History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Overview of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Chinese Architecture
• An independent system with a
long history
• Rich regional diversities
• Unique characteristics
• Clear and strict hierarchy rules
• And consistent inheritance of
traditional culture.
First communities settled chiefly
in the basin of Huang He (Yellow
River).
Temple of Heaven, built in 1420 – place for Emperors to
Yellow River: Cradle of Chinese Worship the Heaven
Civilization
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Religious and Ethical Influences Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Religious and Ethical Influences
- Confucianism – is an
ancient belief system, which
focuses on the importance of
personal ethics and morality. By
Confucius, a known
philosopher in Ancient China.
- Taoism – heavily utilized
symmetry and balance through
use of Fengshui (Taoist
Philosophy). Favored styles
closer to common buildings
- Buddhism – closer to
imperial style buildings
favoring Grand Architecture. Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan White Horse Temple, Luoyang, China—
First Buddhist Temple in China
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Strict Hierarchy Rules
Throughout ancient Chinese history, the hierarchy had
been strictly followed and highly valued by Confucianism.
In the architecture field, structure, pattern, color, decoration,
and scale all had explicit regulations according to one’s
social status.
For instance, except for unique buildings like religious
pagodas, no one’s house could be taller or more prominent
than the emperor’s Imperial Palaces.
In some dynasties, civilians were not allowed to use specific
auspicious patterns like the Dragon or Phoenix, nor some
noble colors like Cinnabar Red and Bright Yellow.
Use of Red and Yellow in Buildings of Imperial Forbidden City
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Exterior gate and Interior of Forbidden palace
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Bilateral Symmetry
According to Yin Yan and Five Elements
Theory, balance is an essential and
highly valued concept.
Hence, Bilateral Symmetry, believed to
be a great representative of the balance
of Yin and Yang, has been strictly used
in traditional Chinese buildings, except
for Landscape Gardens.
Moreover, in a bilateral symmetrical
ancient building complex, the grandest
and most important ones are always
located in the central line.
Bilateral Symmetrical Forbidden City, imperial palace of Ming and Qing
dynasties (1368-19912), with Main Halls in Central Line
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
• The Forbidden City is the largest palace
complex in the world.
• There are more than 90 neighborhoods,
980 buildings, and more than 8,728
spaces.
• The Forbidden City is the largest
medieval wood construction collection in
the world.
• 24 Chinese emperors resided in the
forbidden city.
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Square Building Complex in
Enclosure
• In ancient Chinese Astrology, people
believed heaven was a hemispherical
vault and the earth was a substantial
square-shaped land.
• Meanwhile, the idea of “Harmony of
Man and Nature” is an important
belief of ancient Chinese Philosophy,
which suggest one’s living house
should also resemble nature.
• Hence, traditional architecture in
China is primarily square-shaped
building complexes in the enclosure, Ancient White Deer Cave Academy of Bailudong Shuyuan on
with north-south orientations and Mount Lu.
some open spaces inside.
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Single-story and small spaces for
single function rooms
• Traditional Chinese buildings are usually
single-story, each serving only one
function, like a bedroom or study.
• Even in the emperor’s Imperial Palace,
such as the Forbidden City, all houses
were not quite big.
• According to ancient grand city walls and
pagodas, the construction of tall and
large buildings has been technologically
possible in ancient China.
Therefore, those single-story and small Bedroom of Yongzheng Emperor (1678-1735)
rooms were popular for some important
reasons:
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Single-story and small spaces for
single function rooms
1. Have more chances to survive
earthquakes and heavy winds.
2. For busy Emperors, it’s inconvenient or
safe to climb too many stairs.
3. For other people, their houses were not
allowed to be taller than the emperor’s or
the city wall.
4. There was plenty of land for people to
build many single-story buildings
5. Feng Shui believed that it was ominous
for too few number of people to stay a Bedroom of Yongzheng Emperor (1678-1735)
long time in a huge house
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Importance of Worship Ceremonies
Worship rites have been one of the most
important ceremonies in ancient Chinese
culture.
For Emperors that were required and qualified
to worship heaven and earth and grand deities,
unique building complexes were constructed in
important positions around their royal palaces,
such as the Temple of Heaven.
For civilians that value ancestor worship,
ancestral halls usually are the grandest and
most sophisticated buildings in the most
important position, like in the midline.
Temple of Heaven, UNESCO World Heritage Site 1998
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Wide application of Fengshui,
Astrology, and Mythological
Cultures
• Another essential characteristics of
ancient architecture in China, both
imperial and folk, is the widespread belief
and strict application of Fengshui culture.
• Moreover, ancient Chinese Astrology has
been a key factor in imperial buildings
and city planning.
• In contrast, Mythology culture, including
Deities, Mythical creatures, and folk
legends, have been widely used as
decorative patterns and motifs.
Mythical Creature Panlong Sculptures on Columns of Sheng Mu
Dian of Song Dynasty, Jinci Temple, Taiyuan City
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Explicit Rules for the Use of Timber and Stone
In ancient China, timber was widely used to
build traditional architecture, and stones were
only for city walls and mausoleums.
Reasons for the use of timber and stone in
Ancient Chinese Architecture
Traditional Chinese buildings are mostly are
mostly made of timber because:
1. Easy to obtain the material, and wood is
cheaper.
2. In the Five Elements Theory, timber or
wood represents birth and life, thriving,
and the east that the Azure Dragon guards.
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Explicit Rules for the Use of Timber and Stone
3. Timber building constructed on the earth
resembles nature and follows the idea of
“Harmony of Man and Nature”
4. Different people have different tastes and
requirements for their houses, and wooden
buildings could be constructed or rebuilt, or
redecorated in a shorter period of time.
5. Dougong, the interlocking wood bracket
construction method that connects
columns and beams, made sure the walls
don’t take too much load bearing, giving
people more chances to survive frequent
natural disasters like earthquakes. Dougong, bracket system
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Explicit Rules for the Use of Timber and Stone
Stone, however, had been a common material in
traditional architecture too, but was mainly used
in:
1. Building sturdy city walls, such as the Great
Wall, to defend people living inside
2. Constructing important roads for royals or in
big cities.
3. Buildings that are required to be firm and
long-lasting, such as bridges and religious
pagodas.
4. Building mausoleum, in ancient China, death
was considered another form of eternity;
The Great Wall of China, the only man made structure that
therefore, one’s tom should be firm, solid, can be seen on the outer space
and can last eternally.
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Types of Traditional Chinese Building by Functions Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Based on their function, ancient Chinese architecture could
be divided into 9 types:
1. Defense systems, such as the Great
Wall and city walls.
2. Imperials buildings, such as the
Forbidden City and government
administrative offices.
3. Mausoleums, such as the
Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor
with Terracotta Army.
4. Worship buildings for people to
hold sacrificial ceremonies of for the
memorial, such as the Temple of
Heaven and folk ancestral halls. The Terracotta Army
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Types of Traditional Chinese Building by Functions
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
5. Religious architecture, such as Taoist Temples in Wudang Mountains, Buddhist temples on Mounts
Wutai, Pagodas, and Mogao Caves
Buddhist Temples on
Temples on Wudang Mountains Chinese Pagoda
Wutai Mountains
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Architecture
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
6. Academy, such as Bailudong
Academy constructed by the great
philosopher Zhu Xi
7. Recognition architecture to praise
one’s achievements or virtues, such as
Paifang in Huizhou City. Pai Lou or Pai Fang – chinese
Bailudong Academy
monumental gateway
8. Landscape Chinese Gardens, such as
the royal Mountain Resort Chengde.
9. Folk residents have the most
diversities based on geological
differences.
Mountain Resort Chengde Shanghai Pass on the great wall
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Dian
• The main architecture of a
building complex, mostly in
royal palaces, used for the
grandest ceremonial or
religious purposes.
Tai He Dian or Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Imperial Forbidden City
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Tang
• Residence of most honorable
masters, also could be used for
the family to hold celebration
activities.
• Tang is usually the most
important building complex
Leshou Tang in Summer Palace, Bedchamber of Empress Dowager Cixi
for folk architecture or the
second most important one in
imperial palaces.
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Lou
• Multilayer buildings, usually
used as bedrooms or studies
Jianshan Lou of Humble Administrator’s Garden
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Ge
• Multilayer buildings with
smaller rooms and windows in
four directions, usually used as
a library, study, or place to
enshrine religious deities.
Foxiang Ge of Summer Palace
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Ting
• A pavilion, to rest and
appreciate the view, usually
small, exquisite buildings with
roof and pillars
Singing Pavilion or Shuxiao Ting
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Xie
• A building next to or on
the water, usually with
railings, the place to
appreciate the water vi and
to rest.
Furong Xie of Humble Administrator’s Garden
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Lang
• A gallery, long corridor
with roofs to connect
buildings, with both
functional and ornamental
value.
Lang of Lingering Garden decorated with calligraphy inscriptions
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Tai
• Tall stage-like structure
used to observe or
appreciate the beautiful
views.
Guanxing Tai
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Fang / Paifang
/ Pai Lou
• Evolved from Que and was
popularized since the Tang
Dynasty. They were used to
commemorate exceptional
accomplishments or to
praise highly valued virtues.
Xu Guo Shi Fang, constructed in 1584 under the command of Emperor
Wanli, to praise exceptional achievements of the grand secretariat Xu
Guo
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Huabiao
• A column set by King Yao,
to collect suggestions and
complaints from civilians.
Ancient Huabiao in front of the Imperial Forbidden City
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Structural Classifications of Ancient Chinese Buildings
Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Ta
• Also called Pagoda, used
to place Buddhist religious
statues or valuable relics,
to adjust a place’s Fengshui,
or to suppress evil spirits
and monsters
• Symbol of Buddhism in
China
Ta of Fogong Temple, 67.31 meters high, the world’s oldest and tallest
wooden pagoda
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Hierarchy and Cultural Elements Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Roofs of traditional architecture are one of the most explicit ways to represent the strict hierarchy.
Ranking from high to low, there are five major styles of roofs in ancient Chinese buildings.
Five major roof styles of Ancient Chinese buildings
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Hierarchy and Cultural Elements Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Wu Dian Ding
• Hipped roof with five ridges and
four roof slopes
• The most honorable style that
exclusively used by royals and
prominent temples. The double
layer is even more supreme, the
highest level in ancient Chinese
Architecture.
Double-layer Wu Dian Ding or Hipped Roof of the Hall of Supreme
Harmony, Forbidden City
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Hierarchy and Cultural Elements Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Xie Shan Ding
• Hip-and-gable roof with nine
ridges
• Primarily used in important
buildings of palaces, gardens,
and temples.
Xie Shan Ding roof ancient Nanchan Temple on Mount Wutai
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Hierarchy and Cultural Elements Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Xuan Shang
Ding
• Overhanging gable roof with
one main ridge and four vertical
ridges extending out of the
gable walls.
• The roofs of these houses were
built to protect people from rain
and have been widely used by
civilian residents in rainy
southern places. Xuan Shan Ding, ceramic tiled roof of Ancient Shuanglin Temple in Pingyao
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Hierarchy and Cultural Elements Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Ying Shan
Ding
• Flush gable roof with one main
ridge and four vertical ridges
that flush with two gable walls
• This architectural style is more
efficient in fireproofing and has
been used by civilians in
drought northern places
Ying Shan Ding, tiled roof dwellings in Ancient City of Pingyao
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Hierarchy and Cultural Elements Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
Cuan Jian Ding
• Pavilion roof with a cone roof
and a pointed top.
• It is widely used in buildings like
pavilions and pagodas and has
no hierarchy restrictions.
Three Layer Cuan Jian Ding of Hal of Prayer for Good Harvest on Qigu Later
of the Temple of Heaven
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Decorations Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Terminologies:
On traditional Chinese building’s roofs, some mythical creatures that guard the structures, whose
numbers also follow a strict hierarchy.
Ten Mythical Creatures and Leading Deity on Roof of Hall of Supreme Harmony of the Forbidden City
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Chinese Roof: Decorations Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Ten Mythical Creatures on Roofs of Traditional Chinese Architecture:
Chinese Dragon or Loong, represents the emperor, paramount imperial authority
Phoenix, the symbol of virtue and peace
Lion, represents power, bravery, and dignity
Heavenly Horse, the incarnation of honor and benevolence
Sea Horse, the symbol of auspiciousness and loyalty
Xiayu, the mythical creature with the power to call for wind and rain
Suanni, a son of the dragon, a creature of blessing and leadership
Xiezhi, the mythical creature of law and justice
Douniu, a type of dragon that could fight and suppress floods.
Hang Shi, a creature that looks like a monkey with wings holding a magic weapon that can defeat
demons and evil spirits.
In front is a deity riding on a phoenix, who leads those creatures and guards those palaces
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Major Buildings and Temples Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
The Forbidden City
• Abode of the Chinese Emperors, their
Families, Staff, Government Officials
• Occupied by Emperors from Ming
Dynasty to the end of Qing Dynasty.
• Unesco WHS, 1987
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Major Buildings and Temples Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
Palace of Heavenly Purity
• Located in Beijing, China
• Built by Emperor Zhu Di
• Best preserved imperial palace in
China.
• A double-eaved building, and set on
a single-level white marble platform.
History of Architecture 3: Midterms
Chinese Architecture Fortification Ar. Mike Francis Arias - 2024
The Great Wall of China
• Built by Qin Shih Huang Ti
• For protection of China against
the nomads from the North
• It took over 2,000 years to
construct the wall.
• It is not a wall but a series of
fortifications.
• Various materials were used to
build the Great Wall.
