A Comparison Between the Orient and the West From architectures of the Forbidden City and Washington,D.C.

A Comparison Between the Orient and the WestA Comparison Between the Orient and the West

From architectures of the Forbidden City and Washington,D.C.

From architectures of the Forbidden City and Washington,D.C.

Forbidden City Forbidden City

• Beijing, China

• Built from 1406 to 1420

• 980 surviving buildings

• World's largest surviving palace complex• World Heritage Site 1987, UNSCO

• Now the China Palace Museum

• Beijing, China

• Built from 1406 to 1420

• 980 surviving buildings

• World's largest surviving palace complex• World Heritage Site 1987, UNSCO

• Now the China Palace Museum

AppendixTaipei National Palace MuseumAppendixTaipei National Palace Museum

• So-called Taipei Forbidden City

• One of the largest collection of China artifacts and artworks

• Built after the Chinese Civil War (1927-1940)

• So-called Taipei Forbidden City

• One of the largest collection of China artifacts and artworks

• Built after the Chinese Civil War (1927-1940)

Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.

• Founded on July 16, 1790

• Named after G. Washington

• Planner: Pierre Charles L’Enfant Andrew Ellicott …

ShapeTraditional Household in ChinaShapeTraditional Household in China

• The Courtyard House ( Si He Yuan) --- Origin of the Forbidden City

• The Courtyard House ( Si He Yuan) --- Origin of the Forbidden City

• Square• Cardinal Direction• Meridian

ShapeThe Forbidden CityShapeThe Forbidden City • Square shaped

• Wall• Meridian

twenty-six feet high wall

ShapeWashington, D.C.ShapeWashington, D.C.

• Diamond Shape• Compass Skeleton• Relationship with the land

LocationUnbearable Living ConditionLocationUnbearable Living Condition

Beijing SandstormsBeijing Sandstorms

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& lack of water“the Beijing apocalypse”

LocationUnbearable Living ConditionLocationUnbearable Living Condition

Low-lying area, fog concentrate

• Old Naval Observatory• U.S. Department of State• George Washington Univ. …

LocationLuck: Feng Shui Benefit LocationLuck: Feng Shui Benefit

Route of Dragon:Kun Lun Mountain Range

Kun Lun, 1864- mile long, 19685- feet high

LocationLuck: Feng Shui BenefitLocationLuck: Feng Shui Benefit

NW of Beijing

LocationLuck: resemblance to the RomeLocationLuck: resemblance to the Rome

• Jenkins Hill --- Capitol Hill• Goose Creek --- Tiber Outlet

• Capitoline Hill --- Capitol• Palatine Hill --- Palace (the White House)• Forum --- National Mall

LocationPolitics: Control over the NorthLocationPolitics: Control over the North

Greater control over the North

LocationPoliticsLocationPolitics Centrality: from St Croix to St Marys

LocationPoliticsLocationPolitics

Access to the West

The Use of AstrologyForbidden CityThe Use of AstrologyForbidden City

Chinese Name:

Zi (the North Star)

Jin (forbidden)

Cheng (city)

The Use of Astrologythe Federal Triangle The Use of Astrologythe Federal Triangle

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Federal Triangle,L’Enfant’s Plan

Triangle in Sky

MeridianIn the Forbidden CityMeridianIn the Forbidden City

Meridian in Forbidden City

MeridianIn Washington, D.C.MeridianIn Washington, D.C.

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Second Meridian