Memory of the World; 2012 - unesdoc - Unesco

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Qing dynasty Yangshi
Lei archives
Inscribed 2007
What are they
A rich and invaluable collection of over 20,000
architectural and engineering documents, models, and
drawings made by the Lei family, who were architects for
the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) over seven generations.
Why were they inscribed
They provide unparalleled insight into Chinese
architectural history, traditional architectural planning,
engineering and principles of design, and attest
to the impact of Chinese architecture on world
architectural history.
Where are they
National Library of China, First Historical Archives
of China and the Palace Museum, Beijing, China
The Qing dynasty Yangshi Lei archives refers to the
collections of architectural drawings and models made
by the Lei family and other relevant documents. Dozens
of members of the Lei family over seven generations,
from the end of the 17th century to the beginning of the
20th century, acted as architects for the Qing court.
They were responsible for architectural design, as well as
the design of interiors and furnishings, for the greatest
imperial buildings of the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) and
were honorifically known as the ‘Yangshi Lei’. Today, more
than 20,000 documents relating to Yangshi Lei family
remain. They are chiefly housed in the National Library
of China, the First Historical Archives of China and the
Palace Museum. The surviving documents range in date
from the middle of the 18th century to the beginning
of the 20th century, and cover imperial architecture in the
cities of Beijing and Tianjin and the provinces of Hebei,
Liaoning and Shanxi.
Among the buildings the Lei family designed,
constructed and maintained were the Forbidden City,
the Altar of Heaven, the Beijing Summer Palace, the
Chengde Mountain Palace and the Eastern and Western
An architectural drawing of the Zun Zhaomu mausoleum
at Digong in the Yangshi Lei Archives �
280 Qing dynasty Yangshi Lei archives
Qing Mausoleums, all now UNESCO World Heritage
sites. Some of these buildings were completely the work
of the Leis, and some underwent some redesign, but
all of them encapsulate generations of great Chinese
craftsmanship with the Leis as central figures. For one
architectural family to have had their hands in so many
masterpieces is an unparalleled phenomenon in the
history of world architecture.