A Study On Late-19th-century To Mid-20th-century Missionary Architectures In Xi'an

The city of Xi'an, situated in a geographical location of inland China, did not undergo military invasion of Western Imperialists, nor become a trading port through any commercial treaties. However, Western missionaries coming together with the military invasion into China had penetrated into Xi'an, bringing Christianity with accompanying Western cultural impacts prominently influencing the urban architecture of Xi'an.Therefore, a study of Xi'an missionary architecture from late-19th-century to mid-20th-century not only will provide a deep insight into the modern contact between China and the West, but also will provide some detailed documentary references for better preserving of the modern missionary architecture of Xi'an, filling the gap of insufficient research work in this area.This paper researches into late-19th-century to mid-20th-century missionary school and missionary hospital architecture of Xi'an. Firstly, it discusses several aspects of the architecture, namely, the spreading of the architecture in Xi'an, and its growing number, size and quality. Secondly, the paper touches upon examples of actual buildings in missionary architecture of Xi'an. Based on measured drawings done during my research, an analysis was made on the general planning, layout of architectural complexes, individual buildings and details; also a suggestion was proposed on restoration and protection of its important buildings. An assessment of the historical, artistic and scientific values of missionary architecture of Xi'an was made, emphasizing on its historical value as the chief reason for preservation, also relating them to the whole city of Xi'an, to the historical development of architecture in general, to cultural exchanges in general, and to the life of Xi'an people, thus further deepen the assessment of the value of modern missionary architecture of Xi'an, both inherently and contexturally, thus further emphasizing the important of their preservation and protection.Finally, this paper points out the reasons why modem missionary architecture of Xi'an have been neglected and even been successively demolished, and further emphasizes the importance of protecting historical environments around us, discussing around consciousness and disciplining,hoping to somehow contribute to the career of protecting of historical relics in Xi'an.