Li Jie

CHINA, Henan, Zhengzhou; Northern Song dynasty

Li Jie, also known as Mingzhong, was an architect who was also skilled in calligraphy and painting. He was proficient in seal, cursive, and clerical scripts, and created paintings that were praised by Emperor Huizong (reigned 1100–1125) of the Northern Song dynasty. During the rule of both Emperor Zhezong (reigned 1085–1100) and Emperor Huizong, Li oversaw the construction of Empress Dowager Qinci Temple, the Imperial College, Vermillion Bird Gate, Kaifeng administrative office, and the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
In 1100, he completed the compilation and editing of the Treatise on Architectural Methods, the first ever comprehensive publication on standards for architectural construction. During Li’s time, the majority of wooden temples and palace halls were built in accordance to the standards set in this handbook, which imparted a tremendous influence on the architecture of later generations. His other publications include Continuation of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Classic of Horses, and Dictionary of Ancient Seal Scripts.