HISTORY: Chinese Architecture 1.0

CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

Nathan FallerHSTARC 3DAR 1

CHINESE ARCHITECTURE Styles of Chinese ancient architecture are rich and varied, such as temples, imperial palaces,

altars, pavilions, official residencies and folk houses, which greatly reflect Chinese ancient thought - the harmonious unity of human beings with nature.

Since ancient times, Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by conservative philosophies like Confucianism, Taoism etc. Over the centuries, the structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being on the decorative details.

Traditional Chinese buildings are always found in pairs or groups, whether they are residences, temples or palaces. Traditional Chinese architecture, unlike that of other cultures, uses wood-frame construction as one of its most distinctive features.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

CHINESE DYNASTY TIMELINE

THE CHARACTER AND MEANING OF CLASSICAL CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

THE AXIAL CITY PLAN AND SITE PLAN• One of the great religious beliefs

that influenced the design of the classical Chinese city and Chinese architecture is Confucianism. In order to create a stable social order, Confucianism established the strict doctrines putting the society in order with rules and filial piety.

THE MODULAR SYSTEM• One of the basic principles of

classical Chinese buildings is the USE OF A MODULE, much like the modular concept of prefabrication in contemporary architecture.

• Traditional Chinese carpenters used “JIAN” – a structured bay as a standard unit to construct all buildings. “Jian” was a rectangular space marked by adjacent structural frames. “Jian”, as the basic interior unit, can be expanded or repeated along the architectural plan axis to join together to create a hall, then a building.

• Odd numbers of Jian are allowed. Even numbers are considered unlucky.

THE EXPOSED STRUCTURE• In ancient China, almost all of the

main structures of classical Chinese architecture were made of wood. Thus, the art of traditional Chinese architecture may be seen as the aesthetic of wood.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURESDOUGONG Bracket sets

MUGUIJA Timber Frames

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

TAIZI Podium

COURTYARD

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

WU’ DING Roof

1) Renzi Xuan Shan2) Renzi Yin Shan3) Juan Peng4) Lu Ding5) Fudian6) Xie Shan7) Conical Cuan Jian8) Pyramidial Cuan Jian9) Renzi with Parapet Wall

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

TAI-LIANG Pillars and Beam

CHUAN DUO Pillar and Transverse Tie Beam

FENG SHUIQi(气 ), the energy of the universe, is carried in the wind and retained within water. Both elements were used as a way of directing Qi

Feng shui is not only a practice that is related to physical space, but also to the inhabitants of the space itself, as both are interconnected.

The goal of feng shui guidelines is to locate and orient dwellings, possessions, land and landscaping, etc., so as to be attuned with the flow of qi.

YIN AND YANG• Fundamental to feng shui is the idea

that yin and yang are the two basic principles underlying all matter and energy in the universe. These forces are opposites, but are not in opposition. Rather, they are complementary and need each other to exist and flourish. The constantly changing interactions of yin and yang give rise to the infinite variety of patterns in life.

• Widely used in Taoism Architecture.

BAGUAThe bagua (or pa kua) of the I Ching (Book of Changes) is an octagonal diagram used in feng shui analysis. Each direction on the octagon (north, northeast, etc.) is associated with certain significant aspects. When one maps the bagua onto a home, village, cemetery, etc., information about correct orientation and placement can allegedly be gleaned.

RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS

BUDDHISM • Buddhism was introduced to

China from India around the first century AD, since the fourth century AD, it was widely spread and gradually became the most influential religion in China.

• Because of varied introduction time and channel as well as regional, historic and social backgrounds, Buddhism in China is divided into three branches, namely Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Pali Buddhism.

PAGODA• Pagoda, symbol of Buddhism is

often erected in temples.• Pagodas were made of stone,

wood, colored glaze or metal. • Pagodas have an odd number of

layers. Seven-layer and Nine-layer pagodas are commonly built.

• The shape of cross-section is rectangular, eight-sided or even circular.

• Initially, the pagoda served as the central axis alongside which rows of halls and monks' rooms spread out.Later, pagodas were built near the main palace hall.

• Chinese pagodas, in short, are a significant part of the country's cultural heritage -with their beautiful shapes, bas-relief carvings, dougong brackets and upturned eaves.

GROTTOES• Grotto, another type of Buddhist

architecture, is often chiseled into cliffs. In the 3rd century, Chinese Buddhists began to build grottoes and Xinjiang is the first area where grottoes were hewn.

• Grottoes are decorated with painted sculptures, carvings and frescos.

• Craftsmen revealed real life pictures and their understanding of society in these art works, which gave them great historical and cultural value.

• The four famous grottoes in China are: Mogao Caves, Longmen Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes and Maiji Caves.

TEMPLE• Buddhist temples tend to be

decorated in red or black, and there is a main hall for a statue of a Bodhisattva, followed by a smaller hall with statues of other Buddha's and deities.

• Buddhist Temples are called Miao

STUPA• Stupas appeared in China with the import

of Buddhism and, during a long history of well over a thousand years, have become a valued part of the national Buddhist art.

• Stupa, a word from ancient Sanskrit meaning a square or round tomb or a 'soul shrine’.

• The perfect proportions of the Buddha’s body corresponds to the design of religious monuments - STUPAS

• Its architecture developed from the pre-Buddhist Indian grave-mound.

• Under these mounds the saintly ascetic were buried; their bodies were seated on the ground and covered with earth.

• These dome-shaped graves, or tumuli, of the saints were regarded as holy places.

• And were destinations for pilgrimage for the devotional and places of practice for meditators.

LAMA TEMPLES• Lama Temples are Buddhism

temple found in Tibet.• It is where the seat of the Dalai

Lama is situated.

CONFUCIANISM• Confucius (551-479 BC)

established the Confucian school of thought around 500 BC, during China's Spring and Autumn Period (770-476BC).

• Confucianism became one of the pillars of Chinese culture, and was named China's official state ideology around 100 BC, during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) by Emperor Han Wudi, who reigned from 140-87 BC.

CONFUCIAN IDEOLOGY• Confucian ideology was the core of

feudal China's hierarchical social system.

• Traditional courtyard residences drew strict distinctions between interior and exterior, superior and inferior, and male and female; internal affairs and external affairs, the honorable (master) and humble (maid) ranking.

• The compounds were enclosed and isolated from the outside world, and serving as material expressions of Confucian ideology.

• The chinese quadrangle buildings (known as “Si He Yuan") was highly influenced by Confucanism's rite.

TAOISM• Taoism is a religion native to

China. Laozi, a famous thinker living in 6th Century BC, established this philosophy and came to be regarded as the father of Taoism.

• It formed mainly during Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). Many Taoist ideas and thoughts are greatly reflected in Taoist architecture.

TEMPLE• Taoist architecture applies two

architectural styles - traditional style and Ba-gua style.

• In the traditional style, traditional architectural layout, which is symmetric, was applied.

• The second is the Bagua style in which all structures surround the Danlu (stove to make pills of immortality) in the center according to Bagua's position request.

• A Statue of Dragon and Lion guards the gates of a Taoist temple;

• In the main hall, the four Heavenly Emperors in Taoism replace the Buddha trinity and four Heavenly Kings in Buddhism

FUNERAL BUILDINGS

QIN LING TOMB• The Mausoleum of the First Qin

Emperor. This mausoleum was constructed over 38 years, from 246 to 208 BCE, and is situated underneath a 76-meter-tall tomb mound.

• A terracotta army guards the complex.

IMPERIAL PALACE

FORBIDDEN CITY• Situated in the heart of Beijing,

the Forbidden City is the world's largest palace complex. It has lavishly decorated ceremonial halls and royal palaces. All the gates, palace and other structures of the Forbidden City were arranged about the north-south central axis of old Beijing

OTHER NOTABLE STRUCTURES

GREAT WALL OF CHINAThe Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications built by a number of emperors to protect the northern borders against nomadic tribes.

TEMPLE OF HEAVENTemple of Heaven is not a single building but a complex located in the southern end of central Beijing. The temple was used by the emperor to make offerings to the heaven and to prey for a good harvest.

SUMMER PALACESituated 13 Km northwest of central Beijing, the Summer Palace is one of the largest, best preserved, and most interesting royal gardens in the world.

CLASSIFICATION BY STRUCTURES

Lou- Multistory Buildings Tai- Terraces Ting- Pavillions Ge- Multistory Pavillion Ta- Pagodas Xuan- Verandas with Windows Xie- Pavilions or Houses in Terraces Wu- Rooms along roofed corridors Gong- Palaces