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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Imperial
Architecture
