Catholic Churches in Sichuan Reveal Hidden History

A recent study has evaluated the main facades of 62 Catholic churches in the Sichuan-Chongqing region of China, which were built between 1840 and 1949. The researchers found that 22.6% of these churches were built in a Chinese style, while the rest were Western-style. The study discovered that the Chinese-style churches incorporated elements from Western architecture, such as vertical composition, while the Western-style churches blended in with the local environment and incorporated traditional Chinese architectural styles. The researchers also found a strong correlation between the facade style and decorative characteristics, as well as between the facade style and the church's religious expression.