Architecture of China

ARCHITECTURE OF CHINA
ARCHITECTURAL INFLUENCES
Geographical
location:
mountain with
vast fertile
valleys in the
center of south-
east and great
plains in the
north
GEOGRAPHICAL
GEOGRAPHICAL
Trade routes:
harbors
promoting
trade and
commerce, silk
making was
known in 1000
BC, reached its
peak in Tang
dynasty – Silk
Road
GEOGRAPHICAL
HARBORS
Climate:
heavy rainfall
leads to
building with
typical
sloping roofs
CLIMATE
Religion:
TAOISM by
Laozi,
CONFUCIANISM
by Confucius
(552-479 BC)
and BUDDHISM
RELIGION
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 China is a country with a long history of over
5000 years
 Chinese history is divided into DYNASTIES and
flourished under the reign of various able
emperors
 MYTHS and LEGENDS profoundly influenced
China’s history
 Peking Man lived about 500000 years ago –
discovery of fossils of human bones of ancient
man named SINANTHROPUS during the pre-
historic period
 Story of Primordial giant, PAN KU– universe
being enormous egg and Pan Ku splits the egg
from which emerged human being and tribes.
 The tribal heads were five original emperors
(Fuhsi, Shen Nung, Hunag Ti, Tai Tsung).
 Then came series of dynasties which were:
Neolithic c. 8500–c. 2100 BC
Xia dynasty c. 2100–c. 1600 BC
Shang dynasty c. 1600–c. 1046 BC Science and astrology

developed with
invention of lunar
calendar; money
introduced
Zhou dynasty c. 1045–256 BC
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn
Warring States
IMPERIAL
Qin Dynasty 221–206 BC Great Wall of China built
Han Dynasty 206 BC – 220 AD Buddhism introduced to
China
Western Han
Xin Dynasty
Eastern Han
Eastern Zhou
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu and Wu
Jin Dynasty
Western Jin
Eastern Jin 16 Kingdoms
Southern & Northern 420–589
Dynasties
Sui Dynasty 581–618
IMPERIAL
Tang Dynasty 618–907 Most prosperous period
(Second Zhou) 690–705
5 Dynasties & 907–960 Liao Dynasty 907–1125
10 Kingdoms
Song Dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song W. Xia
Southern Song Jin
Founded by Kublai
Khan, grandson of
Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368 Genghis Khan,
introduced Muslim
religion and culture
Ming Dynasty 1368–1644 Great Wall completed in
its present form;
progress in
architecture;Nanjing
and Beijing still retain
urban fabric of this
period.
Qing Dynasty 1644–1911
MODERN
Republic of China 1912-1949 Founded by Dr. Sun
Yat Sen
People’s Republic of Republic of China on

China 1949-Present 1949-Present
Taiwan
 The most important were the HAN and TANG
DYNASTIES.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
 STANDARD UNITS OF SPATIAL
ORGANIZATION –JIAN, a
rectangular room / space defined
by walls or columns is the unit of
spatial organization, a standard
unit expanded or repeated to
form either individual buildings
or groups of buildings
 AXIAL
PLANNING –
symmetrical
and
orthogonal
structuring of
plan and
elevation
 ORIENTATION –
FENG SHUI (Wind
and water);
Buildings
oriented towards
south to protect
from severe north
wind
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
 Construction mainly in wood – abundance,
light in weight, easy to work with, easy
transportation and standardization – limited
use of stone and brick
 Made use of NANMU wood from the Nanmu
tree, which could grow up to 35 meters.
 Opposite to conventional method of
construction – THE FRAMEWORK OF ROOF IS
DESIGNED FIRST AND THEN THE POSITION
OF COLUMNS IS LOCATED
 Columns were
without capitals
but with
brackets (simply
carved and
painted
moldings)
 Columns rest on
stone foundation
 Walls act merely as screens

 Glass not used
but translucent
paper fixed to
panels of
openings
 The roofs are
sloping with
gracious concave
curve overhangs –
eaves turned
upward roofs
often in multilayer
along with use of
glazed decorative
roof tiles
WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (1027-770BC)

 DUOGONG – the system of BRACKETS inserted
top of a column and a crossbeam.
 GONG – double bow-shaped arm which supports a
block of wood on each side.
 DUO – block of wood supported by GONG.
EASTERN HAN DYNASTY (25-220)
 China began to evolve its own distinct
architectural character.
 Commonly used structural techniques
included:
 BEAM-IN-TIERS
 COLUMN-AND-TIE-BEAM METHOD
CHANDOUSHI
EASTERN HAN DYNASTY (25-220)
 Either methods could be combined with
ground floors supported on plinths or raised
on stilts.
 LOG CABIN METHODS were used in forest
regions.
THREE KINGDOMS to NORTHERN and
SOUTHERN DYNASTIES (220-589)
 Chinese architecture developed noticeably.
 Due to Buddhism, PAGODAS and GROTTOES

appeared in many parts of China.
 Styles of India, Persia and Greece were
introduced.
TANG and SONG DYNASTIES (618-1279)
 Chinese building methods developed rapidly.
 Examples of the period are the

 LINDE HALL, main building of the Daminggong
Palace, which has 188 pillars, built in the Tang
Dynasty
 SAKYAMUNI PAGODA in the Fogongsi Temple built
in the Liao Dynasty.
DAMINGGONG PALACE
SAKYAMUNI PAGODA
TANG and SONG DYNASTIES (618-1279)
 From the Song Dynasty, the ARCHITECTURAL
USE OF COLOR and DECORATION became
more EXQUISITE.
MING and QING DYNASTIES (1368-1911)
 High levels of skill were developed in the
arrangement and layout of groups of buildings.
 Five main characteristics of Chinese architecture
which emerged in these periods were:
 UNITY OF STRUCTURE WITH ARCHITECTURAL ART.
 achieved by beautifying structural components themselves
instead of applying additional ornament.
 Example: a shuttle-shaped pillar and a beam formed as an
arc.
CRESCENT BEAME
 GOOD ANTI-SEISMIC FUNCTION.
 Connection of timber structural components using
“Mortise and Tenon” joint which can adjust seismic force
without causing building to collapse
 The foundation of columns not very deep so that they
can shift during earthquake
A HIGH DEGREE OF STANDARDIZATION
A building is composed of a group of beams carried on
columns with curved corbel-brackets forming a kind of
roof truss.
 The space between two such beams is called JIAN (a
bay).
 These two constructional techniques were used in most
buildings with rectilinear shapes.
 The dimensions of structural components are based on
standard modules.
 CAI was the basic module in the Song Dynasty. This was the
vertical section of the GONG part of DUOGONG or of FANG, a
piece of wood which had a height:width ratio of three:two.
 YINGZAOFASHI describes in detail the meaning and
measurements of cai.
 In the Qing dynasty, the module used is DOUKOU-the width
of GONG-and the supplementary module is the DIAMETER
OF A PILLAR.
 YINGZAO FASHI is a technical treatise on architecture and
craftsmanship written by Li Jie, an architect and official at
the Directorate of Buildings and Construction. The book was
intended to provide standard regulations, to not only the
engineering agencies of the central government, but also the
many workshops and artisan families throughout China
 BRIGHT COLORS. The practice of painting wooden
buildings
 toprevent weathering and insect infestation
 and to achieve decorative effects began in the Early
Spring and Autumn period (772-481 BC)
 BRIGHT COLORS. Gradually, the Chinese learned to
employ colors appropriate for the nature of the
building or the elements on which it was used.
 InPALACES and TEMPLES – WALLS, PILLARS, DOORS
and WINDOW FRAMES were painted RED while the
ROOF was YELLOW.
 Cool colors, often BLUE and GREEN, were applied
UNDER THE EAVES.
 THE SYSTEMATIC GROUPING OF BUILDINGS.
 The traditional method of arrangement was to plan a
single building around a COURTYARD and then to use
COURTYARDS AS BASIC UNITS TO FORM GROUPS OF
BUILDINGS.
 Complex planning of this kind is found in PALACES,
SHRINES, TEMPLES, MAUSOLEA and MONASTERIES.
ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES
PALACES AND VILLAS
THE FORBIDDEN CITY
PALACES AND VILLAS
 Most of the luxurious palaces of the emperors
of China were destroyed when the dynasties
fell.
 FORBIDDEN CITY, BEIJING – the only palace
preserved intact.
 Construction began in 1406.
 Battlemented perimeter extends 760m from east
to west and 960m from north to south and
encloses an area of 73 hectares.
 Plan of the Forbidden City.
 - – - Approximate dividing line
between Inner (north) and
Outer (south) Courts.
 A. Meridian Gate
B. Gate of Divine Might
C. West Glorious Gate
D. East Glorious Gate
E. Corner towers
F. Gate of Supreme Harmony
G. Hall of Supreme Harmony
H. Hall of Military Eminence
J. Hall of Literary Glory
K. Southern Three Places
L. Palace of Heavenly Purity
M. Imperial garden
N. Hall of Mental Cultivation
O. Palace of Tranquil Longevity
PALACES AND VILLAS
 The ROYAL PALACE was divided into an
OUTER and an INNER COURT.
 Around the OUTER COURT were the:
 TAIHEDIAN (Hall of Supreme Harmony)
 ZHONGHEDIAN (Hall of Central Harmony)
 BAOHEDIAN (Hall of Preserved Harmony)
 WENHUADIAN (Hall of Literary Glory)
 WUYINGDIAN (Hall of Martial Valour)
Click icon to add picture
TAIHEDIAN (HALL OF SUPREME HARMONY

OUTER COURT
ZHONGHEDIAN (HALL OF CENTRAL

HARMONY)
OUTER COURT
BAOHEDIAN (HALL OF PRESERVED

HARMONY
OUTER COURT
The
WENHUADIAN
served as a
study for the
crown prince.
WENHUADIAN (HALL OF LITERARY GLORY

PALACES AND VILLAS
 The WENHUADIAN served as a study for the
crown prince.
 The WUYINGIDIAN was a place for the
emperor to receive his ministers.
 The other halls were used for
 RECEPTIONS
 THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE
 CELEBRATION OF IMPORTANT FESTIVALS.
The
WUYINGDIAN
was a place for
the emperor to
receive his
ministers.
WUYINGDIAN (HALL OF MARTIAL VALOUR

PALACES AND VILLAS
 The other halls were used for
 RECEPTIONS
 THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE EMPIRE
 CELEBRATION OF IMPORTANT FESTIVALS.
PALACES AND VILLAS
 In the INNER COURT were the:
 QIANQINGGONG (Hall of Celestial Purity)
 JAOTAIDIAN (Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Unity)
 KUNNINGGONG (Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility) which
contained the emperor’s and empress’s bedchambers
 XILIUGONG (the SIX WESTERN COURTYARDS)
 DONGLIUGONG (the SIX EASTERN COURTYARDS)
 Both the latter were inhabited by maids and concubines.
THE INNER COURT
GATE OF CELESTIAL PURITY
HALL OF CELESTIAL PURITY
The Hall of Celestial and
Terrestrial Union
(JiaoTaiDian), was first
built in 1420 and
rebuilt in 1655 and
1798. One significance
of the name is the
desire that the emperor
(celestial) and the
empress (terrestrial)
have a good marriage.
Usually, empresses
would receive formal
birthday greetings here.
HALL OF CELESTIAL AND TERRESTRIAL UNION

HALL OF CELESTIAL AND TERRESTRIAL UNION
The Palace of
Terrestrial
Tranquility
(KunNingGong), was
first built in 1420
It is the only
MANCHURIAN style
architecture in the
Forbidden City and
has its gate on the
eastern side rather
than in the middle.
It is nine bays wide
and three bays deep
with double eaves.
HALL OF TERRESTRIAL TRANQUILITY

The emperor's bridal
chamber in the East
Warmth Chamber was
painted red and lanterns
were painted with red
Double Happiness
characters.
The delicate and exquisitely
embroidered bed curtain
and quilt both feature a
hundred playing children.
The emperors all hoped for
plenty of children to show
the imperial family's
prosperity.
HALL OF TERRESTRIAL TRANQUILITY

THE IMPERIAL GARDEN
(YuHuaYuan) is the last part
of the Forbidden City on the
central north-south axis
when heading northwards,
before the north gate.
The garden was built in
1417 during the Ming
dynasty.
It covers an area of about
12,000 square meters and
was the private garden of
the imperial family.
It was the most typical
imperial garden in China.
THE IMPERIAL GARDEN

PALACES AND VILLAS
 There were also BEDROOMS FOR THE CROWN
PRINCE and DOWAGER EMPRESS.
 SMALL STAGES, GARDENS and HALLS FOR
THE WORSHIP OF BUDDHA.
PALACES AND VILLAS
 The buildings in the FORBIDDEN CITY are
arranged in two rows on either side of a north-
south axis.
 The axis, known as the MERIDIAN LINE,
passes through 13 buildings and inside the
walls of the palace they are symmetrically
arranged on either side of it.
 DAQINGMEN – gateway to the inner city of
Beijing
 MERIDIAN GATE – main entrance to the
Forbidden City
 TAIHEDIAN – the largest courtyard in the
Forbidden City
MERIDIAN GATE
FIRST COURTYARD AND INNER GOLDEN RIVER
 The Forbidden City was completed 14 years
later.
 24 emperors lived and ruled China from the
Forbidden City over nearly 500 years.
The emperors also built
country villas and set
them in landscaped parts.
The most famous is the
SUMMER PALACE on the
nortwestern outskirts of
Beijing.
SUMMER PALACE
The SUMMER PALACE is
divided into 4 parts:
KUNMING LAKE, SOUTH
LAKE, WEST LAKE AND
ITS ISLAND.
The lakes are separated
by embankments.
SUMMER PALACE
SUMMER PALACE
 The SUMMER PALACE is divided into 4 parts:
 DONGGONGMEN (EASTERN PALACE GATE) where
the emperor and empress lived and affairs of state
were conducted.
 SOUTHERN SLOPE OF WANSHOUSAN, looking down
on KUNMING LAKE
 NORTHERN SLOPE OF WANSHOUSAN. All buildings
stand in the centre of the area, hidden in a landscape
modelled on the private gardens of south China.
THE SUMMER PALACE
THE SUMMER PALACE
THE SUMMER PALACE
THE SUMMER PALACE
SHRINES
SHRINES
 SHRINES were used in ancient China for
making sacrifices to ancestors and famous
historical personages, as well as to the gods.
SHRINES
 TIANTAN SHRINE – most famous shrine
located in the southern district of Beijing.
 Two groups of buildings:
 HUANQIUTAN – for the worship of heaven
 QINIANDIAN – for prayers for good harvest.
SHRINES
 The architecture and layout of the Temple of
Heaven is based on ELABORATE SYMBOLISM
and NUMEROLOGY.
 Buildings in the Temple of Heaven are ROUND,
like Heaven, while the foundations and axes of
the complex are SQUARE (or flat), like the
earth .
 Inside the Hall for the
Prayers of Good
Harvest
SHRINES
 Similarly, the northern part of the park is
semicircular in shape while the southern part
is square.
 The two parts are divided by a wall that has a
semi-circular obtrusion in the middle around
the Imperial Vault.
 This echoes the shape of the park as a whole.
The roofs of the
important
structures in the
Temple of Heaven
are tiled in BLUE,
the color
symbolizing
HEAVEN and SKY
(just as GOLDEN
YELLOW
symbolizes the
emperor and
GREEN Buddhism).
SHRINES
SHRINES
 The symbolism at the Temple of Heaven was
necessary because it served as the place where
the emperor, as the 'Son of Heaven', directly
beseeched Heaven to provide a bountiful
harvest throughout the land.
 This was of great importance because during
the imperial period AGRICULTURE was the
FOUNDATION OF CHINA’S WEALTH.
SHRINES
 The Temple of Heaven, with its ancient
cosmological basis, in turn helped to reinforce
the legitimacy of the emperor's role as HEAD
OF A FEUDAL SYSTEM WITH A MANDATE
FROM HEAVEN.
 In showing respect to Heaven through prayer
and sacrifices, the emperor effectively
emphasized the source of his authority.
SHRINES
 HUANQIUTAN
 IMPERIAL VAULT & ECHO WALL
 ALTAR TO HEAVEN
SHRINES
 QINIANDIAN
At the center of the
north-south axis of
the Temple of
Heaven are the
Imperial Vault of
Heaven and the
Echo Wall that
surrounds it.
MAUSOLEA
MAUSOLEA
 Elaborate funerals and lavish tombs were
provided for the rulers of ancient China.
 Imperial tombs were of two kinds:
 UNDERGROUND – chambers to house emperors’
coffins, first wood-framed later built of stone or
brick.
 ABOVE GROUND – or combined with underground
chambers with commemorative buildings.
MAUSOLEA
 SHISANLING
TOMBS IN
CHANGPING
MAUSOLEA
 UNDERGROUND
PALACE OF THE
DING-LING
MAUSOLEUM
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 Two types of Buddhist temples:
 COMBINATION OF A TALL, SYMBOLIC FEATURE
(STUPA or PAGODA) WITH A TEMPLE-HALL
 BUILDINGS ARRANGED AROUND COURTYARDS
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 Earliest examples were TEMPLES WITH STUPAS
introduced from India.
 Stupas usually stood in the centre of the group of temple
buildings; were said to contain Buddha’s remains and
were objects of homage for his disciples.
 By the Northern Wei Dynasty, TEMPLE-HALLS were
combined with PAGODAS. This type was passed to Japan
through Korea.
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 Under the Jin Dynasty a style evolved in which TWO
PAGODAS were placed symmetrically in the courtyard of
the temple.
 Tang Dynasty – there were independent courtyards for
pagodas.
 Song Dynasty onwards – pagodas were placed behind
the temples.
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 The second type evolved in many parts of China
between the 1st and 6th centuries.
 Bureaucrats, nobles, and emperors donated their
palaces and grand residences for use as temples.
 These buildings usually had a number of courtyards, and
this was adopted to new buildings.
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 After the Yuan Dynasty, Buddhist temples were planned
symmetrically along a main axis.
 There were traditional locations for the

 HALL OF THE KING OF HEAVEN
 THE GRAND HALL OF THE BUDDHA
 THE BUDDHIST CLASSICS REPOSITORY
 BELL and DRUM TOWER
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 It is the PAGODA which characterizes the
Buddhist temple in China.
 There are more than 2000 brick and stone
pagodas still existing.
 Only one wood-framed pagoda has survived.
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 PAGODAS WITH CLOSELY LAYERED
EAVES:
 Earliest remaining example is the
oldest pagoda of the SONGYUE
TEMPLE.
 Externally 12-sided, but the interior is
octagonal.
 There are 15 eaves in the upper part.
 The total outside contour for a longer
PARABOLA shape.
 Its long slender body had 4 doors and
8 imitation windows.
SONGYUE PAGODA
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 PAGODAS WITH
CLOSELY
LAYERED
EAVES:
 LESSER WILD
GOOSE PAGODA
AT XI’AN is an
example of a
pagoda with a
square plan.
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 Pagodas can be classified into six types:
 PAGODAS WITH CLOSELY LAYERED EAVES
 THE STOREYED PAGODA
 VASE SHAPED PAGODA
 GROUPS OF PAGODAS HONOURING BUDDHA’S
WARRIOR ATTENDANTS
 SINGLE-STOREY PAGODAS
 WOODEN TOWER PAGODAS
LESSER WILD GOOSE PAGODA
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 PAGODAS WITH CLOSELY
LAYERED EAVES:
 In the Liao Dynasty,
octagonal plan was
preferred and the eaves
were no longer parabolic
in shape.
 The PAGODA OF
TIANNING (HAVEN OF
PEACE) is of this kind and
was built to imitate
timber-framed building
style
TIANNING PAGODA
BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 THE STOREYED PAGODA
 The Chinese storeyed pagoda combined the pagoda
form with that of the Indian stupa.
 Earliest forms were square in plan but the more
popular are octagonal.
THE
GREATER
WILD
GOOSE
PAGODA
was
SQUARE IN
PLAN
GREATER WILD GOOSE PAGODA

THE TEMPLE OF
KAIYUAN was
OCTAGONAL IN
PLAN, built of stone
but resembled earlier
wood-framed
pagodas.
TEMPLE OF KAIYUAN
THE BAO’EN
TEMPLE PAGODA,
SUZHOU is a brick
pagoda. This kind of
pagoda was popular
for more than 1000
years.
BAO’EN TEMPLE PAGODA

BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 VASE-SHAPED PAGODAS – evolved directly
from stupas.
 These were usually built in groups, sometimes
5 or more in a line or arranged symmetrically
around a major building.
 The surface of the pagodas are faced in glazed
brickwork.
The WHITE PAGODA IN
THE TEMPLE OF
MIAOYING was built with
the guidance of a
Nepalese craftsman.
WHITE PAGODA IN THE TEMPLE OF MIAOYING

BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 GROUPS OF PAGODAS HONOURING BUDDHA’S
WARRIOR ATTENDANTS
 Built in imitation of the BUDDH GAYA RELIC-
HOUSE COMPLEX in India.
 Five pagodas were usually placed along the
diagonals of a square terrace decorated with
carved statues.
 Each was a closely-layered eaves pagoda and
pyramidal in shape.
ZIN GANG BAO
ZUO PAGODA IN
THE ZHENG-
JUE TEMPLE,
BEIJING
ZIN GANG BAO ZUO PAGODA

BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 SINGLE-STOREY PAGODAS
 Were built as tombs for monks and nuns.
 They may be SQUARE, OCTAGONAL,
CIRCULAR, or HEXAGONAL.
 Often found in groups or lines adjacent to
temples.
SINGLE-STOREY PAGODAS
SHAOLING TEMPLE, HENAN

SINGLE-STOREY PAGODAS
LINGYAN TEMPLE, SHANDONG

BUDDHIST TEMPLES
 WOODEN TOWER PAGODAS
 Were built from the 3rd century onwards.
 SHIJIA PAGODA in the Buddhist Palace Temple,
Shanxi Province, built in 1056, is the only
surviving building of this kind in China.
 Between each of the 5 outside storeys there is a
hidden interior storey.
 The storeys diminish in height between layers
from top to bottom.
The SHIJIA
PAGODA is 67
meters in height
and 26 meters in
diameter at its
base. Spiral
stairways are
arranged along
the edges of the
pagoda.
SHIJIA PAGODA
HALLS, PAVILIONS & MONASTERIES

POTALA PALACE, TIBET
 The POTALA PALACE is a large-scale Lama Monastery.
 It comprises the WHITE PALACE and the RED
PALACES, and rises 200 m against the slope of a hill.
 Inside the palace are 9 storeys in wood and stone.
 A part of the Red Palaces with 3 wooden-framed roofs
in laid with golden tiles has been called the GOLDEN
PALACE and stands beside 5 VASE-SHAPED TOWERS
covered in gold leaf.
 Against the red and white stone walls, they form a
colorful and splendid scene.
 The MAIN HALL of FOGUAN MONASTERY, Wutai Mountain is
one of China’s extant wooden structures.
 Its façade is divided into seven bays. There are framed
windows at both ends and in the rear wall.
 The columns of the hall are short, about 5 meters high, but
there is a large cluster of brackets at the top.
 The cantilever length of the bracket is half the length of the
columns.
 The GUAN-YIN PAVILION of DU-LE MONASTERY
in Jixian, Hebei province, is one of China’s earliest
surviving pavilions.
 The roof has single eaves and has both HIPPED
and GABLED ELEMENTS.
 A Guan-yin statue is enshrined in the pavilion.
 The construction is earthquake resistant and the
pavilion has survived 28 earthquakes without
damage.
GROTTOES
 The BUDDHIST GROTTOES were introduced to
China from India.
 They are shrines carved into cliff faces and
inside the caves.
 The development of grottoes in China is proof
of historical merging of Chinese and foreign
cultural ideas.
 FIRST STAGE: grottoes carved on natural clliffs
which are LARGE AND WITHOUT DECORATION
 SECOND STAGE: SQUARE CAVES WITH CENTRAL
COLUMNS. Niches for statues of the Buddha were
carved on some of the central columns.
MOGAO GROTTOES, DUNHUANG
ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
 Most were constructed after end of the 14th
century.
 Traditional Chinese architectural styles were
combined with Islamic ideas.
ARBAHEJAMA, KASHI,
XINJIAN PROVINCE –
consists of a MOSQUE,
PRAYER HALLS, and
MAUSOLEA OF THE
IMAMS.
NIU-JIE MOSQUE, BEIJING
– contains a CHANTING
HALL, A RITUAL BATH,
IMAMS’ ROOMS and a
PRAYER HALL.
The structure of the

mosque mainly in
Chinese style, although
the decoration of the
prayer hall incorporates
central Asian features –
TENDRIL PATTERNS,
POINTED ARCHES,
ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY
DAOIST TEMPLES AND PALACES

 A few Daoist temples and palaces survive.
 Most of the existing Daoist buildings of the

MING and QING Dynasties. They were built
mainly in beautiful mountain areas and are in a
FREE ARCHITECTURAL STYLE.
YONGLE PALACE – ealiest
surviving, built in 1262.
Its main buildings are
THREE HALLS and a
LARGE GATE, aligned on
an axis.
Each of the 3 buildings

are similar, in traditional
Buddhist architectural
style.

DAOIST TEMPLE,
QINGCHENG MOUNTAINS
– is in the vernacular
style of Sichuan province.

HOUSES AND PRIVATE GARDENS

 Houses in China vary greatly in style, from the
NORMAL to the VERNACULAR and are of the
following kinds:
 SIHEYUAN – compounds with houses around courtyards
 HOUSES SOUTH OF THE YANGTZE RIVER
 CAVE DWELLINGS
 MONGOLIAN GER
 TIBETAN BLOCK HOUSES
 HOUSES ON STILTS
 BAMBOO HOUSES IN YUNNAN AND GUIZHOU PROVINCES
 ADOBE MULTI-STOREYED HOUSES IN FUJIAN
 FLAT-ROOFED HOUSES IN XINJIANG
MONGOLIAN GER
 Residence of high officials and rich merchants in
Beijing and south of the Yangtze were constructed
of the finest materials.
 Reflective of the PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY of

ancient China.
 SIHEYUAN – had a south-north axis and rooms were
strictly laid out on either side of it.
 The PRINCIPAL ROOMS , facing south on the axis, were

for the head of the family. Those in the wings were for
his brothers and children.
 Some Siheyuan had an outer compound for entertaining

guests and another for the private use of the family.
 Many private gardens were provided in south China
and in the north, mainly BEIJING.
 Private gardens in SUZHOU are typical of the South.

Among the most famous were:
 ZHOUZHENGYUAN (THE HUMBLE ADMINISTRATOR’S GARDEN
 LIUYUAN (GARDEN TO LINGER IN)
 SHIZILIN (LION GROVE)
 WANGSHI (FISHERMAN’S GARDEN)
 CANGLANGTING (PAVILION OF THE SURGING WAVES)
LIUYUAN LINGERING GARDEN
BRIDGES
BRIDGES
 China has a long history of bridge building, tens of
thousands still exist to this day.
 Bridges assume different structural systems and
forms:
 WOODEN BRIDGES
 ARCHED STONE BRIDGES
 BEAM BRIDGES
 BAMBOO
 RATTAN
 STEEL CABLE
BRIDGES
 Most of the surviving bridges are made of
stone, demonstrating a high level of bridge-
building skill.
ANJI BRIDGE,
ZHAOXIAN – the
world’s oldest
arched bridge with
open spandrels;
constructed 700
years earlier than
the oldest European
counterpart.
BRIDGES
WANAN BRIDGE,
QUANZHOU – a
stone beam bridge
of 48 arches. It is
said that the
builders bred
oysters to help stick
together the stone
blocks of the bridge
foundations, similar
to modern raft
foundations.
BRIDGES
GUANGJI BRIDGE,
CHAOZHU– is the world’s
earliest BASCULE bridge.
It is 5meters wide and
518 meters long, divided
into 3 sections. The
middle section, a 93-
meter floating bridge,
consists of many wooden
boats linked by cables to
a stone bridge at each
end.
BRIDGES
THE GREAT WALL
– 6000 kilometers
long, was built
between the 7th
and 5th centuries.
BRIDGES
PAI-LOUS
PAI-LOUS
 PAI-LOUS are ceremonial gateways
 Look like Buddhist Toranas
 Erected in memory of distinguished person
 Built in wood or stone with one or three
openings
PAI-LOUS
 Horizontal rails with carved inscription placed
on vertical posts
 Roof projection are covered with colored tiles
with angles turned upwards

Architecture of China

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Architecture of China

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ARCHITECTURE OF CHINA

Xia dynasty c. 2100–c. 1600 BC

Shang dynasty c. 1600–c. 1046 BC Science and astrology

Zhou dynasty c. 1045–256 BC

Spring and Autumn

People’s Republic of Republic of China on

 Walls act merely as screens

WESTERN ZHOU DYNASTY (1027-770BC)

 Due to Buddhism, PAGODAS and GROTTOES

 Examples of the period are the

TAIHEDIAN (HALL OF SUPREME HARMONY

ZHONGHEDIAN (HALL OF CENTRAL

BAOHEDIAN (HALL OF PRESERVED

WENHUADIAN (HALL OF LITERARY GLORY

WUYINGDIAN (HALL OF MARTIAL VALOUR

HALL OF CELESTIAL AND TERRESTRIAL UNION

HALL OF TERRESTRIAL TRANQUILITY

HALL OF TERRESTRIAL TRANQUILITY

THE IMPERIAL GARDEN

 There were traditional locations for the

GREATER WILD GOOSE PAGODA

BAO’EN TEMPLE PAGODA

WHITE PAGODA IN THE TEMPLE OF MIAOYING

ZIN GANG BAO ZUO PAGODA

SHAOLING TEMPLE, HENAN

LINGYAN TEMPLE, SHANDONG

HALLS, PAVILIONS & MONASTERIES

The structure of the

DAOIST TEMPLES AND PALACES

 Most of the existing Daoist buildings of the

Each of the 3 buildings

DAOIST TEMPLES AND PALACES

DAOIST TEMPLES AND PALACES

HOUSES AND PRIVATE GARDENS

 Reflective of the PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY of

 The PRINCIPAL ROOMS , facing south on the axis, were

 Some Siheyuan had an outer compound for entertaining

 Private gardens in SUZHOU are typical of the South.

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