HISTORY OF CHINESE

ARCHITECTURE
HISTORY

•Prehistoric developments
occurred along the Yellow
River (Hwang-ho) valley and
Yangtse River basin around 21st
century BCE

•The Grand Canal, 1794 km

long, started in 5th century BC
and completed in the 7th
century AD. Connected five
major water systems, including
the Yangtze and the Hwang-ho.
Economic development mostly
along the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal
 HISTORY
• Xia period (2100-1600 BCE) earliest civilization but no written records
• Shang dynasty (1600 – 1028 BCE) written records, science and
astrology developed, invention of lunar calendar, money introduced
• Zhou Dynasty (1050-249 BCE)
• Qin / Chin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) – Great wall was built
• Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 AD) – Buddhism introduced in China.
Country most powerful, envoys sent to other countries. Trade
through the Silk Road.
• Jin Dynasty (265-419 AD)
• Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) – Most prosperous period. Sent envoy to
Nepal during the reign of Narendradeva
• Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD) invention of the compass, gunpowder
and the printing press which were subsequently introduced to
Europe. Increased overland and maritime trade
 History
• Yuan Dynasty (1280-1367 AD) – Founded by Kublai Khan, grand
son of Mongolian Genghis Khan; introduced Islam religion and
culture in China; mention of Nepalese architect “Anige” (Arniko)
• Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) – Great wall completed in
present final form; progress in architecture; Nanjing and Beijing
still retain urban fabric of this period. End of feudal system and
beginning of capitalism
• Qing / Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD)
• By 1840 AD, European powers had reduced China to a semi-
colonial state
• In 1912, Republic of China was founded by Dr. Sun Yat – Shen,
ending imperial rule
• In 1949 the People’s Republic of China was declared after the
Chang kai-shek troops were defeated by the Communist Party
of China which still rules the country
 Chinese Architecture
• Difficult to know about early Chinese and Japanese
architecture because of perishable nature of wood which was
the principle building material
• Clay models of early houses show wooden origin
• Did not seek monumentality or permanence in their
structures
• Knew about brick and stone construction since 2-3 century AD
but preference for wood
EARLY ARCHITECTURE
• China isolated from other
civilizations for a long period,
developed independently
• Before the Xia period (2100-
1600 BCE) small villages of pit
houses, built of wattle and
daub.
• The village of Banpocun (Pan-
p’o-ts’un) c.4000 BCE oval • Four interior posts supported a sloping
shaped with a population of 2 – wattle and daub roof which reached
3 hundred almost to the ground. Thin closely spaced
• The village surrounded by a posts supported the roof at the edge
ditch 6m wide and 6m deep • The hearth was in the center of the hut.
• The houses 5m in diameter, • A large rectangular hut in the middle of
circular in shape and sunk 60cm the village, probably a meeting house or
into the ground the headman’s house.
Tombs
• The Hsi-pei-kang tomb of the
Shang period was a shaft
grave 14m x 19m built of
jointed timber placed 14m
below ground
• Long sloping ramps led to the
tomb which was covered by a
wooden canopy.
• Simple tombs consisted of a
shaft without ramps which
was filled with earth after
burial.
 Architecture after Xia Period
• During Xia period, villages larger; enclosed by walls of rammed earth.
Central longhouse and other huts placed like in prehistoric period
• Cities established during the Shang period (1600-1028 BCE)
• Palaces, ceremonial buildings in central walled area of the city.
Residential, industrial, commercial and farming activities outside walls
• Pit houses gradually replaced after 1400 BCE by timber framed houses
built on 60 cm high rammed earth podia
• Light weight screens used to partition the interiors
• The courtyard type of building did not appear until about 200 BCE.
• The feudal system (introduced in 5th century BCE) restricted peasants to
build only simple timber houses. However, centralized feudal control by
ruler led to large scale construction works such as the Great Wall, the
Grand Canal, large palace complexes, new cities etc.
• No building remains due to flimsy nature of building material
Dougong System of Brackets • During the Western Zhou period
(1027-770 BCE) development of
the Dougong system of brackets
inserted between the top of the
column and beam
• Each bracket had a double bow-
shaped arm called the “gong”
and each side of the arm
supported a block of wood
called the “dou”
• The buildings were simple and
undecorated and had not yet
developed the curving roofs
• Dougong used mainly in temples
and palaces
Dougong System of Brackets
 Characteristics of Chinese Architecture
• Distinct architectural character during the Han dynasty (206
BCE-220 AD). Introduction of Buddhism brought new styles
• Maturity in building methods reached during the Tang and
Song dynasties (AD 618-1279)
• Even higher levels of skill achieved during the Ming and Qing
dynasties.
• Due to large size, differing climates in different regions led to
difference in local architectural character.
• Tropical climate in South with hot summers and heavy rainfall;
buildings with sloping roofs and wide shades designed to
promote maximum air movements through the building. The
colder north has south facing buildings which are closed to the
cold north winds.
 Chinese Architecture
• Classic Chinese structure, wooden frame on platform, developed in the
middle Yellow River valley in 9th century BCE
• In frequent earthquakes, solid walls tended to crumble and crack, while
wooden frames rode out the tremors much better. If destroyed, could be
rebuilt or disposed of faster
• Three basic elements of Chinese and Japanese architecture:
Raised platform – solid, of pounded earth, brick, stone etc.
Wooden frame raised on the platform – posts set on stone or bronze base
to protect from damp. Light walls filled in later
Roof with wide overhang supported by pillars. Distinctive curves in
eaves and ridge from Han period. Various color roof tiles, yellow
being imperial color
• For protection against weather and termites, wooden elements painted
with lacquer or oil and hemp mixed with brick dust. Thus began the practice
from 3rd century BC of painting all structural elements in bright red.
 Characteristics of Chinese Architecture
The five major characteristics of Chinese
architecture were:
• Unity of structure with architectural art i.e. no additional
ornaments added, only the structural components beautified
• Good anti-seismic properties obtained by jointing wooden
members in a way to allow flexibility during earthquakes
• High level of standardization
• Bright colors for decoration as well as protection against
weathering and insects
• Systematic grouping of buildings along an axis or a series of
courtyards
 Building Materials
• Large forest areas since ancient times so timber main building
material
• Tiles first produced in 8th century BCE and bricks and hollow
clay blocks since 5th century BCE for underground tombs.
• Bricks used only after 13th century AD for structures above
ground. Mass production of bricks only after 17th century AD
• Glazed tiles highly prized and first used in palaces during the
4th century AD
• Tiles used in pagodas during the Song dynasty. More intricate
colored patterns followed during Ming period
• Stones used for foundations and a few structures such as
bridges, tombs and pagodas.
Confucius’ • Confucius (551–479 BCE) preached
concept of “ren” (kindness) and “li”
Influence on (moral values). Started practice of
Temple Design honoring ancestors and family clans
• Shrines built to offer sacrifices to
ancestors, famous historical persons and
gods
• Symbolically heaven was circular and
earth square. Thus square walls built to
locate heaven on earth.
• The circular shrines often with three
tiered roofs built in the dougong method
with blue roofed tiles, raised on
diminishing terraces
• Temples given places of importance in
cities beginning from 11th-17th century AD
• Tiantan shrine in southern Beijing is the
most famous shrine
Tiantan temple
 Influence of Daoism on Chinese Architecture
• Lao Ze and Zhuang Ze propogated Daoism around 4-5 century
BCE. Believed in the underlying unity governing the
phenomenal world
• Need for harmony with nature. Led to construction of Chinese
gardens where nature was copied in the man-made gardens
• Buddhism introduced from India in 1st century AD. More firmly
established in 4th century. Spread to Korea a few years later
• Gradual fusion of Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism
reflected in architectural practice. Buildings became more and
more similar, differing only in ornamental themes
• Natural scenic locations selected for constructing Buddhist and
Daoist temples.
The Forbidden • Many earlier palaces of China
City, Beijing destroyed after fall of the rulers.
Only Forbidden City dating from
Ming and Qing dynasties preserved
• Construction started in 1406 AD.
• The Forbidden City surrounded by
moat and Imperial City whose main
entry is through Tiananmen gate
• The Forbidden City locked up each
night for the protection of emperor
• Twenty four emperors lived and
ruled China from Forbidden City
beginning from the Ming dynasty for
over 500 years
General Conceptual Layout of the Forbidden
City
View of the Forbidden City
The Forbidden
City, Beijing
• Fortified walls 960m N-S and
760m E-W
•Palace divided into inner and
outer courts. Buildings arranged
symmetrically along N-S axis
•The Hall of Supreme Harmony,
Hall of Central Harmony, Hall of
Preserved Harmony, Hall of
Literary Glory ( crown prince’s
study) and the Hall of Martial
Valor (emperor’s meeting hall
with ministers) arranged in outer
• The inner court consists of the
court.
king’s palace, the queen’s palace
•The first 3 halls used for
• Six Eastern Courtyards and the Six
reception, administration and
Western Courtyards housed the
celebration of major festivals.
concubines and the maids
The Forbidden City

Bird’s Eye View of Palace

The Meridian Gate, entrance to the

Forbidden City
Hall of Supreme
Harmony, Forbidden
City Beijing
•Hall of Supreme Harmony
biggest hall in palace
complex.
• Raised on three tiers of
terraces 8m high
• Marble balustrades on
each terrace
• Size 27m x 64m
•Double roofs, Building
profusely decorated with
dragons and painted in
bright colors.
 Buddhist Temples
• Two types of Buddhist temples evolved:
a) Tall pagoda or stupa with a temple hall
b) Group of buildings arranged around courtyards
• Stupas were said to contain Buddha’s remains and was placed
in the center of a group of temple buildings
• From the 4th to the 6th century, temple halls were combined
with pagodas. Pagodas generally placed to the north of the
city to ward off evil spirits
• This design was transmitted to Japan via Korea
Pagodas
1) Pagodas with closely
layered eaves in either
octagonal or square plans
eg. Lesser Wild Goose
Pagoda at Xian in Shanxi
Province (Tang dynasty),
Songyue Temple, Henan
Province (AD 520)

2) The storeyed pagoda,

eg. Temple of Kaiyuan in
Guangzhou (AD 1241-
1252)
Pagodas
3) Vase shaped pagoda or stupa eg.
White Pagoda in Beijing built by Arniko
from Nepal in 1271 AD incorporating
Indian and Chinese styles
4) Group of pagodas honoring
Buddha’s warrior attendants eg. Zin
Gang Bao Zuo Pagoda, Beijing
5) Single storey pagodas built as tombs
for monks and nuns. Could be square,
octagonal or hexagonal in plan
6) Wooden tower pagodas eg. Shijia
pagoda, Shanxi province, the only
surviving wooden pagoda built in AD
1056
The Great Wall
of China
•The Great Wall of China more
than 6000km long. Started in the
7th century BCE to stop the
nomadic herds from north.
•The wall continuously
strengthened and expanded up to
the Ming dynasty
•The wall is 7 to 8m high but rises
to 14m at strategic points
•The stone wall is 6-7m thick at
the base and 5m at the top
•Guard houses and armories are
built at regular distances along
the wall.