of the application for the World Heritage of the Central Axis， including Zhu Qiqian. …Zhu Qiqian and the Chinese Society of Architectural History are not only the founders of the architectural history discipline but also pioneers of Chinas cultural relics affairs. His pioneering contributions and the method he established， using scientific and modern means to supplement the historical system of Chinese architecture， have achieved brilliant successes that are difficult for later generations to surpass， establishing a monument in the history of Chinese architecture.”

Jin Lei， vice president and secretary-general of the 20th Century Architectural Heritage Committee of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics wrote in the books postscript， “A detailed review of Zhu Qiqians 92-year life shows that he was a pioneer in a series of ‘major events in Beijings modern urban construction as early as the early Republic of China. In terms of Beijings urban transformation， he was the first to advocate the principle of ‘restoring the old as it was. During his tenure as the Minister of Internal Affairs， he was the first to plant locust trees along the streets of Beijing and willows along the moat. His renovation project of the Zhengyang Gate ‘paved the way for civilian governance in Beijing， laying the foundation for early modern urban construction in Beijing; “He transformed Beijings Xiyuan into the new Xinhua Gate， demolished the thousand-step corridor of old streets for Tiananmen Square， dismantled the imperial city walls， opened up the north-south traffic artery of Changan Avenue， and promoted the construction of the new Xiangchang district in the south of the city. Although these actions caused a stir in Beijing at the time， his status as the ‘first person in Beijings planning and ‘pioneer of urban renewal remained unshakable. At the age of 58， he founded the Society for Research in Chinese Architecture， a pioneering move in the 20th century for the protection and innovation of Chinese architecture， which naturally became a significant event.”

The publication of Zhu Qiqian and Beijing is extremely valuable “as it adds an important ‘true story of a person， beyond just architectural landscapes， to the narrative of Beijings Central Axis application for World Heritage status in 2024.”