China was an architect of the Ming Dynasty. Born in the first year of Wen Jian, Zhu Yunwen, Ming Huidi (1398) and died in the 12th year of Chenghua, Zhu Jianshen, Ming Xianzong (148 1). Suzhou Wuxian (now Jiangsu Wuxian) people. Participated in or presided over several major royal projects, and served as assistant minister of the Ministry of Industry in Jingtai for seven years (1456). The main projects in charge of construction include the Forbidden City in Beijing (14 17), the first three halls of the Forbidden City (1440), Changling (14 13), Xianling (1425) and Xianling.
Kuai Xiang is from Wuxian County, Jiangsu Province. Ming Taizu Hongwu was born in a carpenter's family in the 30th year (AD 1397). Kuai Xiang's father, Kuaifu, was elected to the capital (Jinling) by the Ming Dynasty for his superb skills and became the "carpenter's head" in charge of building the palace. Kuai Xiang studied with his father since childhood. After Kuaifu retired from his hometown, his son became famous in carpentry skills and architectural design, and followed in his father's footsteps, becoming the "first carpenter", and later became the assistant minister of the Ministry of Industry.
In the fifteenth year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (14 17), when Ming Chengzu moved from Jinling to the north, he recruited craftsmen all over the country and went to Beijing to continue construction. Kuai Xiang, as an attendant of Emperor Chengzu of Ming Dynasty, went north in advance to participate in the architectural design of the palace. Because of Kuai Xiang's excellent design level, he was appointed as the designer of major palace projects. His first task was to design and organize the construction of Chengtianmen (now Tiananmen Square) as the main entrance to the palace. This project was completed in the 19th year of Yongle (142 1) and managed by Kuai Xiang. Its tower shape is similar to that of today, but on a smaller scale. This is the earliest square in Tiananmen Square, formerly known as "Chengtianmen". After it was completed, it was praised by officials from the civil and military. Emperor Yongle was very happy and called him "Kuailuban".
Kuaixiang has lived in Beijing for more than 40 years. During the orthodox period (1436~ 1449), he was responsible for the construction of the three halls of Taihe, Zhonghe and Baohe. 1457 was destroyed by fire. Eight years later, Ming Yingzong asked him to rebuild the 9-story wooden pagoda, two palaces, five courtyards and six mansions, and personally presided over the construction of the Yuling of the Ming Tombs in 1464. Because of his meritorious service to the imperial court, Kuai Xiang was gradually promoted from a craftsman until he was named the left servant gallery of the Ministry of Industry, awarded the second-class official and enjoyed the salary of the first-class official. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, Tiananmen Square was burned down again. 165 1 year, Tiananmen Square with a width of 33.7 meters and a depth of 9 rooms was rebuilt, which is what we see today.
According to the review of Ming History and related architectural monographs, it is considered that Kuai Xiang's architectural creation has reached the level of perfection. He is proficient in scale calculation and makes accurate calculations before each project construction. After completion, the position, distance, size and design drawings are exactly the same, and he has a good grasp of geometric principles. The tenon riveting technique is unique in architectural art, and most of the ancient buildings in China are wood structures, the key lies in the reasonable combination of main columns and beams. Kuaixiang carefully planned the materials and structure, and the tenon-mortise rivet skeleton was combined accurately and firmly. When building the Beijing Palace, Kuai Xiang also skillfully used the architectural art of Jiangnan, using Suzhou colored paintings and glazed tiles to make the halls and pavilions look magnificent.
Kuai Xiang lived to be 84 years old and died in the seventeenth year of Chenghua, Ming Xianzong (148 1). The mausoleum is located on the shore of Taihu Lake, his hometown. On the right side of the tombstone stands the "Feng Tian Yu Zhi" tablet given by Tianshun in the Ming Dynasty in the second year. It is said that in the early 1960s, Kuai Xiang's tomb was rebuilt and listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Jiangsu Province, but the Tiananmen architecture left by Kuailuban is a treasure of China and a national glory.
For thousands of years, Suzhou has a rich collection of humanities. Both ancient and modern times benefited from its culture, economy and stable social order. For example, Sun Wu, a military thinker of Wu in the Spring and Autumn Period; Lu Xun, a strategist in the Three Kingdoms period: Zhang Xu, a calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty in China; China Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji; Fan Zhongyan, a politician in the Northern Song Dynasty; Fan Chengda, a poet in the Southern Song Dynasty; Kuai Xiang, an outstanding architect in Ming Dynasty: Shen Zhou, founder of Wu Pai in Ming Dynasty; Wen Zhiming-an outstanding painter in the Ming Dynasty: a thinker and historian in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties Gu: Tang Yin-a painter and writer; Zhu Yunming, a writer and calligrapher in Ming Dynasty; Xu Zhenqing, a writer in Ming Dynasty; China modern poet Liu Yazi; Lu-writer; China historian Gu Jiegang.
Among academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou has the largest number. There are three masters I know very well. The first is Wang, an outstanding contributor to the "two bombs and one satellite" in New China. The second is Wu Jianxiong, an American physicist and Nobel Prize winner; The third is the architect I.M. Pei, whose representative works include the Bank of China Tower, the front pyramid of the Louvre, the new york Convention Center and the Boston Kennedy Library.
Sorry, I don't have a modern one.