遗憾没有见过梁思成先生瘦削的身影，庆幸能够从资料中听到梁先生的声音。毫不怀疑支撑梁先生身体的绝不只有长期穿着的钢架，于是一遍一遍地体会栋梁的含义，并在先生诞辰120周年之际借助展览与大家交流。
栋梁是要有高度的。需要曾经越过重洋，并俯瞰重洋。于是今天的展览始于先生的求学。家学的积淀、西学的思路、国学的方向编织在一起，辅以先生活跃的天性，既是先生成就的起点，也可以说开阔了先生学术的天空。
栋梁是要有强度的。需要研读艰深的文字，需要承受奔波的劳苦。于是今天展览的中心部分是先生亲身参与建立的一连串中国建筑史学的里程碑。表面上难以承受的枯燥，经历了高强度的研究工作，幻化成为一段段鲜活的历史故事。更加重要的是，先生那种鼎新须先温故的立场，虽然在历史的波涛中几经沉浮，但是理应赢得所有人的尊敬。
栋梁是要有跨度的。需要以社会为己任，以教育为目标，而跨越历史研究、规划设计实践、遗产保护，以及一切面向健康子孙的关切。今天展览的这几个章节，简短而务求有力。国徽、人民英雄纪念碑的设计以及北京古城的保护，还有东北大学和清华大学两个建筑系的创办，从学术研究到用学术回馈社会，映射出一位青年成长为父亲、祖父，乃至于先知一般的心胸，并且准备好做出自我的牺牲。
栋梁不会把自我牺牲看作牺牲，栋梁的心胸使得压力变成了快乐；栋梁的快乐可以感染整座建筑。用先生自己的词汇，做一个严谨而快乐的“拙匠”。做一个拙匠，让我们这个时代的建筑学人以此共勉。
2021年8月3日清华园
PREFACE
Zhuang Weimin
I never had the chance to meet Professor Liang Sicheng in person, but I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to listen to a recording of his voice. I never doubted that the metal frame he was wearing was not the only thing that supported the unstable bones of his thin body, and I have searched for meaning of the pillar (in society). In this exhibition marking the 120thanniversary of Liang’s birth I would like to share my thoughts with you.
Pillar in the society requires height and depth in the thought. Thus, this exhibition starts with Liang’s quest to improve himself and learn. His pursuit of knowledge was the result of several factors: his family heritage; the global mindset gained from his studying experience in the West; the direction given by traditional Chinese culture; and his own personality. These factors formed the starting point for Liang’s achievements, or to be more precise, they heightened the prospect for Liang’s academia success.
Pillar is strong and thrived under pressure. And Liang like that pillar developed a strength and skill in expressing himself in writing. Therefore, the core content of this exhibition is the story of Chinese architecture history studies written by Liang Sicheng and his colleagues, who turned a fragmented collection of past events into a compelling narrative (after they had carried out in-depth research to confirm the facts).Additionally, despite the many difficult situations Liang had to overcome in his life, Liang’s respect for the past was contagious and brought many others to cherish and preserve old Chinese buildings.
Pillarrequires intersectoral and multidisciplinary character. Liang waslike the pillar which carried social responsibility and supported education ranging from design practice to theory, from cultural heritage preservation to the future of the human habitat. In this sense, this exhibition covers a small but very diverse range of topics including Liang’s design proposals of the Chinese National Emblem, the Monument to the People’s Heroes, and the preservation of the historical city of Beijing, as well as his contributions to the establishment of the architecture departments of Northeastern University and Tsinghua University. Furthermore, although Liang began his life journey with academic research, he made his research later useful to society, which reflects the stages of his life (growing from a young man into a father, grandfather, and distinguished scholar) as well as his personal commitment and willingness to sacrifice.
Pillar in the society does not see self-sacrifice as a sacrifice, pressure was not a burden, because withstanding a pressure was a necessary condition for success and happiness. Liang once claimed that he was a diligent but happy “workman”. Liang’s great quote is one that we probably still can draw inspiration from and use as a motto to live our lives by in the Age of Celebrity.
2021.8.3
栋梁
梁思成诞辰一百二十周年文献展