Liang Sicheng (Chinese: 梁思成; 20 April 1901[1] – 9 January 1972) was a Chinese architect and architectural historian, known as the father of modern Chinese architecture. His father, Liang Qichao, was one of the most prominent Chinese scholars of the early 20th century. His wife was the architect and poet Lin Huiyin. His younger brother, Liang Siyong, was one of China’s first archaeologists（Excerpted from Wikipedia）.
My father often tells me stories about Liang Sicheng, a pioneering Chinese architect with deep connections to the United States. In 1924, he traveled to the University of Pennsylvania to study architecture, where he received a systematic Western architectural education. Yet, his heart remained devoted to preserving China’s architectural heritage.
After returning to China, Liang Sicheng embarked on an ambitious journey across 15 provinces and more than 200 counties, meticulously documenting over 2,000 ancient buildings. He creatively combined Western architectural drafting techniques with traditional Chinese construction methods, producing precise and artistically detailed architectural drawings. These hand-drawn blueprints not only recorded the structural characteristics of ancient buildings but also embodied a profound understanding of traditional craftsmanship.
The White Pagoda of Jiuzhouba, Yibin County, Sichuan, from the Song Dynasty（p 2,3）
During the turmoil of war, Liang Sicheng’s sketches became the most valuable records of China’s ancient architecture. He also led the compilation of A History of Chinese Architecture, the first comprehensive study tracing the evolution of Chinese architecture. His work provided invaluable resources for future research, safeguarding not only tangible heritage but also a nation’s cultural memory.
The Guanyin Pavilion of Dule Temple, built in 984 AD during the Liao Dynasty, Jixian County, Hebei（p 4,5）.
Through my father’s stories, I have come to admire the unwavering dedication of a scholar to his cultural roots. Liang Sicheng devoted his life to bridging Chinese and Western architectural traditions. His work reminds us that preserving ancient architecture is not just about protecting physical structures—it is about carrying forward the lifeblood of civilization.