Chinese Architecture History Notes (AY 2023-24)

# University of Santo Tomas | College of Architecture | AY 2023-24 ## HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 | LECTURE NOTES ## CHINESE ARCHITECTURE ### CHINA - Cin - (Sanskrit) first recorded use of the word "China," dated 1555, derived from a Persian name for China popularized in Europe by Marco Polo. - Cīn...

# University of Santo Tomas | College of Architecture | AY 2023-24 ## HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3 | LECTURE NOTES ## CHINESE ARCHITECTURE ### CHINA - Cin - (Sanskrit) first recorded use of the word "China," dated 1555, derived from a Persian name for China popularized in Europe by Marco Polo. - Cīnā - term for porcelain or ceramic ware originally made in China. - Qin - from the dynasty that unified China; "yellow-colored" barbarian tribe from the north (identified with Qin (778 B.C.-207B.C.), the westernmost of the Chinese kingdoms, or may refer to an unknown group then inhabiting Tibet). - Sina (Sino), Sinae - Zhōngguó (中國) - (lit) central country; from the Zhou Dynasty, as they believed that they were the "Center of Civilization." - Cathay or Cathai - a historical / poetic name for China that was used in Europe; May have evolved from "Khitans" (nomadic people from Northeast Asia) - Note: China's name changed with each dynasty: - Republic of China (Zhonghua Minguo) after the government's establishment in 1912. - Now: People's Republic of China ### GEOGRAPHY - China is the largest country in Asia - Located in Southeast Asia along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. - Area: 9.6 million square kilometres - 3rd largest country in the world after Russia and Canada - 33% of China is mountainous; 10% is hilly - Sacred mountains (pilgrimages) - Himalayas - Kunlun Mountains - Tianshan Mountains - Qinling Mountains - Greater Hinggan Mountains - Taihang Mountains - Qilian Mountains - Hengduan Mountains. - Great river systems: - YELLOW RIVER (HUANG HE) - 2,109 mi (5,464 km) long; Also called "The Great Sorrow" because each spring the rivers would overflow their banks. - YANGTZE RIVER (CHANG JIANG) - the third-longest river in the world at 2,432 mi (6,300 km); - PEARL RIVER (Zhu Jiang) - 848 mi (2,197 km) long. ### North China - Dominated by the alluvial plains along the Yellow River - Mostly flat and the soil is well-suited to agriculture. - Gobi Desert lies to the north - The winds are capable of generating huge yellow clouds of suspended dust which based on the direction of the prevailing wind can be sent out to sea. ### South China - Region drained by the Yangtze (Yangzi) River - Hillier than North China - Climate: Warm and humid ### Southwest China - Occupies about 1/4 of the land area of the PRC. - Mountains and massive highlands, averaging between 4,000 and 5,000 meters above the sea level. - Tibet was annexed in 1950. - People on the Tibetan Plateau live mostly in the river valleys - Mount Everest (Mount Zhumulangma in Chinese) - Highest point along the Tibetan Plateau - Highest mountain in the world. - Located on the Sino-Nepalese border and rises 8,848 meters (29,028 feet) above sea level. ### Outer China - Huge area to the north and west of China Proper. - Ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level. - Zone includes part of Northeast China (also known as Manchuria), Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, part of the Loess Plateau, and a stretch of mountains. - North of China Proper, the Inner Mongolian Plateau is a combination of prairie, mountain, and desert, much of it suitable for raising sheep and yaks. ### Climate - China is situated north of the equator and the climate is cold in the winter for most part and warm in the summer. - Diverse climates = Diversity in the architecture in the various regions in China ### Geological Influences - Wood-frame construction- most distinctive architectural feature - Timber - principal material - Bamboo - Pine - Persea nanmu - tallest and straightest of all trees in China - Bricks - Roofs were covered with clay tiles, colored and glazed with symbolic colors (black, red, azure, white and yellow) ### Limestone and sandstone - Fit for use in thresholds, stairs, balusters, engineering works ### Socio-economic Influences - SILK ROAD - trade route - Temples, Shrines and other structures built along the route. - Led to the establishment of extensive trading along the Silk Road which made China the largest economy of the ancient world. ### Religious Influences - **BUDDHISM** - **CONFUCIANISM** - was a new code of social conduct and philosophy of life (Middle Way). - **TAOISM** - founded by Lao Tzŭ which offered a doctrine of universal love as solution to SOCIAL DISORDER. Produced concepts of the universe and beliefs about future closely allied with superstition, astrology and necromancy - controlled the planning of societies, cities and design of the building. - **FENG SHUI** - based on the belief that forces exist in every locality and this affects the energy flow within space, buildings, towns and cities - **TAI CHI** - a practice that advocates balance and completeness through movement. - Indian context: Mandala - Chinese Context: Yin and Yang ### Socio-political Influences - **DYNASTIES** - rule the country under one family. - **EMPERORS** - (Chinese rulers) based their government on the Confucian model; Son of GOD ### Dynasties: - Ancient China - Neolithic - Zhoukoudian cave - 1st evidence of human habitation - Homo erectus, commonly known as the Peking Man estimated to have lived approximately 300,000 to 550,000 years ago. - Xia Dynasty - Shang Dynasty - Zhou Dynasty - From 2000 - 256 BC - Emerged in the Huang He valley, overrunning the Shang - "MANDATE OF HEAVEN" (tianming), the notion that the ruler "the son of heaven" or governed by divine. - Early Imperial China - Qin Dynasty - 221-206 B.C. - First Chinese empire - United China in a legalist government seated in Xiangyang, however it only lasted for 12 year. - Standardized the language and writing; and its currency as a circular copper coin with a square hole in the middle. - Public works projects were also undertaken. - Great Wall was built in the north, to protect against invasions, later developed by the Ming Dynasty. - Roads and irrigation canals were built throughout the country. - Huge palace was built for Qin Shi Huang - Han Dynasty - 207-220 В.С. - Commoner Gaozu (Liu Bang), overthrew the (Qin) emperor and assumed power - Golden Age of China: Period of prosperity, with the country embracing Confucianism. - Empire's territory expanded to to southern Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia and Central Asia. - Buddhism first came to China - Emperor Gaozu knew that he could not run the entire empire by himself. - Needed: highly educated ministers and government administrators would help the empire to become strong and organized. - System ran for over 2000 years. - Three Kingdoms - Sui Dynasty - Tang Dynasty - 618-907 A.D.; started under Emperor Taizong - 2nd largest and longest-enduring empire after the Han Empire - Buddhism became the dominant religions but at the end of the dynasty, the rulers made CONFUCIANISM the national religion and banned all other religions. - Distinction of having had the only female empress. A concubine of the T'ai-tsung and Kao-tsung, named WU CHAO reigned as emperor. - Return to prosperity, called the Golden Age of Ancient China. - Five Dynasties (907-960 A.D.) - Attacked time and again by the Khitans and the Turks. - Important development was in the field of printing - The practice of binding women's feet also began during this time. - Foot binding - Northern and Southern Song Dynasty - 960-1279 A.D - Great advances were made in the areas of technological invention, material production, political philosophy, government, and elite culture. - Use of gunpowder as a weapon - Foreign trade expanded greatly, and the Chinese had the best ships in the world. - Education, and the examination system became central to the upper class. - Neo-Confucianism was developed during this time, especially during the Southern Song dynasty. - Latter Imperial China - Yuan Dynasty (1206 - 1368 A.D.) - MONGOLS - First of only two times that the entire area of China was ruled by foreigners - Established by KUBLAI KHAN, he had his grandfather GENGHIS KHAN placed on the official record as the founder of the dynasty. - Ming Dynasty - One of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history, was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Hans - Revival and expansion of the Chinese culture - Restoration of the Grand Canal - Repair and completion of the GREAT WALL OF CHINA. - Establishment of the FORBIDDEN CITY in Beijing during the first quarter of the 15th c. - Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) - 2nd time when the whole of China was ruled by foreigners, the Manchu - Instituted changes in the dress of the Chinese: ordered all Chinese men to have their pigtail hairstyle with the front of their heads shaved. - Last imperial dynasty of China. - Experience of western imperialism. - Internal and external unrest - Taiping Rebellion - Punti-Hakka Clan War (1855-67) - Nian Rebellion (1851-68) - Miao Rebellion (1854-73) - Panthay Rebellion (1856-73) - Dungan Revolt (1862-77). - Two opium (Anglo-Chinese) wars erupted and lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860, the climax of a trade dispute between the British Empire. - BOXER REBELLION, a violent anti-foreign, anti-Christian movement by the "Righteous Fists of Harmony," or Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists in China - Xinhai Revolution of 1911-12 brought an end to the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China. - Republic of China (1912-49) - People's Republic of China (PRC) 1949-present ### Basis of Ancient Chinese Architecture 1. Concept of Bilateral symmetry - Bilateral symmetry = balance - Applied in both palace complexes and farmhouses. - Secondary elements are positioned either side of main structures to maintain bilateral symmetry. - Buildings have: - even number of columns - odd number of bays - Main door located at the central bay 2. Enclosure - Often, building complexes take up the entire lot but enclose open spaces within themselves. - Enclosed spaces come in two forms: - Courtyard (院) Siheyuan (si-haw-yan) an empty space - Direction - Animal - Color - Taoist Idea: Nature has two balancing forces - Dynamic equilibrium: Opposing qualities bound together as parts of a mutual whole - (outer circle) - Black and white - mutual whol - interaction of two energies, which causes everything to happen. - Numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are considered to be lucky numbers in China - 4 = is categorized as unlucky even though it is an even number, because its pronunciation rhymes with the Chinese word “死” (si or shi in Chinese) meaning "death". ### Lo Shu Magic Square - The numbers in every direction in every row add up to 15 - 15 = number of days it takes for the new moon to become a full moon (number of days in each of the 24 cycles of the Chinese solar year) - People were able to use this pattern in a certain way to control the river and protect themselves from floods. - Symbolizes the natural order of the Universe, promoting logic, strategy and open-mindedness. - Lo Shu magic square is called a bagua chart. - Each of the sections of the bagua symbolize specific properties including: - Life area - Element ### Residences of Royal Relatives - Less solemn and much smaller in size and scale - Less side steps in front of gates - Ridges were decorated with engraved beasts - number of beasts could not exceed nine because the number "nine" carried a special significance in old China and symbolized the emperor's supreme sovereignty ### Mandarin (Bureaucrat) residence - Also restricted by a set of rules, as all buildings were legally regulated - "Guardian lions" were not allowed to stand in front of the gate - Engraved beasts were forbidden to decorate ridges of roof ### Wealthy businessmen - Much lower social class no matter how rich they might were. - Doors of these buildings were totally different in style from that of officials' residence - No ornaments around the door symbolic of official position in ancient Chinese hierarchical society ### Ordinary people - Ordinary people could not afford buildings as decent as those of the wealthy or officials. - Houses were very simple. - Doors and windows were much smaller ### Horizontal Emphasis - Classical Chinese buildings are built with an emphasis on breadth more than height - Enclosed heavy platform + large roof that seemingly floats - Vertical walls not well emphasized. - Forbidden City: - (interior) halls and palaces low ceilings; - (exterior) all-embracing nature of imperial China - Note: Does not apply to pagodas, which are limited to religious building complexes. ### Cosmology - Use of Feng shui (geomancy) and Taoism to organize construction and layout - Example: Screen walls to face the main entrance of the house (to counter evil things that travel in straight lines) - Talismans and imagery of good fortune: - Door gods on doorways to encourage the flow of good fortune - Three anthropomorphic figures representing Fu Lu Shou stars - Animals and fruits: Bats and pomegranates (good fortune and prosperity) - Orientation: - (back) an elevated landscape; - (front) water element; ### Windowless back of the structure faces the north, where the wind is coldest in the winter. - Ponds, pools, wells, and other water sources are usually built into the structure - The use of certain colors, numbers and the cardinal directions in traditional Chinese architecture reflected the belief in a type of immanence, where the nature of a thing could be wholly contained in its own form ### Chinese Design Techniques 1. The Axial City and Site Plan - Confucianism = influenced the design of the classical Chinese City - Strict doctrines = societal order + rules + filial piety - Axial symmetrical city layout = rigid hierarchical social system in ancient China - compositional elements in an axial layout plan are interrelated - all elements should reference the axis (north-south axis or the east-west axis) - The classical Chinese city axial plan = orthogonal system (grid) common characteristic features: - Palace or most important building in the axial center = symbolizing the centralized power of Chinese emperor. - Square plan; the streets were laid out running north-south and east-west along the plan axis to form a checkerboard grid - Wall enclosure surrounding the city ### Harmony - Confucian concept: Harmony + happiness in a family = deference to elders happiness (hierarchy) - Classical Chinese house: - Halls for the older generations and for important ceremonies - Main (north-south) axis > had the best ventilation and sunshine - Higher location - More exquisite decorations - Younger generations (east-west) side halls more simply decorated - Surrounding wall: - privacy + seclusion - security - 1-2 doors leading to the street - Typical spaces in a classical Chinese house: - Ting (Hall) - the largest and the most formal room used to treat important guests, - Tang (Living room) - the place to hold family meeting - L'ou (Apartment) – the place for family member live and for taking advantages of scenery - Ting (Pavilion) – the place for relaxation ### The alternation between Exterior Architecture and Interior Space - Axis = not only controls the layout but acts as a path - ALTERNATING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SPACES - Building to a courtyard - Courtyard to another built space - Spatial sequence of solids and voids - The interior and exterior spaces in the Chinese courtyard house are complementary to one another, rather than being independent - Traditional Chinese courtyard (an exterior space) = necessary part of the spatial organization - Courtyard = the extension of the interior space + center of family activities - Almost all the doors and windows of traditional Chinese buildings open toward the courtyard. ### The modular system - Jian - rectangular standard structural unit; can be joined together to create a hall, then a building. - Several buildings around a courtyard to form a traditional Chinese courtyard house. - Several traditional Chinese courtyard house units create a small street district. - A number of such districts form a grid-like network with palaces, government buildings and other public buildings in the center. ### The exposed structure - Classical Chinese architecture = aesthetic of wood - Texture and color of the wood was exposed (stained with wood oil to preserve it) - Most evident in Southern China - the weather is hot and humid, so the walls are thinner and not only the interior wood structure but also all the columns and beams were exposed or half embedded in the outside walls of the building. - Wood frame skeleton supported the weight of the huge roof + upper stories. - Interior spaces: - Walls were used only as enclosing elements. - Interior space was divided freely according to the needs. - walls = solid fixed partitions - sliding screens, folding panels, decorative panels = temporary partitions (marked "separation" but allowed continuity of visual connections) ### Ancient Chinese Architecture - Mainly timberwork = buildings are quite flexible ### Hierarchy - Hierarchy = importance + placement of buildings within a site. - Buildings with doors facing the front of the property are considered more important than those facing the sides. - Buildings facing away from the front of the property are the least important. - South-facing buildings in the rear - More private location + higher exposure to sunlight = reserved for elders - Front-facing buildings in the back of properties are used for celebratory rites and for the placement of ancestral halls and plaques. - In multiple courtyard complexes, central courtyards and their buildings are considered more important than peripheral ones, the latter typically being used as storage or servants' rooms or kitchens. - Hierarchy exists in the type of architecture for the different members of society: - Imperial Palaces - The structure is symmetrical (front part) for the emperor to handle official businesses - (rear part) residence for emperors and concubines - (east) shrine for the ancestors - (west) shrine for agricultural deities - Within the complex there are several immense courtyards divided by individual gates. - In addition to the palaces, there is a luxurious garden for the imperial family to relax themselves. - Ordinary people could not afford buildings as decent as those of the wealthy or officials. - Houses were very simple. - Doors and windows were much smaller ### Wooden posts, beams, lintels and joists make up the framework of a house - Walls serve as the separation of rooms without bearing the weight of the whole house, which is unique to China. ### Layout - The whole layout is symmetrical - Main structure is located on the central axis - Less-important structures are located to the left and right - The scenery is different in each courtyard - Likewise from the interior of the buildings the view from no two windows is the same. ### Building Types - Residential Architecture (Neolithic Period) Lived in settled communities - Cave dwellings - Cliff dwellings - Pit dwellings (sunken courtyards) - Diet included millet or rice, they domesticated pigs and dogs - Cultures in central China along the Yellow River were known for their painted pottery. - Square shape - Round shape - Ancient Chinese architecture (timber frame) is composed of: - SLOPING ROOF - with standing pillars formed a relatively fixed structure, while the walls only form the role of fencing. - HOUSE BODY- provides the living space - TERRACE - solid or hollow formed by timber frame - Foundation of a house is made of rammed earth (RE). - Use of bricks for construction of walls in the absence of wood. - Roofing materials (depends on the wealth of a family) - Clay is a common material for making tiles for roofing. - Thatch and bamboo common materials for the poor - Wood (if available / affordable) was used for framing and roof support - Wood framework systems for Chinese homes and other buildings were standardized by the Ming dynasty. - A distinctive wooden framing system to support the heavy tile roof - distribute gravitational forces downward and then out through the wooden frame. - Two main kinds of WOODEN FRAMING systems developed: - pillars-and-beams (tailiang) - pillars-and-transverse-tie-beams (chuandou) - Use of 'reverse assembly' (because the roof and its ties are still carried on posts, rigid load-bearing walls having proved more liable to fail in earthquakes) - Chinese timber buildings do not rely on triangular bracing to create rigidity, but use instead elaborately jointed corbelled brackets known 'dougongs.' ### Hutong - A type of narrow street or alley commonly associated with northern Chinese cities - In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. - Neighbourhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another. ### Siheyuan - Quadrangles / Courtyard Houses - The young generation occupied the side halls facing east and west. - Halls for the elders and for important ceremonies - arranged along the main axis, which usually was the north- south axis, to have the best ventilation and sunshine. ### Tulou - A large, enclosed and fortified earth building - Rectangular or circular in configuration - 3-5 storeys high - With very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls - can house up to 800 people (Hakka people) ### Fujian Tulou - 46 earthen buildings - Set amongst rice, tea and tobacco fields - Built along an inward-looking, circular or square floor plan as housing for up to 800 people each. - For defence purposes, structured around a central open courtyard with only one entrance and windows to the outside only above the first floor. - Known as "a little kingdom for the family" or "bustling small city. ### Decorative Roofs - Elaborate cupolas were reserved for the ceilings of the most important structures such as tombs and altars - Traditional Chinese architecture roofs and ceiling were constructed without nails - Zaojing - (coffer or caisson ceiling) Elaborate wooden coffers bordered by a round, square, or polygon frame with its brackets projecting inward and upward from its base - Timber Jointing Systems - Upturned eaves - these gave the roofs their distinctive graceful curved shapes ### Rounded tiles - commonly used; rows interlocked with one another - Different types of roofs - hierarchy. - become symbol of - Graded according to the size and differences in images - high to low; big to small, important to less important - Below the zoomorphs are the criss-crossing layers of cylindrical tiles that recall the wood-and-bamboo origins of the Chinese roof; below that, in the lower left-hand corner, a makara, a water-dragon who protects the structure against fire. - 4 types: - Hip roof - Resting Hill Roof - Hanging Hill Roof - Hard Hill Roof ### Roof Components: 1. Roof covering - roof surface; the part between the top and the eaves 2. Edging Finishing - roof near the eaves often had a different color from the upper part 3. Full-face Ridge - ridge at the highest point of the building roof formed by the intersection of the front and back slopes; viewed as a horizontal line from the front 4. Full-face Ridge Decoration - various decorations are often set on the roof ridge; common roof crown (in the middle of the full-face ridge); different decoration carvings in the shape of flowers, grass, or dragons are also found on the front and back elevations of the full-face ridge. 5. Vertical Ridge - for Hip Roofs, Hanging Hill Roofs, and Hard Hill Roofs, any ridge other than the positive ridge is called a "vertical ridge." 6. Diagonal Ridge - in Resting Hill Roofs, the ridge starting from the Eaves gable board below the vertical ridge and ending in the entangled animal heads 7. Eaves - the part of the roof that protrudes beyond the truss 8. Ridge Beast - a protruding beast head is fixed on the lower corner end of the eaves to protect the beam head from rain 9. BAODING - roof crown 10. SHANHUA - the triangular wall formed on both sides of the Resting Hill Roof ### Dougong - dougong - structural element of interlocking wooden brackets - one of the most important in traditional Chinese architecture - evolved into a structural network that joined pillars and columns to the frame of the roof. - Dougongs helped make buildings highly resistant to earthquakes. - Bracket systems help to solve problems as the building gets bigger: - how to reduce beam spans; - how to brace wall sections above columns; - how to support a wide eave; and - how to strengthen the frame. ### Religious Architecture 1. Grottoes: - Two forms of Buddhist grottoes: - Small cave in square shape, gate in front within the cave are niches arranged in parallel on three sides, which are for the monk to sit in and meditate. - Bigger with pagoda built in the center of the rear part, the place in front of the pagoda is for the disciples to get together to pay respects to the Buddha. - YUNGANG GROTTOES, Datong of Shanxi Province - 50,000 statues from the 52 caves survive. - LONGMEN GROTTO - Also called Dragon's Gate Grottos; Location: Northern Wei capital of Luoyang; cave-chapels 2. Temples: - Resemble Indian temples, consisting of open courts, porticos with kitchen, refectories and sleeping cells of priests. - Normal type consist; - 3 lofty one-storey pavilions with parallel open timber roof - Approached by broad steps, gateways and bridges - BUDDHIST TEMPLES - Follows the imperial style, but with green roof tiles - Strictly symmetrical - Usually main buildings will be set on the central axis, facing the south. - Annex structures will be on the west and east flanks. - Dorm, kitchen, dining hall, storehouse and antechamber usually cluster on the right side - left side remains for the visitors - TAOIST TEMPLES - Architecture is a little less grand - Main deity is usually represented in the main hall which is at the front, in contrast to Buddhist layout where the main hall will be to the rear - Entrance is usually at or to the side which is believed to confuse entry by demons (a Feng Shui guideline) - Taoist roofs are generally blue - QINGYANG PALACE (Zhou Dynasty) - FAYUAN TEMPLE (Beijing) - Main Tower - Hall of the Divine Kings - Main altar - Scripture Hall 3. Pagodas: - Originally attached to monasteries to preserve relics - "Residences of the immortals" - Shape = Indian stupa + shikhara - Secular in character (but became victory monuments in the latter period) - Vary from 3-15 storeys: Multiple stories were added to lend visual power and prestige - Form: Chinese traditional pavilion + Indian stupa / shikhara - Originally 3-4 storey pavilions (increased to 7, 9, and 10) - Tapers to the top - floor is smaller than the previous one - Height upper storeys are lower than the previous ones - Towering height: additional disks and treasure crowns bearing the Buddhist significance are added to it. - Sturdy or pointed in line with their combination with the pagoda body and top - 2 styles: - Wood - Northern China- milder protruding eaves, and spike on top is sturdier - Southern China - steeper eaves and more pointed spikes - White Horse Pagoda at White Horse Temple, Luoyang. China's first pagoda. - Futuci Pagoda in Xuzhou, built in the Three Kingdoms period (~220-265). - Brick - 40m pagoda at Songye Temple, Dengfeng Country, Henan was built in 520 during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and has survived almost 1500 years. - 4-door pagoda at Licheng, Shandong, built in 611 during the Sui Dynasty - earliest large-scale stone pagoda - Stone - Brick and Stone - Porcelain Pagoda, Nanjing - famous brick and stone pagoda ### Types of Pagodas: - Multi-storeyed - Pavilion-shaped structures, representing the most popular and exquisite styles in ancient Chinese architecture - Multi-eared - Pagodas with flowery ornaments - Pagodas built on vajrasanas - Pagodas built across roads - All the different kinds of pagodas, including the Lamaist dagobas most similar to the original style of Indian stupas, have assumed Chinese characteristics in architectural style and ornaments ### Paizhou - Also called Bailou or Paifang - Ceremonial entrances / archways to temple, tombs or occasionally spanning a street - Formal inspiration derived from Indian toranas - Erected in memory of virtuous people (values: Chastity, Loyalty, Filial Piety) - Constructed of wood or stone and painted or ornamented with glazed tiles ### Dian - Dian - Large single building in traditional Chinese architecture and generally referred to as Dadian (grand hall) - Also called zhengdian (central hall) as it is invariably built on the axis of an architectural complex. - Grandest of all buildings, being symbolic of the supreme power of the emperor. - Dachengdian or the Great Hall in the Confucius Temple of Qufu - Taihedian or the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing's Forbidden City ### Ornamental Pillars - Huabiao; - Often seen on the grounds of palaces, imperial gardens, and mausoleums. - Also seen at some crossroads to mark the thoroughfares. ### Gardens #### Classifications 1. Imperial gardens - Spacious and grandiose with a variety of plants, symbolic trees and smaller gardens for specific purposes 2. Private Gardens - built in urban areas, neighbored with residences; generally small and simple due to expensive land 3. Monastic Gardens - found in monasteries against quite and verdant mountains; with natural beauty solemn within the scared atmosphere 4. Garden architecture in scenic resorts / public areas - 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 #### Elements of a Chinese Garden 1. Rocks 2. Water 3. Buildings 4. Plants ### Imperial Architecture 1. Altars and Temples - Imperial temples and altars for worshiping heaven, earth, sun, moon and the Imperial ancestors - Commemorative temples for the dead people of great value - Family temples - Sacrificial offering - kind of worshipping activities in the form of showing and offering material objects ### Temple of Heaven and Earth - Sacrificial altar for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. - To worship heaven and pray for good harvest. - Winter's Solstice + New Year - 3 GROUPS - The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests - The Imperial Vault of Heaven of Prayer - The Circular Mound Altar, the altar proper ### Symbolism - Earth (square) and Heaven (circle) - Temple complex walls: (outer wall) has a taller, semi-circular northern end (Heaven), and a shorter, rectangular southern end (Earth). - Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the Altar Mound: are round + standing on a square yard - The number nine represents the Emperor - The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests: - plate is surrounded by a ring of marble slabs, each slab carries 9 symbols for a total of 9 surrounding rings on 15th day of 1st lunar month - offer sacrifices to ensure a abundant grain harvest - Sacrifices = rituals - twice a year - offer auspicious days - Winter solstice - express gratitude - New Year's Day - pray for a good year - All have special dark blue roof tiles - All the buildings within the temple complex have precious white marble walls - rites of imperial color - The emperors performing worship would stand at the Altar of Heaven, the (south) altar and the Altar of Earth, the (north) altar - both are reserved for the gods. The emperor used the imperial Vault. The central gate was the Gate of Heaven and it was used for the ritual gate. - The Imperial Vault. The central gate was the Gate of Heaven and it was used for the ritual gate. - Resembles the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests but is smaller. ### Foguang Temple - "Temple of Buddha's Light"; 3rd earliest preserved timber structure in China; Contains Manjusri Hall; 2nd oldest existing pagoda in China - Longxing Temple - Hall of 4 Heavenly Kings - Hall of Dajueliushi (Relics) - Mani Hall (Móní-diàn) - Precept Platform - Pavilion of Zhuanlunzang and Pavilion of Maitreya - Royal Stele Pavilions - Tower of Great Mercy - Hall of Amitabha - Hall of Hall of Vairocana ### Single-gabled circular building, built on a marble stone base. - Surrounded by a smooth circular wall, the Echo Wall, that can transmit sounds over large distances. - Place where the tablets of god of heaven are stored - Symbology of the temple: - seasons = 4 inner pillars (4 seasons) - solar system = 12 middle (12 months of the year) and 12 outer pillars (12 traditional Chinese hours respectively) - heavens = circular plan ### Mausoleums / Tombs - Examples of the highest architectural techniques of the time. - The mausoleums are generally built against the mountain and divided by valleys along which walls are erected. - A stone monument stands in front of the deceased emperor. - The mausoleums have broad ways called Shendao (the Sacred Way) at the entrance. - ornamental columns and stone sculptures of men and animals which guard the tombs on either side - A stone bridge proceeds the roads leading to separate tombs. - In each tomb area: - Dragon and Phoenix Gate - a tablet - the Gate of Eminent Favours - the Hall of Eminent Favours - the side halls - the Soul Tower - the grave mound - subterranean / underground palace as the main part. ### Qin Tombs - Terracotta warriors - Qin Shi Huang ### Han Tombs - Inherited Qin system - (underground) Tomb chambers - (ground level) halls built for worship - Built with brick and stone in rectangular shape. - Long stone slabs or hollow bricks - the floor, ceiling and the walls. - Walls and ceilings are carved with all kinds of designs - human figures, images of animals, scenes, etc. ### Tang and Song Tombs - Tang dynasty - powerful in the middle period. - Built its capital Chang'an according to strict plan including magnificent palaces and gigantic mausoleums. - Also inherited the tomb system of the Han - Shendao in front, with stone sculptures of men and animals lined on both sides - Above-ground halls ### Baisha Tombs ### Late Song dynasty tombs - Location: Yuzhou