History of Indian and Eastern Architecture:A Set of Two Volumes

The architecture of India is rooted in its history, culture and the numerous religions worshipped by the people. The information on architecture was, however, available only in the silpa-shastras, which concerned themselves largely with theoretical and religious matters, and not the forms of existing buildings. A systematic study of Indian architecture and its principles only began in the 19th century through the painstaking works of British scholars and engineers using for the first time, the newly-invented photography and the use of site plans. James Fergusson s two-volume History of Indian Architecture and History of Eastern Architecture in India, China and Japan, which first appeared in 1876, was the result of such efforts, and was the first-ever major publication of its kind. Fergusson examined and classified ancient Indian architecture into Buddhist, Himalayan, Dravidian and Chalukyan styles, noting that differences in architectural styles could be attributed to differences in religion. A pioneering classic, Fergusson s History sheds light not only on the forms of ancient Indian architecture, but also the mental landscape of the British scholars who studied it. Though subsequent scholars such as EB Havell and Ananda K Coomaraswamy have criticised Fergusson s conclusions, the value of his detailed presentation has always been acknowledged. The text is that of the 1910 edition, revised and expanded by James Burgess and R. Phene Spiers.