Dr. Eakins? lecture on ' Chinese Archifecture" before the local branch of the Royal Asiatic Society this evening promises to be exceptionally instructive and interesting, and should attract a large audience. The learned doctor proposes to treat his subject under four heads—the first he styles the classical period; the second, the mythological period; the third, the Buddhistic period; and the fourth, the modern period. The classical period may be described as the age of geometrical mason's work, of straight lines, the mason' rule, the plumb-line, and astronomical observations with the view of makin; buildings exact in regard to the cardinal points. There is no arch in the buildings of this period, and but slight attempt at pictorial ornament, In the mythological period, from B.C. 400 to A.D. 200, there is still no arch, but animal shapes and_ historical scenes were much used. Bridges were made without curves by means vf horizontal and slanting beams. Many monstrous shapes were used, and these occasionally take the place of pillars in the support of roofs. There is evidence of the great influence of poetry and the current mythology, and there are many marks of foreign ideas, asin buildings entirely or almost entirely of stone. The Buddhistic period dates from A.D. 200 to 'A.D. 900, and in this pagodas of foreign type form a marked feature. Gate lio were introduced, and pagodas brought in the arch and the curved-roof style, while the feng-shui ideas in regard to Chinese buildings also belong to this period. There is, too, an extensive use of images—as, for example, the laughing, the teaching, the sleeping, the ascetic, and the guiding Buddha, all of them usually gilt to increase the effect on the worshipper, The modern period carries us from A.D. 900 to the present year, and is chiefly characterised by the combination of styles, the best illustrations of which may be found in the Peking temples and tombs. Feng-shud ideas are nearly as strong as ever, though Western influence may be said to be extending fast, and there is an increasing use of sculpture.
Atthelecture the chair will be taken by Mr. PI. Hughes(H. B.M.'sConsul-General and President of the Society), and the meeting will be open to the public. It is expected that an interesting discussion will follow.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.