Reference books for Chinese environments and culture?

[Xeon_OND]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to do some designs / paintings that has ancient chinese temples and fortresses, castles and that kind of fantastical thing, but I can't seem to find any reference books on Amazon that touches on these subjects. Like you know, the characteristics of what an ancient chinese house looks like, or why chinese strongholds are designed the way they are etc.

I saw some 30+ page picture books for 7-year old kids that seem to cover this topics, and wonder if I should get them.

Amazon has all these great reference books on medieval fantasy environments and characters etc., but when it comes to eastern stuff.....well......

Anyone has any ideas? There's a few bitsy resources on the web but they're too scattered and few and I can't get any good info out of those.

Thanks!
Xeon

[Alice Herring]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to do some designs / paintings that has ancient chinese temples and fortresses, castles and that kind of fantastical thing, but I can't seem to find any reference books on Amazon that touches on these subjects. Like you know, the characteristics of what an ancient chinese house looks like, or why chinese strongholds are designed the way they are etc.

I saw some 30+ page picture books for 7-year old kids that seem to cover this topics, and wonder if I should get them.

Amazon has all these great reference books on medieval fantasy environments and characters etc., but when it comes to eastern stuff.....well......

Anyone has any ideas? There's a few bitsy resources on the web but they're too scattered and few and I can't get any good info out of those.

Thanks!
Xeon

Have you tried looking up architecture books?

[OmenSpirits]

You're...in China, right? Library maybe?

[dpaint]

Here

China: in a Series of Views, Displaying the Scenery, Architecture, and Social Habits, of That Ancient Empire
Four volumes
Quick search turned this up I have not seen the books myself

[Flashback]

You're...in China, right? Library maybe?

Singapore is an independent nation.

[OmenSpirits]

But, they still would have libraries, right? Their history is still connected to China in some way so said info should be more accessable, one would gather. *shrugs*

[AlexTLe]

Well, if your rich enough, travel there!