Source:
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_architecture"]http://en.wikipedia....se_architecture[/url]
[url="http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9B%BD%E5%BB%BA%E7%AD%91"]http://zh.wikipedia....i/ä¸å%...»ºç‘[/url]
[size=3][size=4]Introduction[/size]
[/size]Chinese architecture refers to a style of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture"]architecture[/url] that has taken shape in [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia"]Asia[/url] over the centuries. The structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely unchanged, the main changes being only the decorative details. Since the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_Dynasty"]Tang Dynasty[/url], Chinese architecture has had a major influence on the architectural styles of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea"]Korea[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan"]Japan[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan"]Taiwan[/url] and [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam"]Vietnam[/url].
The following article gives a cursory explanation of traditional Chinese architecture, before the introduction of Western building methods during the early [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Century"]20th Century[/url]. Throughout the 20th Century, however, Western-trained Chinese architects have attempted to combine traditional Chinese designs into modern (usually government) buildings, with only limited success. Moreover, the pressure for Western-style urban development throughout contemporary China means that demand for traditional Chinese buildings is quickly disappearing.
The Liuhe Pagoda of Hangzhou, China built in 1165AD
[size=4]Features[/size]
There are certain features common to all Chinese architecture, regardless of specific region or use.
The most important is the emphasis on the horizontal axis, in particular the construction of a heavy platform and a large roof that floats over this base, with the vertical walls not as well emphasized. This contrasts Western architecture, which tends to grow in height and depth. Chinese architecture stresses the visual impact of the width of the buildings. The halls and palaces in the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City"]Forbidden City[/url], for example, have rather low ceilings when compared to equivalent stately buildings in the West, but their external appearances suggest the all-embracing nature of imperial China. This of course does not apply to [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagoda"]pagodas[/url], which, in any case, are relatively rare. These ideas have found their way into modern Western architecture, for example through the work of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B8rn_Utzon"]Jørn Utzon[/url] (see page 221 of Weston (2002) ).
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Forbidden_City1.JPG"]
[/url] The Hall of Supreme Harmony within the Palace Museum ([url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City"]Forbidden City[/url]) grounds in [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing"]Beijing[/url] Another important feature is its emphasis on symmetry, which connotes a sense of grandeur; this applies to everything from palaces to farmhouses. A notable exception is in the design of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden"]gardens[/url], which tends to be as asymmetrical as possible. The principle underlying the garden's composition is to create enduring flow and also to emulate nature.
Chinese buildings may be built with either red or grey [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick"]bricks[/url], but [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood"]wooden[/url] structures are the most common; these are more capable of withstanding [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake"]earthquakes[/url], but are vulnerable to [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire"]fire[/url]. The [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roof"]roof[/url] of a typical Chinese building is curved; there are strict classifications of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gable"]gable[/url] types, comparable with the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_orders"]classical orders[/url] of European columns.
The use of certain colours, numbers the cardinal directions in traditional Chinese architecture reflected the belief in a type of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanence"]immanence[/url], where the nature of a thing could be wholely contained in its own form, without reference to an evanescent belief. Although the Western tradition gradually developed a body of architectural literature, little was written on the subject in China, and the earliest text, the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kaogongji&action=edit"]Kaogongji[/url], was never disputed. However, ideas about cosmic harmony and the order of the city were usually interpreted at their most basic level, so a reproduction of the "ideal" city never existed. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing"]Beijing[/url] as reconstructed throughout the 15th and 16th century remains the best example of traditional Chinese [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_planning"]town planning[/url].
[size=4]Classification by structure[/size]
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Suzhougarden.jpg"]
[/url] [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humble_Administrator%27s_Garden"]Zhuozheng Garden[/url] in [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzhou"]Suzhou[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiangsu"]Jiangsu province[/url], one of the finest gardens in China. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_language"]Chinese[/url] classifications for architecture include:
[list]
[*]樓 （楼） [i]lou[/i] (Multistory buildings)
[*]台 [i]tai[/i] ([url="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chinese_terraces&action=edit"]terraces[/url])
[*]亭 [i]ting[/i] ([url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pavilions"]pavilions[/url])
[*]閣 （阁） [i]ge[/i] (Two-story [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pavilions"]pavilions[/url])
[*]塔 [i]ta[/i] ([url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_pagodas"]Chinese pagodas[/url])
[*]軒 （轩） [i]xuan[/i] (Verandas with windows)
[*]榭 [i]xie[/i] (Pavilions or houses on terraces)
[*]屋 [i]wu[/i] (Rooms along roofed corridors)
[/list]
[size=4]Imperial architecture[/size]
There were certain architectural features that were reserved solely for buildings built for the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_China"]Emperor of China. One example is the use of yellow roof tiles; yellow having been the Imperial color, yellow roof tiles still adorn most of the buildings within the [/url][url="http://%22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City%22"]Forbidden City[/url]. The [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Heaven"]Temple of Heaven[/url], however, uses blue roof tiles to symbolize the sky. The roofs are almost invariably supported by [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracket"]brackets[/url], a feature shared only with the largest of religious buildings. The wooden columns of the buildings, as well as the surface of the walls, tend to be red in colour.
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Forbidden_City_-_snowy_roof.JPG"]
[/url] The yellow roof tiles and red walls are visible in this Forbidden City image of a building under snow. The [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon"]Chinese dragon[/url], an emblem reserved for the imperial regime, were heavily used on imperial architecture - on the roofs, on the beams and pillars, and on the doors. Only the buildings used by the imperial family were allowed to have nine [i]gan[/i] (space between two columns); only the gates used by the Emperor could have five arches, with the centre one, of course, being reserved for the Emperor himself. The ancient Chinese favored the color red. The buildings faced south because the north had a cold wind.
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing"]Beijing[/url] became the capital of China after the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol"]Mongol[/url] invasion of the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_century"]13th century[/url], completing the easterly migration of the Chinese capital begun since the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jin_Dynasty_%281115-1234%29"]Jin[/url] dynasty, the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Dynasty"]Ming[/url] uprising in [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1368"]1368[/url] reasserted Chinese authority and fixed Beijing as the seat of imperial power for the next five centuries. The Emperor and the Empress lived in palaces on the central axis of the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_City"]Forbidden City[/url], the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Prince"]Crown Prince[/url] at the eastern side, and the concubines at the back (therefore the numerous imperial concubines were often referred to as "The Back Palace Three Thousand"). However, during the mid-[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qing_Dynasty"]Qing Dynasty[/url], the Emperor's residence was moved to the western side of the complex. It is misleading to speak of an axis in the Western sense of a visual [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_%28visual%29"]perspective[/url] ordering facades, rather the Chinese axis is a line of privilege, usually built upon, regulating access - there are no vistas, but a series of gates and pavilions.
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerology"]Numerology[/url] heavily influenced Imperial Architecture, hence the use of nine in much of construction (nine being the greatest number) and reason why The Forbidden City in Beijing is said to have 9,999.5 rooms - just short of the mythical 10,000 rooms in heaven. The importance of the East (the direction of the rising sun) in orienting and siting Imperial buildings is a form of solar worship found in many ancient cultures, where the notion of Ruler is affiliated with the Sun.
[size=4]Commoner architecture[/size]
As for the commoners, be they bureaucrats, merchants or farmers, their houses tended to follow a set pattern: the centre of the building would be a shrine for the deities and the ancestors, which would also be used during festivities. On its two sides were bedrooms for the elders; the two wings of the building (known as "guardian dragons" by the Chinese) were for the junior members of the family, as well as the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen, although sometimes the living room could be very close to the center.
Sometimes the extended families became so large that one or even two extra pairs of "wings" had to be built. This resulted in a U-shaped building, with a courtyard suitable for farm work; merchants and bureaucrats, however, preferred to close off the front with an imposing front gate. All buildings were legally regulated, and the law held that the number of storeys, the length of the building and the colours used depended on the owner's class.
[size=4]Religious architecture[/size]
Generally speaking, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism"]Buddhist[/url] architecture follow the imperial style. A large Buddhist monastery normally has a front hall, housing the statue of a [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva"]Bodhisattva[/url], followed by a great hall, housing the statues of th[i]I[/i][i]n[/i][i]s[/i][i]e[/i][i]r[/i][i]t[/i][i]f[/i][i]o[/i][i]r[/i][i]m[/i][i]u[/i][i]l[/i][i]a[/i][i]h[/i][i]e[/i][i]r[/i][i]e[/i]e [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha"]Buddhas[/url]. Accommodations for the monks and the nuns are located at the two sides. Buddhist monasteries sometimes also have [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagoda"]pagodas[/url], which may house the relics of the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha"]Gautama Buddha[/url]; older pagodas tend to be four-sided, while later pagodas usually have eight-sides. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daoism"]Daoist[/url] architecture, on the other hand, usually follow the commoners' style. The main entrance is, however, usually at the side, out of [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superstition"]superstition[/url] about [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon"]demons[/url] which might try to enter the premise. (See [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feng_shui"]feng shui[/url].) In contrast to the Buddhists, in a Daoist temple the main deity is located at the main hall at the front, the lesser deities at the back hall and at the sides.
Longhua Pagoda in Shanghai,originally built during 3 kingdoms period
Iron Pagoda built during Song dynasty, Kaifeng city.
http://upload.wikime...c/c0/3waterjing
Modernity meets tradition at Jing'an Temple in downtown Shanghai
[size=4]Philosophy of Space[/size]
[size=4][size=2]Various aspects of Chinese architecture, such as the relationship between Fengshui (wind and water) and nature, structure, material and sequence of space, all reflect a worldly view of humans and the world.[/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2][size=4]Categorization of Chinese Architecture[/size][/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2]Chinese Architecture is generally divided into traditional and modern architecture. The division of time is that of Opium War in 1842.[/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2][size=4]Traditional Chinese Architecture[/size][/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2]Traditional Architecture is categorized according to different dynasty period. Because most of chinese architecture uses wood as its material, it was often subjected to human-based or natural destruction and was not able to be maintained for a long period of time.[/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2]-The Research into the architecture of Xia, Shang, Zhou period will rely mainly on ancient chinese source, literature and archaeological excavation.[/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2]-For Shang and Han dynasty architecture research, most of the information comes from archaeological excavation, tombs, stone carvings, bricks artwork, and artwork on utensils.[/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2]-From Han till Tang dynasty, because of influence from buddhism, besides the buildings that had survived till today, cave carvings and grettos (wall paintings) became subject of research.[/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2]-From Tang/Song dynasty onward, because of survival of many buildings and ancient sources, it had given us much information on chinese architecture research.[/size][/size]
[size=4][size=2]
[size=4]Brief History of development of Chinese Architecture[/size]
[/size][/size]Chinese architects were treated as craftsmen in ancient times involved in designing and constructing buildings. They were often not considered as "artists" (or literati) and thus their status were not as great as any famous chinese painters/calligrapher, who were treated as scholar/literati in ancient times. For this reason, there were no significant records of "any great chinese architects" in chinese history. The Ming Architecture Masterpiece such as Forbidden City was commissioned by Ming Emperor Yongle, but little do we know who was the team involved in designing and constructing the buildings.
There were very few ancient chinese sources on chinese architecture. The only existing known ancient source about chinese architecture were "Construction Method <<营造法式>>" from the Song dynasty and "Construction Engineering Method<<工部工程作法>>" from the Qing dynasty.
Chinese Architecture only became a formal discipline of study in China in the early 20th century due to western influence.[i] Joseph Needham[/i], the British Sinologist was the first westerner to study in great depth about ancient chinese science and technology, and pointed out that the ancient chinese construction technology was one of the most important chinese technology achievements.
In the 20th century, there were many great master who pioneered the development of chinese architecture. The first credit would have to go to Liang Sicheng 梁思成, a US-trained chinese architect responsible for researching and compiling the influential work "China's Architecture History《中國建築史》", which remained one of the most important academic source for studying chinese architecture and its history. Liang's father was none other than the famous Qing/ROC scholar Liang Qichao. Liang Sicheng was the first person to introduce chinese architecture to the west with his book which was also translated into English. In 1930, together with his wife, he established the "China Architecture Institute 中国营造学社", which became an important research institute on ancient chinese architecture. He was consided the Master historian of chinese architecture of 20th century.
Besides Liang Sicheng, there was another influential chinese architect Liu Guozhen 劉敦楨,a Japan-trained architect who wrote "History of China's Ancient Chinese Architecture 《中國古代建築史》", which was still today's important academic source on the study of ancient chinese architecture.
