Abstract:
The Beitang (North Church) at Canchikou in Beijing represents a seminal locus of Sino-European cultural exchange during the High Qing period. Established under joint Sino-French imperial patronage, this ecclesiastical complex underwent successive architectural transformations, leaving a sequential visual materials. Drawing on historical context, archives, and comparative analysis of content and style, this paper examines the authorship, date, context, and transmission of Beitang architectural drawings, reveals their intended purpose and interpreting their content. This sequential record meticulously chronicles the structure’s architectural metamorphosis from its 17th-century inception during the Kangxi period to its 19th-century dissolution in Guangxu period, witnessing evolving cross-cultural dynamics during China’s late imperial era.