Lei Qilong

CHINA, Jiangxi, Jiujiang; Yuan dynasty

Lei Qilong was a craftsman and architect of the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) originally from Jianchang (present day Yongxiu county in Jiujiang), but later moved to Jinling (present day Nanjing, Jiangsu). The Lei family was known for their work as architects in the imperial court, a heritage that was passed down for eight generations starting with Lei Qilong. The Lei lineage designed a multitude of palace buildings and structures, and their distinct form is regarded as Lei style.
Lei family original structures such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Chengde Imperial Summer Resort, Eastern Royal Tombs, and Western Royal Tombs, among others, have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Lei style of architecture comprises approximately one fifth of the items listed as China’s World Heritage Sites. Their designs are published in Comprehensive Collection of Lei’s Design.