Architecture in China

Presented by: Group 1

Table of Contents
• HISTORY OF CHINESE

ARCHITECTURE
• GEOGRAPHY
• GEOLOGY
• CLIMATE

• SOCIETY AND ECONOMY

• CHINESE ARCHITECTURE &
History of Chinese Architecture
PRESENTERS: CHARLES ADRIAN AFALLA & ENRICO CASUGA
 History of Chinese Architecture
 Chinese Architecture is one of the oldest and most impressive styles of
architecture in history. It has a rich and vibrant history, stretching back thousands
of years & reflecting the cultural evolution of China.

 The history of Chinese Architecture is closely intertwined with the development

of religion, philosophy and ideology of China. Ancient Chinese structures were
often influence by aspects of Confucianism, Daoism, & Buddhism.

 The unique climate & geography of China also had a big influence on
development of various architectural style throughout the centuries. Chinese
Architecture has evolved over time, adapting to changes in technology, economic
conditions & political fluctuations.
Architecture
Neolithic Period (Pre-1600 BC)

Ancient Chinese architecture has its roots in the

Neolithic period (before 1600 BC). It can be traced
as far back as the Shang Dynasty ( c.1600-1046 BC).
During this time, two types of buildings were
prevalent – circular dwellings with a colonial roof, &
square structures with a pyramidal roof. The circular
dwellings were built above the ground, whereas the
square buildings were partially set into the ground.
 Architecture
The Shang Dynasty (c.1600- 1046 BC

Records for the Shang dynasty first appeared in the

form of inscriptions on bones & bronze objects.
Archaeological studies conducted at the capital city of
Anyang have suggested that the architecture of this
period was largely derived from the neolithic period,
with the majority of buildings constructed partially
below ground level. Additionally, the establishments of
the cities in the Shang period saw the emergence of
rectilinear, rammed-earth buildings, along with walls
made of large earthen blocks.
 The Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BC)
During the Zhou Dynasty, the development of architecture flourished with the creation
of long defensive walls, mourning halls, tombs, altars, and other forms. Additionally,
artwork such as pictorial bronzes revealed the use of a traditional Chinese bracketing
system, while bricks and roof tiles were created as components of the architectural
materials.
 The Qin and Han Dynasties ( 221 BC – 220 AD)

During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the

technology used to construct timber
buildings was perfected with tiles being fired
and skilled stonework becoming
commonplace. The construction of
impressive palaces, pavilions, mausoleums
such as the Terracotta Army in Xi’an,
together with striking decorations of
paintings, silks and ceramics, were achieved
during this period.
 The three kingdoms period ( 220 -280) and the six dynasty (
220 – 589)

During this era, various religious places

of worship such as Buddhist temples and
monasteries flourished in China as the
Government held religious activities in
high regard. Expert craftsmanship was
demonstrated when brick and stone
pagodas were constructed with tiered
structures.
The Sui (581 – 618) and Tang (618 – 907) dynasties
Chinese history experiences its golden age.
Bricks had become widely used for
construction, resulting in grand public
works such as the Grand Canal being built.
The roots of Chinese buildings became
increasingly elaborate, with advances in
glaze baking techniques. The influence of
this style was not only seen in China but
also spread to adjacent countries, including
Japan and Korea.
 The song (960 – 1279) and Yuan (1279 – 1368) dynasties

 During the Song Dynasty,

impressive advancements were
made in architecture. Buildings
tended to be smaller in scale than
those of the Tang dynasty, but more
beautiful and diverse.

 During the Yuan Dynasty, many

Tibetan Buddhist temples and
Islamic mosques were constructed.
The art and techniques of Tibetan
Buddhism and Islamic had a
significant influence on Chinese
architecture.
 The Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties

During the last two imperial

Chinese Dynasties, ancient
architecture reached its highest
point. Brick production had
drastically surged, and the amount
and quality of glazed tiles exceeded
all prior dynasties. The official
buildings were very consistent in
design.
 Zhang Heng

Zhang Heng(78-139 AD), formerly written as Chang Heng,

was an accomplished Chinese scholar & statesman of the Han
Dynasty. He received education in Luoyang & Chang’an, two
of China’s capital cities, and excelled as a polymath, mastering
various skills such as astronomy, ethnography, art, poetry,
philosophy, politics and literary studies.
 Lian Ssu- ch’eng
Liang Sicheng, who was known as the father of modern Chinese architecture (and
whose father, Liang Qichao, was one of the most renowned Chinese scholars of the
early 20th century), is famous for his work in architectural history. His wife, Lin
Hulyin, was an architect and poet, while his brother Liang Siyong, was among
China’s earliest archaeologist. After creating the first modern history in Chinese
architecture, he became part of the Design Board that designed the UN
Headquarters in New York City. He also collaborated with his wife, Mo Zongjiang
and Ji Yutang to discover and analyze the two oldest remaining timber structures
in China found at Nanchan temple and Foguang temple
at Mount Wutai.
Sun Ssu - mo
Sun Ssu-mo (Sun Simiao), was a child prodigy. He
had mastered the Chinese classics by age 20 and
then became a well-known medical practitioner. His
ideas and collected prescriptions were recorded in
the books “Prescriptions Worth A Thousand Gold
and Precious Formulas for Emergency”. He was also
a Taoist alchemist, seeking demon-dispelling
remedies, including spells, herbal formulas and
toxic alchemical preparation.
 Li Jie

The latter is known today chiefly as the compiler of Yingzao fashi (“Building Standards”) which
he presented to the throne in 1100. Li’s work includes regulations for construction, accounting
information, standards for materials for building and the categorization of certain crafts. Spanning
34 chapters, it provides details on measurements, the building of moats and fortifications, and the
criteria for stone and wood work. The book is illustrated and includes instructions for crafting,
wall-building, painting and decoration, as well as the mixtures for mortar, brick and glazed tile.
 Geography
PRESENTERS: ALYSA CERVANTES & ABEGAIL DEL CASTILLO
Three Great River Systems:

• Yellow River (Huang He)

- 2,109 mi (5,464 km)
long;

• 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
plain along the yellow river

• Mostly flat and the soil is well-

suited for agriculture

South China

• Region drained by the yangtze

(yangzi) river

• Hillier than north china

• Climate: warm and humid
 Tibetan Plateau in Southwest China

• Occupies about ¼ of
the land area of the
PRC
• Mountains and
massive highlands,
averaging between 4,000
and 5,000 meters
(13,000 to 15,000 feet)
above the sea level
 Mount Everest

(Known in chinese as
mount zhumulangma)

• 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
 Geology
PRESENTERS: CARLA MAY DELOS SANTOS & JASMIN GARCE
Geological (Materials) Influences:

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
 Wood-frame construction- most distinctive feature
House and Dwellings
Climate has a huge impact on the construction of Chinese homes, both because it shapes
the materials available and determines the kind of shelter people need.
Houses in the north respond to the colder, drier climate, while in the south, heat and
humidity are major factors influencing design.
Courtyards of houses in the north are often much larger than those in the south.
Way of laying out a house was similar among the rich and poor, both in earlier and later
times in materials and techniques:

- Pounded earth foundations

- Timber framing
- Use of bricks and tiles
- Roofing materials vary depending on the wealth of a family
- Thatch and bamboo - common materials for the poor
- Wood framework systems for Chinese homes and other
buildings were standardized
by the Ming dynasty.
Wealth and regional variation
- houses were by no means identical in all parts of China
Basic principles of house design
- emphasis on orientation, layout, and symmetry
- Houses face south - one of the most striking aspects of Chinese domestic architecture
- Related to sunlight, and the direction of prevailing winds, especially cold winds
Decorative Elements
- Combination of practical concerns, folk beliefs, and pure ornamentation.
- Walls and eaves are often decorated.
- Doorways and windows are given more attention - good or evil spirits enter
- Elegant decorative schemes would also provide ventilation or shading.
- Many openings would be covered with latticework in variety of patterns that "shape the wind" or alter the way
air flows into a home.
Examples:
1. Cave Dwellings:
- Common in certain areas of northern China where they serve as homes for more than 40 million people.
a. Cliffside Dwellings - Carved out of the side of a cliff, often facing south and facades are sometimes faced with bricks
or stone.
b. Pit Dwellings - Cave dwelling built where there are no hills. Sunken courtyards are created. After digging a courtyard of
about 10 m. deep, rooms are dug off the main courtyard
- Courtyards of cliff dwelling are usually larger than those of pit dwellings, because they are easier to create than sunken
courtyards which must be excavated.
2. Houses in Southern Anhui Province
- Decorative fire walls known as “horse's head wall” or End or gable walls which rise above the roof lines
- Originally served as fire barriers between houses to prevent the spread of flames that would catch in the wooden
roofsupports.
 Climate
PRESENTERS: RENZY GALAPATE & AUBREY ENTENDENCIA
Climate in Southern China

Adjacent to the South China Sea and Intersected by the Tropic of

Cancer
Warmest and Wettest part of the country
Monsoon Season brings heavy rain between May and September
Typhoon activity peaks between July-October
The drier season is between October and March
 Climate in Central China

This area lies to the north of the tropics in convergence zone between cold
Siberian air and warmer moisture-laden air from the Pacific.
Weather can be rather changeable throughout the year
Coastal regions in the east are prone to heavy rain, tropical cyclones, and
typhoons
Winters tend to be drier, particularly in inland areas of Central China
 Climate in Southwest China

This area shares a land boarder with Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar to
the South and is separated from Tibet by the Himalayas to the north
The most pleasant climate throughout the year
The altitude has a large part to play in the climate of the region
Southwestern Mountains

 The Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas to the

south are home to some of the highest peaks in
the world, including Mount Everest which
shares a border with Nepal to the Southwest.
 “ The Roof of the world” due to its altitude
 Winters are severe/ high-pressure forms over
the plateau
 During the summer warm air is drawn into the
region by the monsoon wind.
 Western Desert

Sparsely populated area

Very low temperatures, 20 Celsius in the winter are
often accentuated by strong winds
In the summer, temperatures can be very high, up to
40 Celsius
Climate in North & Northwest China

 Siberia and Mongolia lie to the north and are a source of

cold air in the winter when high pressure lies across the
continent.
 Snow can lie in some areas for 100 – 150 days per year,
with frost for months on end
 Summers are typically very dry and hot (up to 37 Celsius)
but some monsoon rain can make it to southern areas.
 Climate in Northeastern China

Subject to seasonal extremes due to the monsoon

Winters are cold and harsh
Summers on the other hand see a reversal of the winds,
bringing moisture from the Pacific
 Summer (June – August)
 Temperature: summer ranges between 25 to 33 degrees Celsius
 Weather: during this period is sweltering and sultry with high
temperatures.

Winter (November – March)

 Weather: extremely chilly with lots of snowfall.
 In particularly places, the temperature can get as low as zero degrees Celsius
 Intensity of the crowd

Autumn (September – October)

 Temperature: during autumn ranges between 15 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius
 Weather: there is very less rain and most of the days are bright with warm and mild temperatures

Spring (April – May)

 Temperature: During spring ranges between 10 degrees to 23 degrees Celsius
 Weather: Warm and comfortable with fresh air
Society & Economy
PRESENTER: KATRINA MAE BERZABAL
Confucianism
 Was a new code of social conduct and philosophy of life
( Middle Way)

Dynasties
Rule the country under one family

Emperors
 (Chinese rulers) based their government on the Confucian model
Cosmological Concepts

 Feng Shui (Geomancy)

 Taoism
 Indian Context: MANDALA
Chinese Context: FENG SHUI

 Evolved based on the belief that

forces exist in every locality which
acts on all types of buildings,
towns and cities for good or ills
and sites were chosen or adopted
accordingly.
Yin - Yang

 Opposing qualities bound together as

parts of a mutual whole; dynamic
equilibrium

 Black and White within the circle

-interaction of two energies, which
causes everything to happen.
Feng Shui

 Screen walls to face the main entrance

of house, which stems from the belief
that evil things travel in straight lines.

 Talismans and imagery of good fortune

 Door Gods displayed on doorways to ward
off evil and encourage the flow of good
fortune.

 The three anthropomorphic figures

representing Fu Lu Shou stars are
prominently displayed, sometimes with the
proclamation “the three stars are present”
 Animals and fruits that symbolize good fortune and prosperity,
such as bat and pomegranates, respectively. The association is often
through rebuses.
Fu Dogs

Guards against negative energy

One way to summon good fortune is to invoke

the character FU.

Fu can be translated as “happiness”, “good

fortune”, “blessings”, or “luck”.
 The Tiger with 8 trigrams

This is often hung above doors in some parts of

China, the word for tiger is pronounced as “fu”.

The eight trigrams are thought to ward off evil

influences. In combination with the tiger’s fierce
face, this image makes a powerful amulet (element
of good luck).
Architectural Style and Character

PRESENTERS: KYLE COSCA & JARED COLLADO

 Chinese Art & Architecture

FIVE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

LATER PERIODS OF MING & QING DYNASTIES (1368 –
1911)

 Unity of structure with an architectural art

 Good anti-seismic function
 A high degree of standardization
 Bright colors

 The systematic grouping of building

Temples

Imperial Palaces
Traditional Chinese buildings are
Altars
always found in pairs or groups whether
Official Residences they are residences, temples or temples

Folk Houses
Gardens
 Architectural Character

• Homogeneous traditional architecture repeated over the centuries in

structures

• Most prominent feature: tile-covered gabled roofs, with widely overhanging

and curving eaves resting on complex multiple brackets.

Horizontal Emphasis

 Most important feature of Chinese

Architecture: emphasis on the axis , in
particular the construction of a heavy
platform
, and a large roof that floats over this
base, with the vertical walls not as well
emphasized .

 In contrast to Western architecture, which

tends to grow in height and depth, Chinese
architecture stresses the visual impact of the
width of the building.
Bilateral Symmetry

 Emphasis on articulation and bilateral symmetry or

balance, from palace complexes to humble farmhouses,
even for renovations and extensions.

Enclosure

 Traditional Chinese architecture involves constructing building

complexes that take up an entire properly but encloses open
spaces within it.

 Enclosed spaces come in two forms: the open courtyard and

the sky well
Hierarchical
 hierarchy and importance: and uses of buildings based on the
strict placement of buildings in a property / complex.

 buildings with doors facing the front of the property are

considered more important than those that faces sides:
buildings facing away from the front of the property are the
least important.

 Buildings in the rear and more private parts of the property

held in higher esteem and reserved for elder members of the
family.
 front facing buildings at the back of properties used
particularly for rooms of celebratory rites and for the
placement of an ancestral halls and plaques

 In multiple courtyard complexes, central courtyards and

their buildings considered more important than peripheral
ones, latter typically used as storage or servant’s room or
kitchen.
 Chinese Geomacy

 Use of certain colors, numbers and cardinal directions in traditional

Chinese architecture reflected the belief in a type of immanence

 Nine is a lucky in China. The color yellow or red is reserved for

emperor or the imperial family.

 The dragon represents the Emperor while the phoenix represents

the Empress
Construction
 Using even numbers of columns in a building to produce odd
number of bays, with the inclusion of a main door to a building in
the center bay, to maintain symmetry.

 Use of large structural timbers for primary support of the roof of a

building: wooden members, usually large trimmed logs, are used
as load-bearing columns and lateral beams for framing buildings
and supporting the roofs.

 Flat roofs are uncommon while gobbled roofs are almost

omnipresent in traditional Chinese archirtecture
 Imperial Architecture

Palace [GONG]

 The Chinese word for palace is “GONG”

 The word GONG was reserved exclusively for naming

imperial and religious buildings

 The temples of Taoist priests are generally called

SANGING GONG (Palace of Triple Purity)
 Pavillion [TING]

 The Chinese pavilion (TING, which

means also a KIOSK) is built normally
either of wood or stone or bamboo with
any of several shapes

 The wayside pavilion is called

LIANGTING (cooling kiosk) to provide
weary wayfarers with a place to rest.
 Terrace [TAI]

 The TAI was an elevated terrace

with a flat top.

 Could be an observatory watch

towers, military purposes or
beacon (fire) towers.
 Storeyed Building [ LOU]

Storeyed Pavillion [GE]

Pagoda [TA]
Elements of Chinese Architecture

PRESENTERS: KEM CORREA & CRISTINE BASADA

 SYMMETRY
 CHINESE GARDENS
 INDIGENOUS CONSTRUCTION
SYSTEM
 SIHEYUAN
 FENG SHUI [ CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE]
 URBAN PLANNING
 ROOF
 WRITING
 LANGUAGE
 Symmetry

 Symmetry has been one of the oldest and most influential ordering
principles in architecture and it helps unify various elements
together.

 Symmetry in architecture is widely used because unlike other

applications, it is not only visually pleasing to look at, but we can
also experience symmetry by moving through it.

 It is closely linked with the repetition of mass and void to dictate

movement and experience which results in axial relationships.
 Chinese Gardens

• Chinese gardens are a distinctly evolved landscape style that is based

on three kinds of conceptions: aspire, immoral, and natural. Each of
these is found in different classes of society: royalty, temples, and
scholars respectively. Looking beyond the class division, it becomes
evident how the aspects of the theories of philosophy, politics,
virtue, and aesthetics are reflected in these gardens.

The balance of the relation of all the elements; water, architecture,

vegetation, and rocks, is gracefully integrated into these gardens to
become a paradise for humans amongst nature
 Indigenous construction system

Traditional Chinese architecture was built using a wooden

frame structure. Wood is easily available in this region and can
easily adapt to varying climates and is suitable in earthquake-
prone regions such as this.

The dry timber construction was erected through structural

joineries and dowelling alone. Instead of nails and glue,
interlocking elements like the Dougong are used. This would
prevent buckling and torsion under high compression, and
allow for the building to absorb shock vibrations from
earthquakes.
 Siheyuan

 Siheyuan is a courtyard typically found in traditional Chinese dwellings. The

degree of enclosure defines the level of intimacy of the open. While it is a concept
popularly used in housing typology, variants of it can be seen across all kinds of
buildings and complexes.

 Courtyards are beneficial for more than just spatial reasons, they are used to
regulate temperature and ventilate the building. These courtyards are traditionally
open and face towards the south to allow maximum exposure to the sun while
blocking the cold northern winds. Frequently, the scale of the courtyard is so
small that it just serves as a light shaft that serves to collect and harvest rainwater
from the sloping rooftops. Moreover, they also serve as vents to allow hot air to
rise up and out, and cool air to enter the building.
 Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese concept of geomancy derived from Chinese

cosmology, Confucianism, and Taoism. These dictate the organizational
principles and construction layouts from simple dwellings to imperial
structures. Some of the architectural principles are mentioned in the image
below.

It is believed that embodiments of evil and their energy travel in straight
lines. Hence, a screen wall usually faces the main entrance of the house.
Moreover, talismans, images of gods, and Fu Lu Shou are displayed at the
entrance to ward off evil spirits. Certain colors, numbers, and cardinal
orientations are believed to reflect a type of immanence.
 Urban Planning

 Chinese political power as well as their reflection of the built communities was
articulated by the boundary defining the outer and inner. Cities were built by
creating a progression of gated communities that allowed the owner of the
household of the ruler to feel safe inside.

 As one would enter the gate the buildings on the periphery would be public in
nature and as one moved towards the inside, it became increasingly private and
secure. The movement from one building to another was through intervening
courtyards and hence limited access to the core of the complex. One such
example is the emperor’s palace which due to this reason was named the
“Forbidden City”.
 Writing
.  Chinese writing has a history of some three thousand five hundred years. It is not
as old as Sumerian or Egyptian writing; there is no certain evidence, however, that
the invention of writing in China was in any way stimulated by the earlier
existence of writing in the Near East.

 The earliest examples of Chinese writing are divinatory texts written on bones and
shells. These usually consist of a question put to a diviner along with his answer.
This earliest Chinese script shows that in its earliest history, Chinese writing was
based on pictures

 The art of calligraphy is highly developed in China. For this purpose a traditional
writing brush is employed, and the calligrapher may specialize in one of several
different styles. Calligraphy is one of China’s major visual arts, many painters and
scholars were also accomplished calligraphers. The cultivation of artistic writing is
only one of many practices that show how deeply the writing system is rooted in
Chinese culture
 Language

• Primarily Chinese in China use simplified characters. It is taught in

Mandarin-Chinese classes internationally as well. These characters
are simpler, i.e., have less pen-strokes, than traditional Chinese
characters. Simplified characters have existed for hundreds of years,
but only became officially acceptable in formal writing after the
founding of the People’s Republic of China in an attempt to improve
literacy among Chinese in China, during the 1950’s.

• Mandarin Chinese is known as 普通话 (Pǔtōnghuà), the “common

speech,” and it has only been the official language of China since the
1930s, when the country established it as the standard dialect and
began pushing to make this a reality nationwide.
Thank you
for listening!