Ancient

(Traditional)
Chinese
Architecture
Background
 Ancient China was majorly located in the eastern part of Asia,

stretching to as far as Eastern Europe to the west, the Sea of Japan to

the East, and the Indian Subcontinent to the south (especially during

the Mongol Dynasty). Like other ancient civilizations, the location of

ancient China was dependent on the conquests of each dynasty's

leaders.
Map of Ancient Chinse Dynasties
Geography and Climate
Zhengyuan
• Zhengyuan, which was to the North, served as the heart of
early Chinese civilization because of its favorable
geographical and climatic conditions.
• Zhengyuan is and has rich soils due to silt deposition from a
nearby river. Its temperate climate facilitated healthy crop
growth with its cold, dry winters. Its proximity to nomadic
tribes from northern deserts and steppes also stimulated
early development of state governments.
South China
• Southern China had tropical, mountainous, and
rocky features which are best exemplified by the
area surrounding the Canton region around
Huangpu.
Jiangnan
• Lyingbetween the Canton region and North
China is the Yangtze Plain, widely referred to as
Jiangnan.
• Jiangnan had been the center of economic and
cultural development since the ancient times.
• Physically,the Yangtze Plain is a series of
alluvial plains and the Yangtze River’s major
tributaries, making it exceptionally suitable.
Map (not to scale) showing the relative locations of Zhongyuan,
Jiangnan, and South China.
Timeline of Chinese History
• Chinese history can be categorized into 2.
• Ancient Chinese Era: It started with the
Shang Dynasty in 1766 BCE and ended at the
end of the Han Dynasty in 220 CE. This era is
the main focus of this case-study. It consisted of 5
main dynasties.
• Imperial
Chinese Era: It started with the “Six
Dynasties” period in 220 CE and ended with the
Qin Dynasty in 1912
Five Main Dynasties of Ancient
China
1. Xia Dynasty
• Very little is documented about this Dynasty and
some scholars believe it to be mythical and non-
existent
2. Shang Dynasty
• Thisis the first well-documented dynasty that
lasted from about 17666 BCE to about 1050
BCE.
3. Zhou Dynasty
• a. Western Zhou Dynasty Period
• This period lasted before the year 771BCE
• b. Eastern Zhou Dynasty Period
• This period lasted between 770 BCE and about 221 BCE. It can again be
further classified into two categories.
• i. Spring and Autumn Period
• Lasted between 770 BCE and 476 BCE period. During this time, China
consisted of many squabbling states.
• ii. Warring Period
• This period lasted from 475 BCE to 221 BCE. The small states
consolidated into several larger units, which struggled with one another
for mastery.
• 4. Qin Empire
• One of the larger units from the Warring Period of the Zhou era
was Qin. Qin succeeded in conquering the rest of the states and
bringing China together and establishing the Qin dynasty. The
Qin Dynasty lasted from 221 BCE to 207 BCE.
•
5. Han Dynasty
• The Han dynasty was known as a golden age in Chinese
history, with a prolonged period of stability and prosperity. It
lasted from 206 BCE to 220 AD. A central imperial civil service
was established to create a strong and organised government. It
was at this period that Confucianism flourished.
Political System
• During the Zhou dynasty, China was run through a feudal state
system.
• However, during the warring period, these states consolidated into
larger states that warred against each other.
• Finally, the Qin Empire conquered all other states. Emperor Qin
Shih Huang ruled as a brutal dictator, applying the philosophy of
Legalism to his rule.
• This era of oppression ended with the fall of the Qin Empire and
the start of the Han dynasty. A central imperial Civil service was
established to create a string and Organized government.
Economical System
• Ancient China's economy, like all economies at that time (which had
advanced beyond the hunter-gatherer stage), were based on agriculture.
The Increased agricultural productivity laid out the foundation for
growth in trade, economical diversity, and technological However,
agriculture remained at the root of Ancient Chinese civilization. Ancient
China also engaged in local and long distance trade.
Chinese Philosophies
There are 5 main Chinese Philosophies that
governed Chinese Social life:
• Confucianism

• Taoism

• Buddhism

• Mohism

• Legalism
Confucianism
• Thisphilosophy was named after the great Chinese
philosopher Confucius who was its founder during the
spring and autumn period. It is the most influential
philosophical system in China.
• The main idea of Confucianism is the importance of
having a good moral character, which can then affect the
world around that person through the idea of “cosmic
harmony.” This moral character is achieved through the
virtue of Ren or “Humanity.”
• Thegolden rule of Confucianism is “Do not do unto
others what you would not want others to do unto
you”.
• It
is important to consider that Confucianism
emphasized on order; The scale and structure of
a house had to conform to the owners identity
and status. Even the color and decorations of
the structure had to have a relationship to the
owner.
• Thishad great implications on the Architecture
of Ancient China
Taoism
• Themain belief in Taoism is that
humans and animals should live in
balance with the Tao or the universe.
Taoists believe in spiritual immortality
where the spirit of the body joins the
universe after death
• Taoism has three main principals
which are inaction, simplicity, living
in harmony with nature. The
principals rested on a belief in the law
of unity of the two opposite forces: Yin Ying – yang
and Yang.
Buddhism
• It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, also called the
Buddha, who lived in India around the sixth century
B.C.E.
• It focuses on personal development and attainment of
deep knowledge. Buddhists seek to achieve enlightenment
through meditation, spiritual learning, and practice. They
believe in reincarnation and that life is impermanent and
full of suffering and uncertainty; the way to find peace is
through reaching nirvana, a joyful state beyond human
suffering.
•
Mohism
• Mohismemerged under the philosopher Mozi. It focused
more on ethics than morals.
• Mohism promotes a philosophy of impartial caring; a person
should care equally for all other individuals regardless of
their actual relationship to the person. It is the expression
indiscriminate caring that makes a man a righteous being in
Mohist thought. This was a target of attack from other
Chinese philosophers especially the Confucians.
Legalism
• Legalism in ancient China was a philosophical belief that human
beings are more inclined to do wrong than right because they are
motivated entirely by self-interests and require strict laws to control
their impulses.
• Legalism promotes the notion of strict law and order and harsh
collective punishments ideas that influenced Qin Shi despotism and
centralized rule. The emperor believed that Legalism would help him
rule his empire and orders legalists to write new laws. The main goal
of legalism was to achieve order in Chinese society during a time of
unrest.
• The most important symbol of Chinese legalism is the Great wall of
China. It was built during the third century by the Chin emperor , the
wall represented the rule of law.
Key Considerations
Some of the most defining characteristics of Chinese Architecture
include :

1. Bilateral Symmetry

Forbidden City Palace showing

bilateral Symmetry
2. Open Courtyards
A good example is the Siheyuang type of
residence that was commonly found
throughout China.

Typical Siheyan

A Sky Well is a relatively enclosed

courtyard formed from the intersections
of closely spaced buildings and offers a
small opening to the sky

Typical Skywell
• Skywells also performed the duties as the Roman
impluvium while restricting the amount of sunlight that
enters the building. They were vents for thermal regulation,
ventilation and collecting water.

Roman Impluvium
3. Horizontal emphasis
• Buildingsthat were too high and large were considered
unsightly, and therefore generally avoided.

Horizontal Emphasis
4. Curves
• Curves can be observed on almost all ancient Chinese
Architecture – bridges have arches, corridors are winding, and
roofs have curves around the edges

Curves on roof edges

5. Feng Shui
• Fengshui, also known as Chinese geomancy, is a
pseudoscientific traditional practice which claims to use
energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding
environment and the surrounding elements : Air, Water,
Earth, Fire, and Metal.

Historically, Feng Shui was mainly

used to orient gardens. However, at
times it was considered when
designing buildings, especially
Mausoleums.

Chinese Garden
6. Cosmological concepts
It was believed that Heaven was at the
North Star where ShangDi, the
Supreme Being of the Ancient Chinese
People, resided. This made them orient
their structures north south, with the
Northern most part being the most
important, sacred, and opulent section
of the building/complex. The south-
north orientation is apparent in the
construction of the Forbidden City, the
Temple of Heaven, the Ming Tombs,
and basic residential Siheyuans.
Temple of Heaven
Forbidden
City

N
Typologies
Imperial Palaces
Originally built to cater for the
extravagant lifestyles of the
emperors and as well as to
provide a centralized location
for demonstrating imperial
Shengyang imperial palace
political control. They were
built on a grand scale with no
expense to display the majesty
and dignity of the imperial
power of the time. Each
successive emperor contributed
grandeur to the structures
Forbidden City
Defensive walls
• Ancient Chinese cities were surrounded by a set of walls
outside the cities that wee mainly defensive fortifications

The Great Wall of China Xi'an ancient city walls

Pagodas

• Pagodas are native to India

but were introduced to
China along with the
introduction and
integration of Buddhism.
The Chinese Version was
made more grandiose by
adding more stories. Each
additional story reduced in
size

Three pagodas in Dali

Alters and Temples
Altars and temples are important
components of Chinese culture.
They provided ceremonial sites for
offering prayers and sacrifices to
heaven.
An example is The Temple of
Heaven where emperors undertook
an annual pilgrimage during the
winter solstice to pray to heaven
for a good harvest
Mausoleums
• They were built to honour those who had moved on to the
other dimension after death.
• Mausoleums display beautiful and elaborate artwork,
carvings, and calligraphy. Many times, mausoleums were
made of stone and brick because they were permanent
structures for the dead and did not require the flexibility that
wood structures provide.
• Distinguishingcharacteristics of Chinese mausoleums include
a path leading up to the structure as well as statues of
humans and beasts on either side of the walkway
• It
was also common for Feng Shui Concepts to be considered in
the design of Mausoleums.
 Typical
Ancient
Chinese
Mausoleum

Path leading up to
the structure :
Mausoleum of
Emperor Qin Shih
Huang

The Mausoleum of Qin Shihuang

Path leading
up to the
structure :
Mausoleum
of Emperor
Qin Shih
Huang
Commoner Residence
The architectural style of traditional Chinese
residences was functional and suited to local
conditions.
For example, in Southwest China, bamboo houses
suited the muggy environment and local resources
well.
In the northern part of Shaanxi Province where
the weather is cold and dry in winter, the loess-
carved dwellings were good at retaining heat and
were cheap to construct.
A good example of commoner residence spaces is
the Siheyuang.
Siheyuang
Stone Bridges

• During the Sui Dynasty and

afterwards, some builders
demonstrated special skill in
the construction of stone
bridges that have survived
through centuries of
earthquakes, floods, and wars.
• An good example is the
Zhazou Bridge on the right
Functionality
As discussed earlier, the Chinese landscape could be
simplified into three main regions:
 Zhongyuan to the north
 Jiangnan in the middle about where the Yangtze plains are
 Southern China including the Canton region
Chinese Architecture was specialized in its functionality
depending on its location.
• Zhengyuan's long history with states and empire led to its
culture having a strong emphasis on social hierarchy.
• Northern Chinese buildings are often single-storied yet wide
(Siheyuan) to symbolize the vast flat plain those buildings sit
upon and also to showcase military and political power
• Social
hierarchy is also show by the arrangement of houses in
Zhengyuan.
•.It was valued by Confucius’ teaching that originated from
Zhengyuan. In a traditional a type of rectangular dwelling, the
northern building(whose façade faced south and got the most
sunlight) is reserved for family elders, who are considered to be
masters of the house. The building behind it that gets the least
amount of sunlight is for unmarried daughters and female
servants, who are on the very bottom the social hierarchy.
An example of a
Siheyuang
• In Southern China because of its relative isolation placed a heavy
emphasis on protection and equality among family members.
• Southern China was plagued by bandits due to lack of governance
thus inhabitants were forced to build fortified communal dwellings to
protect themselves and their properties.
• A Tulou in Southern China, is a tall, rectangular or circular dwelling
for a family clan. It places a heavy emphasis on defense, it has thick
walls are immune to firearms, its doors are made out of fireproof
wood, and its roofs facilitate more accurate firing.
• Southern China’s isolation from the North also allowed for people to
enjoy relative equality within the family clan, as social hierarchy from
Confucius’ teaching was not as influential as it was in the North. All
rooms in Tulous are of the same size and same building material, with
the exception of bigger family branches getting bigger rooms.
Tulou
• Jiangnan buildings are often multi-story and intentionally have
spaces between walls for ventilation due to humid weather conditions.
• Walls are also thinner or else they wouldn’t dry.
• Jiangnan architecture often integrates rivers into part of their life,
taking advantage of the transportation and trade these water routes
provided.
• Jiangnan buildings have black roofs and white walls which lack the
variety in colors commonly observed in Northern architecture. This is
due to the flowers that bloom almost all year long and therefore it
would seem excessive to paint the walls with different colors.
• Another iconic feature of Jiangnan is its lavish gardens which was
used as a showcase of their economic power.
Jiangnan
Architecture
Building Technology
Building Materials
1. Timber
• Wood was initially used as the primary
building material since it was readily
available and easier to work with. It
was preferred to stone and other
materials because of its availability.
• Timber, especially large, trimmed logs
were used as load-bearing columns and
lateral beams for framing buildings and
supporting roofs.
2. Earth
The earliest walls and platforms in China were of
rammed earth construction.
Furthermore, Most Structures ( I.e. Temples, Halls and
Gate Towers) were built on Raised Platform made of
compacted earth and faced with brick and stone.
Mud house rammed with
Earth

Earthen walls at the

Jiayuguan fortress
3. Stone and brick

• With time, brick and stone

architecture gradually
became more common and
replaced wooden edifices.
• The earliest examples of
brick and stone structures
are Zhaozhou bridge and
xumi pagoda and the
Great wall of China.

Example of a stone house similar to Ancient

Chinese stone houses
4. Glazed ceramic tiles

• Roofing
material was
majorly glazed
ceramic tiles
5. Thatch

• Some of the small private

houses of ancient
Chinese Communities
used thatched roofs.
Techniques
• Wooden frames were built using
only joinery and dowels, and glue
and nails were rarely used
• Mortises and Tenon joints
were preferred to nails which
gave a better flexibility. During
Earthquakes and ability to
quickly rebuild in case of
collapse.
Most Building type had
regularly spaced timber
posts strengthened by
horizontal cross-beams
( Main reason was to
protect the building
against earthquakes.)
To allow the roof to extend outwards
dougong (a bracket joining the top of
the post and horizontal roof beam.
Roof projected beyond the wall of the
building.
The dougong increased the surface
area on which the horizontal beams
lay on the vertical columns to allow
for greater spans.
Another technique used by ancient China to ensure
structural stability was one-storey buildings.
Wooden structures are susceptible to damp weather,
insects, and fire. Therefore, building a tall wooden
structure is rather inconvenient considering the cost of
maintaining it and the risk of failure. Furthermore,
one-story buildings present better chances of survival
in the case of an earthquake
Aesthetics, Decoration
and ornamentation
• Architectsin ancient China paid special attention to color
and adornments, from the whole building to specific parts.
They used different colors or paintings according to
particular building functions or local customs. Buildings
were often quite colorful.
• Carved beams, painted rafters, various patterns, inscribed
boards, couplets hung on the pillars, and wall paintings
were used to add a colorful and beautiful style to interiors.
• Theroofs were gabled with tiled roof and corners gently
carved outwards and upwards at the corners
• Stone lions, screen
walls, ornamental
columns, as well
as flowers were
used to decorate
the exteriors of
buildings.

Decorative column and dougong bracket.

• Roofs become more
curves at the corners.
Decorative tiles and
figures were added
figures such as
dragons were added
to he ends and ridges
of the roof.

Curved ceramic roofs with ornamentation.

Symbolism in Architecture
a. Number Symbolism
• 1. The Number 9 had been considered as the imperial number in Chinese
architectural construction. Especially working with the Number 5, it
symbolized the power of the emperor.
• 2. The Number 4, which stands for the four seasons of the year, was seen
as a cosmic association between human being and the universe. Working
with the Number 12, it was also applied as a representation of the
emperor associating with heaven.
• 3. Similar to the Western traditions, the Number 3 was largely found in
both religions and architectural designs, which represented the perfect or
purity.
• 4. The group of odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) was recognized as the
“heavenly numbers”, and was widely used in the architectural design.
While the group of even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8) was believed to be the
“earthly numbers”, and was normally avoided in the practical
construction.
 This lacks number 2
This lacks number 4 and 4
b) Feng shui concept
• The use of Feng Shui
clarified the symbolism in
Chinese Architecture
especially in terms of their
associations of human
beings, animals, seasons,
colours, and the Five
Chinese Elements. Feng
Shui brings the ideals of
function, flow, and
harmony into the visions
of architectural ideation.
Symmetry
The symmetry in
Ancient Chinese
Architecture
symbolized balance,
harmony, and
Order.
c. Curves

• According to ancient Chines

society, curves symbolize
vitality. ). Due to this,
curves are one of the most Curved roofs in Ancient Chinese Architecture as
depicted in Kung Fu Panda
distinct character of ancient
and contemporary Chinese
Architecture

Yue yang Tower in Hunan, China

d. Animal Symbols

• Animal symbols used

as omens, are found
throughout China’s
rich heritage and
culture. For example;
the butterfly
represents love, the
crab and fish
prosperity and wealth

Tiger Pagodas
e. Ornate carvings and images of dragons
• These symbolized the
emperors Mandate to
rule.
• To be a righteous
and fair leader to
their people, the Dragons on the façade of the roofs of buildings
emperors-built
shrines in which they
prayed and thanked
the dragons for their
power.

Chinese Eastern Dragon in the Forbidden city

f. Color
• In ancient China, bright colors
like blue, green, and gaudy red
are considered auspicious,
whereas neutral colors like grey
are rarely used since they
represent unhappiness and
insignificance.
• Yellow and blue were specific to
emperors because they
represented royalty and
immortality, whereas red Use of Yellow and Blue were used to
represented good luck and represent royalty and immortality in
the Forbidden City Palace.
happiness.
g)Talismans and Imagery of good fortune
• Door gods displayed on
doorways to ward off
evil and encourage the
flow of good fortune
• Three anthropomorphic
figures representing Fu
Lu Shou stars are
prominently displayed,
sometimes with the
proclamation "the three
stars are present"