CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE

• Palaces and Temples are the chief

building type.
• Diverse architecture caused by
differences in geographic and
climatic conditions.
• System of wood frame
construction.
Chinese Architecture
• Styles of Chinese ancient architecture greatly reflect Chinese ancient thought- the harmonious
unity of human beings with nature.
• Heavily influenced by conservative philosophies.
 TEMPLE OF
HEAVEN
• “Qinian Dian”
• Imperial Complex of religious
buildings situated in the
southeastern part of central
Beijing
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
• Building is completely wooden
with no nails
• Built on three levels of marble
stone base

HALL OF PRAYER FOR GOOD HARVESTS, Largest building in the Temple of Heaven
 TEMPLE OF
HEAVEN
• Circular wooden prayer hall: Heaven
Rectangular Courtyards: Earth

• Circular Mound Altar, Ritual

Platform
• Imperial Vault of Heaven
• Hall of Prayer for good harvests
• Abstinence Palace
 CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE
Is characterized by various features such as:

• Bilateral Symmetry
• Use of enclosed open spaces
• Incorporation of Feng Shui (directional
hiearchies)
• Horizontal Emphasis
• An allusion to various cosmological,
mythological or in general symbolic
elements
• Preference for Lumber Construction
• Heavy Overhanging Roofs
• Rammed Earth Buildings TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, Forbidden City
YANG-SHAO

• Jiangzhai, a Yangshao Village

• 5000 BCE to 3000 BCE
• Neolithic culture in India centered
around the Yellow River
• Characterized by pit dwellings and
fine pottery painted in geometric
designs.
• Discovered by Sweedish
Geologist, Johan Gunnar
Anderson, 1921
SHANG DYNASTY
• Also, Yin Dynasty (1600-1030BC)
• Introduction of writing,
development of an urban
civilization, and a mastery of
bronze casting.
• Battle of Mingtiao- fought during
a thunderstorm. It was said that it
began when a tribal chief named
Tang defeated the Xia Dynasty
headed by Jie.

PANLONGCHENG, Ancient Chinese walled town

SHANG PALACE, Panlongcheng
Ancient walled town og Hangtu Construction covering an area of 260 x 290 meters.
QIN DYNASTY

• 221-206 BC
• Emergence of a centralized
government
• First Imperial Dynasty
• The Construction of the Great
Wall of China
DESIGN
PRINCIPLES
Based on the principles of energy, simplicity and
nature.
YIN-YANG
• The interaction of two
opposing and complementary
principles
• Widely used in Taoism
Architecture
• YIN: Feminine, dark and
negative
• YANG: Masculine, bright, and
positive
FENG SHUI
• “wind water”
• Arranging architectural
elements so that they are in
harmony with nature.
• Goal: to promote the optimal
flow of positive energy (chi’i)
within the building.
• Most buildings face south or
southeast to take advantage
of prevailing winds and
sunshine.
DOUGONG
• “Cap and Block”
• Interlocking bracket system used
in traditional Chinese
Construction to support roof
beams.
• A system of wooden brackets that
can support the overhanging
roofs commonly found in Chinese
Architecture.
• Has both structural and
decorative purpose.
 • Green: Wood
• Blue and Black: Water
CONNOTATION • Red: Fire, Hope, Satisfaction

OF COLORS: • White and Gray: Metal

• Yellow: Earth;Spaces reserved for emperors
 Basic measure in construction.

A spatial unit to describe the spatial

JIAN dimensions of large archtiectural
complexes for various purposes.
Standard unit of space marked by
adjacent frame supports.
RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES

Yuantong Temple, Taoism

 • PAILOU
- Monumental gateway to a palace, tomb or
sacred place
TOWERS • ZHONGLOU
AND - Bell tower or pavilion at the right side of a
city gate, palace entrance or forecourt of a
GATEWAYS temple
• GULOU
- Left side counterpart of a zhonglou
 SIHEYUAN &
• SIYEHUAN
- Courtyard Compounds

MINGTANG • MINGTANG
- “Bright Hall”

• Together embody the rules which span and continuum from the simplest secular dwelling to the grandest sacred temple.
MINGTANG
• “Bight Hall”
• A ritual structure that serves as the symbolic center of imperial
power.
• Designated as the intersection of heaven (circle) and earth (square),
oriented around the four cardinal directions.

• Biyong, jade ring moat

• Lingtai, spirit altar, raised astronomical observatory; usually the
central, circular upper storey of the mingtang.
Research no. 3: Chinese Architecture
• Chinese Temples and Palaces
• Minimum of 15 structures.
• Deadline for submission is April 2, 2022, Saturday, 11:59pm
• 1 work-in-progress photo (kindly include yourself in the photo)
• Provide pictures
• 5”x8” index card