I recently came across a set of old photos that show Lin Huıyin after giving birth. In 1929, she had just given birth to her daughter, Liang Zaibing, and her body hadn’t fully recovered yet, but Liang Sicheng kept taking photos beside her. Three years later, when their son Liang Congjie was born, he did the same again. At first glance, it may seem inconsiderate, but in fact it reflects the couple’s understanding of life—Lin Huıyin believed that childbirth was an important moment in a woman’s life and should be recorded properly, while Liang Sicheng fully supported her view.

Their story is actually quite fascinating. Lin Huıyin was born in 1904 in Hangzhou. Her father, Lin Changmin, had a very good relationship with Liang Sicheng’s father, Liang Qichao, and the two children had known each other since childhood. Later, with Liang Qichao’s encouragement, they studied together in a library, their feelings gradually grew deeper, and ultimately they went to the United States to study abroad together. Lin Huıyin originally wanted to study architecture, but at that time the architecture department did not enroll women, so she switched to fine arts; even so, she still insisted on taking architecture courses. When her father died in 1925, Liang Sicheng stayed by her side through the hardest period. In 1928, they married in Canada. After they got married, they spent half a year studying Europe’s ancient architecture. After returning to China, Liang Sicheng founded the Department of Architecture at Northeastern University.

After they married, they threw themselves into the China Construction Society and began conducting systematic research on ancient architecture. In 1932, they went to visit the Dule Temple in Jixian County, Hebei; in 1933, they went to the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi; and in 1937, they discovered Tang Dynasty inscriptions at Foguang Temple on Mount Wutai, which directly overturned the claim by Japanese scholars that “there were no Tang Dynasty wooden architectural structures in China.” During the War of Resistance Against Japan, they took their children south to Kunming and Lijiang, and conditions were especially difficult. Lin Huıyin’s lung illness repeatedly flared up, but they did not stop their research.

After the war ended, they returned to Beijing and continued working in the Department of Architecture at Tsinghua University. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Lin Huıyin’s health was already very poor, yet she still took part in the design of the national emblem, proposing core elements such as the jade disc and the five stars, and in the end all of them were adopted. She also took part in the design of the relief sculpture for the Monument to the People’s Heroes and helped promote the reform of cloisonné craft. She died in 1955 of pulmonary tuberculosis, at the age of 51. Liang Sicheng personally designed her tombstone and carved the floral wreath pattern she had drawn onto it.

In 1972, Liang Sicheng also passed away. Together, they pioneered the investigation of ancient Chinese architecture and made a tremendous contribution to cultural heritage preservation. Those postpartum photos may look simple, yet they carry their unyielding pursuit of beauty and their deep affection for one another in their lives together— the warmest witness to their love across the years.