Architecture
Ancient Chinese architecture has a long history and great achievements, and created many architectural miracles such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and so on. In the process of its development, superior architectural techniques and artistic design were combined to make unique Chinese architecture be one of the three greatest architectural systems.
Ancient Chinese architecture features unique timber framework, the top load of a structure will be transferred to its foundations through its posts, beams, lintels and joists. And color is the main ornament used on the ancient Chinese architecture. The painting will give the structure a clear-cut and a magnificent image, it is unique that such sharp color can achieve artistic effects.
Buddhist Architecture
Chinese Buddhist architecture consists of temple, pagoda and grotto.
Localization starts right after Buddhist architecture was introduced
into China with Buddhism during the Han dynasty, interpreting Chinese
architectural aesthetics and culture.
Chinese Buddhist architecture follows symmetric style strictly. Usually
main buildings will be set on the central axis, facing the south.
Annexe structures will be on the west and east flanks. Temple gate,
Heavenly King Hall, the Main Hall and Sutra Library successively stands
on the axis. Dorm, kitchen, dinning hall, storehouse and antechamber
usually cluster on the right side while left side remains for the
visitors.
Pagoda is also the main integrating part of the Buddhist architecture,
with varied styles and strong local flavours. Pagoda followed Buddhism
into China around the first century, and developed into pavilion-like
pagoda on which one can view scenery after immediate combination with
traditional Chinese architecture.
Another Buddhist architecture is grotto complex which is caves hewn
on cliff walls, usually huge projects and with exquisite engravings.
It came from India with Buddhism too and boomed during the Northern
and Southern dynasty. The famous Mogao Caves, Yungang Grottoes and
Longmen Grottoes were all carved then.
Taoist
Architecture
Taoist architecture includes various structures according to different
functions, categorized as palace for oblation and sacrifice, altar
for praying and offering, cubby for religious service, residence
for Taoist abbes and garden for visitors.
In the former style, traditional architectural layout, which is
symmetric, will be applied. Main halls will be set up on the central
axis, while other religious structures on the two sides. Usually,
on the northwest corner of the complex, Lucky Land to Meet God will
be located. Annexes like dining hall and accommodation will locate
at the back or the flank of the complex.
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. The center axis from the south to the
north is very long and structures flank the axis. The style reflects
Taoist philosophy that the human cosmos follows the natural cosmos
to integrate energy, qi and spirit.
Most Taoist architectures resort to nature topography to build towers,
pavilions, lobbies and other garden structural units, decorated
with murals, sculptures and steles to entertain people, fully interpreting
Taoist philosophy of nature.
Taoist architectural decoration reflects Taoist pursuit of luck
and fulfillment, long lifespan, and eclosion into the fairyland.
Taoist architectural motifs are all meaningful. Celestial bodies
mean brightness shining everywhere while landscape and rocks immortality.
Folding fan, fish, narcissus, bat and deer are used to imply beneficence,
wealth, celestial being, fortune and official position, while pine
and cypress stand for affection, tortoise for longevity, crane for
man of honor. There are many other symbols very traditional and
Taoist decorations root deep in Chinese folk residential houses
Chinese
Temple
It is difficult to estimate how many temples there are throughout
China. The word temple in English means: a building dedicated to
religious ceremonies or worship. So, it included all religious buildings
which consisted of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam and other
religions into Chinese Temples to write this article.
Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are three main religions in China.
Although they have never acquired such important roles to be considered
to dominate the political system in China's history as Christianity
or Islam has done to some western countries. However, they do have
deep influence on the development of China's politics, philosophy,
art and social cultures. Chinese temples, range in size from back-alley
Taoist hut to magnificent Tibetan Buddhist Drepung Monastery, the
largest and richest monastery, which covers an area of over 200
thousand square meters.
Garden
Architecture
There are many classifications according to different criteria. Herein
garden architecture falls into four categories.
Imperial gardens: These gardens, usually spacious, exquisite and grandiose,
were built for royal families by thousands people. Images of these
gardens will linger in one's mind forever. Now most former imperial
gardens are in Beijing. Such as Summer Palace, Chengde Summer Resort,
Beijing Beihai Park.
Private gardens: These gardens are usually built in urban areas, neighbored
with residences. Since land is expensive in cities private gardens
are generally small and simple but delicate and look tasteful and
play multiple functions. Most famous private gardens are situated
in Suzhou, Jiangsu. Such as Humble Administrator's Garden, Canglang
Pavilion, Lingering Garden in Suzhou.
Monastic gardens: These gardens are commonly found in monasteries
against quite and verdant mountains. With natural beauty, these gardens
are solemn within the sacred atmosphere.
Garden architecture in scenic resorts: These gardens usually occupy
large public areas since they are based on the combination of natural
scenes and man-made landscape and structures in suburb area or mountains.
Imperial
architecture
Imperial architecture will feature imperial mausoleums and imperial
palaces, which are always splendid and magnificent.
Imperial mausoleum architecture accounts for a major part in ancient
Chinese architecture since they usually stand for the highest architectural
techniques of the time. Emperors would often force thousands of
the nations best architects to build these structures. They would
withdraw millions, even billions from the exchequer to fund their
tombs. These tombs were always magnificently deluxe and consisted
of finest structures of the period. These mausoleums were usually
built against hills or mountains and facing plains. Most imperial
mausoleums have broad ways called Shenlu (the Sacred Way) at the
entrance. Along both sides of the Shenlu, there are stone sculptures
of men and animals which guard the tombs. Other imperial structures
were also built beside the tomb. Under huge hills of clay, splendid
and superior structures were constructed with fine facilities such
as drainage systems.
During the long Chinese history, emperors of different dynasties
kept building palaces. Since palaces are where emperors live and
practice their reign, palaces of different dynasties integrates
essences of Chinese architecture. The famous palace complex, Efanggong
built by and for Qin Shi Huang Emperor. Can you imagine that its
Front Palace, built more than 2,000 years ago, covered 80,000 square
meters and could hold 10,000 people? The Weiyanggong of the Western
Han Dynasty had more than 40 palaces within a periphery of 11 kilometers.
The Forbidden City, also called the Imperial Palace, which was set
up under the reign of the Ming dynasty and still stands intact,
covers an area of 720,000 square meters and consists of more than
9900 palaces and other structures. It is the grandest and biggest
palace in the world.
The
Number "Nine" and Imperial architecture
Nine carried a special meaning in ancient China when it was deemed
that odd numbers represent Yang while even numbers Yin. Since nine
is the largest odd number under ten, it was regarded the extremely
lucky number. So, emperors liked to monopolize it to symbolize their
superiority. Designs related with nine appeared almost on every
imperial structure such as palace. For example, on gates of the
Forbidden City, there are 81 gold-plating bronze studs which were
arranged in nine columns and nine rows. Ancient palaces usually
were designed to be nine-section architectural complex. Based on
the same reason, number or size concerning imperial architecture
often equals or multiples nine.
Dragon
and Phoenix
Dragon and phoenix, called Long and Feng in Chinese respectively,
are totems of Chinese people. They were used to represent emperors
and their consorts and were the main decorative patterns to be seen
on various imperial structures. Palaces, columns, pathways and screen
walls were all inscribed or carved or painted with their images.
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