CHINA AND ARCHITECTURE

CIVILIZATION: Huang he river- or

yellow river
Where the China's
civilization first started.
Historically. But in
reality, it is discovered
that the first civilization
actually started at
Yangtze river based on
archeologists.

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Succession of emperors and dynasties
• SHANG DYNASTY- ca. 1500-1050
BCE
Shang artists perfected
elaborate bronze-casting of
different vessels which held
wines, water, grain or meat
• ZHOU DYNASTY - ca. 1050-256
BCE
Zhou artists produced objects ▪ THE FIRST PICTURE IS MADE UP OF
carved in jade and used COMPATED EARTH; IT IS THE FIRST
lacquering as material finish PARTS OF GREAT WALL OF CHIINA.
• QIN DYNASTY - ca. 221-206 BCE ▪ Second picture: earth, natural
uniting all warring states stones.
a. FIRST EMPEROR OF ▪ Third pic: current version of wall.
CHINA - Shi Huangdi, it was
during his reign that new
wall boundaries were built
and became known as the
Great Wall of China, built
as fortification against
the Hun invaders, a
nomadic group of people
from the North of China.
b. Archaeologists uncover an
army of terracotta
soldiers in pits next to his
burial mound, with each
figure of each figure of
terracotta soldier
averaging in 5'10" in height.
• HAN DYNASTY- ca. 206 BCE - 220 CE
Han Emperors ruled China for four centuries creating a new equally
powerful and centralized government, extending China's boundaries to the
south and to the west; Trading of precious Chinese silk via the fabled Silk
Road extending from China-India-Mediterranean Region.
• PERIOD OFDISUNITY-ca. 220-589 CE
Also known as the Period of Six Dynasties, a period where BUDDHISM gained
foothold among the Chinese with a promise of hope beyond the world's troubles.

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 • FIVE DYNASTIES - ca. 906-960 CE
China underwent a period of unrest until it was consolidated by the next dynasty.
• NORTHERNSONG DYNASTY ca. 960-1127 CE
Painting as an art form flourished. The oldest wooden pagoda was also built.
• SOUTHERN SONG DYNASTY- ca. 1127-1279 CE
Song Emperors moved the capital to the southeast of China. Neo-Confucianism, a blend of
Confucian thoughts and selected Buddhist principles flourished which resulted in the
decline of Buddhism.
• WAN DYNASTY- ca. 1279-1368
CE
During the Yuan dynasty, China—for
the first time in its long history was
completely subjugated by foreign
conquerors and became part of a
larger political entity, the vast
Mongo/ empire.
• MING DYNASTY - ca. 1368-1644
CE
The early Ming dynasty was a period
of cultural restoration and expansion
after being under the Mongols. It
became one of the more recognized
period in Chinese decorative arts.
• QING DYNASTY - ca 1644-1911
CE
The Manchus, a semi-nomadic people
from northeast of the Great Wall
conquered the crumbling Ming state
and established their own Qing (or
Pure) dynasty, which lasted nearly
300 years.

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 EXAMPLES OF CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
1. PAGODAS
• Buddhist temple, most
typical Chinese building of
religious significance
• Later gained a secular
nature: monuments to
victory or a memorial to
hold relics
• Based on the Indian
Stupa and stambha
• Octagonal in plan
• Odd number of stories,
up to 13
• Roofs projecting from
each of its many floors,
turned up
eaves
• Slopes inwards to the
top
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2. PAI-LOU 3. TEMPLES
• Buddhist Temples / Taoist
Temples
• Monumental,
ceremonial gateway
and basic
symbolic structure in
Chinese architecture
• Erected as memorials
to eminent persons
• Led to temples,
palaces, tombs or
sacred places
• Related to the Indian
torana and Japanese
torii
• Trabeated form, in
stone or wood
• Bold projecting roofs
• 1, 3 or 5 openings
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.
DOUGONG Nanchan Temple

DOU — a spreading block placed upon a

column to support the beam above
more broadly
is a bracket GONG — depictions of curved arms
system joining attached Main hall of Nanchan Temple,
the top of the near the top of the columns and Mount Wutai, Shanxi province,
post and parallel to the building wall, extending China, 782 CE or earlier, Tang
horizontal roof outward and up to help support the
beam. beam dynasty; reconstructed 1974-75

UP-ENDED ROOF EAVE

The origin of the distinctive

curve of the roof, which first
appeared in China about the 6th
century CE, is not fully
Chinese imperial roof decorations or roof charms or roof- understood, although a number
figures (Chinese: pinyin) or "walking beasts" "crouching of theories have been put
beasts" were statuettes placed along the ridge line of forward. The upswept eaves at
official buildings of the Chinese empire. Only official the corners of the Chinese roof,
however, do have a structural
buildings (palaces, government buildings, and temples) function in reducing what would
were some permitted to use such roof decorations. otherwise be an excessive
overhang of the roof at that
Highest possible status imperial roof decoration - man riding point.
bird, nine beasts, immortal figure, and a dragon

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• A typical plan of a
AUSPICIOUS COLORS
In general, Chinese buildings used
bright colours with vermilion paint
applied to pillars and balustrades,
yellow for glazed roof tiles, and
green paint for decorative parts
such as the brackets under the
eaves. However, the yellow roof
tiles of the imperial palaces in
the Forbidden city and in other
Chinese imperial palaces, were
reserved for royalty — yellow
was the color of emperors. Green
was also a popular color for roof
tiles, representing wealth,
growth, and harmony. Red curved
ceramic tiles on roofs and red-
painted woodwork display the
luckiest color in China.
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. In
the past, when the Chinese people
believed in geomancy, houses
were built in accordance with
fengshui guidelines, which were
probably based on architectural
experience. They provided many
practical benefits. Southern
outlooks were often complemented
with natural shelter, defensibility,
and pleasant scenery. Since China is
in the Northern Hemisphere, most
ancient Chinese architectural
structures faced southwards for
warmth and light.
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SYMMETRICAL LAYOUTS
There were various styles of
ancient Chinese architecture,
such as imperial palaces,
temples, and residential
buildings with layouts obeying
the symmetrical rule:
• the main buildings would stand
on the north-south axis, and
then the secondary buildings
were usually located
on two sides in east-west pairs
traditional Chinese
dwelling The foursquare • In domestic architecture, the
layout of the plan is complex is divided in the
rigorously symmetrical and
is derived from ancient middle with symmetrical
traditional Chinese arrangements on both sides
philosophy. Laterally
symmetrical along a
north-south axis, a
Chinese complex is strictly
orthogonal.
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, 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.
Placed intelligently, these could ironically
become equalizers across different classes of
society and be a peaceful and calming place for
all.
SIHEYUAN
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.

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INDOCHINA REGION & ARCHITECTURE
French Indochina was officially known as the
Indochinese Union and after 1947 as the
Indochinese Federation, was a grouping of
French colonial territories in Southeast Asia
until its demise in 1954. It comprised of
CAMBODIA, LAOS (from 1899), the Chinese
territory of Guangzhouwan (from 1898 until
1945), and the VIETNAMESE REGIONS OF
TONKIN in the north, ANNAM in the centre,
and COCHINCHINA in the south.
• BURMA was colonized by the British people, together with its
neighboring
country of India.
• The KINGDOM OF SIAM was never colonized by any European country.
• These countries share natural resources centering on the
Mekong River, which flows from north to south through the center of
the Indochinese peninsula, and are closely related economically,
culturally and historically.

THAILAND
The Historic City of
Ayutthaya, founded in 1350,
was the second capital of the
Siamese Kingdom. It flourished
from the 14th to the 18th
centuries. Once an important
center of global diplomacy and
commerce, Ayutthaya is now an
archaeological ruin,
characterized by the remains of
tall prang (reliquary towers)
and Buddhist monasteries of
monumental proportions, which
give an idea of the city's past Wat Chaiwatthanaram - this temple was designed in Khmer style and is
size and the splendor of its known as the royal monastery where it is believed that relics of Lord
architecture. Buddha are present in the main prang.

Wat Ratchaburana - this artistically

designed temple is known for its
preserved Prang which symbolizes
Mount Meru as the main centre of
Buddhist universe.

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THAILAND

Wat Phra Si Sanphet - Known as one

of the holiest temples in Thailand
This temple is the largest among
other ancient Ayutthaya temples
and is known for the Three Chedis
which were destroyed in the
Burmese attack, and later restored.
- CHEDIS- also known as stupa

- A COMPLEX
- Towers are all pagodas
BANGKOK (not called as stupas)
- There is a courtyard that
surrounds the golden tower
- THE ROYAL PALACE
- Used to be a residence of a
king
- Roof is the mostly shown
part of their architecture

GARUDA-
mythical figure
that drives evil
away
FINIAL- path to
heavens; a bird

THAl ROOF
one most iconic feature of
traditional Thai structures is
arguably the roof. The Thai roof
is the offspring of a marriage
between function and cultural
artistry. Constructed with
dramatically steep angles
exceeding 45 degrees, these
roofing made sure that
rainwater does not collect and
cause damage to the building.
• Roofs were either made of grass or palm leaves, shingles,
tiles, wood chips, or even iron. But what is most impressive
is their often majestic forms which can be gabled, hipped,
or a combination of the two. To the Thais, the hipped roof
design usually signifies the house of royalty. The 'panlom'
or the bargeboard is the most decorated element
attached at the edge of the roof's gable. The impressive
pointed spires that rise like horns are a favorite feature
and are still prevalent in modern buildings.

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CAMBODIA
CAMBODIA
Khmer architecture also known as Angkorian architecture is the architecture
produced by the Khmers during the Angkor period of the Khmer Empire from
approximately the latter half of the 8th century CE to the first half of the 1
5th century CE.
DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE
Traditional Khmer Housing
The Khmer has long been known to
traditionally live on different designs of
stilt house and also has a multi-leveled
floor and gable finials at both ends of
the roof ridge.

- Left= stealth house

- Right= more of an old house' wood
construction

TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE AT ANGKOR

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia.
Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological
Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer
Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. They include the famous Temple of
Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, The Bayon Temple with its countless
sculptural decorations.
Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia
and is the largest religious monument in the
world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares
(1,626,000 m2). Originally constructed as a
Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu
for the Khmer Empire by King Suryavarman Il
during the 12th century, it was gradually
transformed into a Buddhist temple
towards the end of the century; as such, it
is also described as a "Hindu-Buddhist"
temple.

Angkor Wat was built at the behest of the Khmer King

Suryavarman Il in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura
(Present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his
state temple and eventual mausoleum. Angkor Wat
combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture:
• the temple-mountain
• the galleried temple
It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in
Hindu mythology.

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 The Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom
The Bayon is a richly decorated Khmer temple
related to Buddhism at Angkor in Cambodia.
Built in the late 12th or early 13th century
as the state temple of the King Jayavarman
VII, the Bayon stands at the centre of
JayavarmanS capital, Angkor Thom.
The Bayon's most distinctive feature is the
multitude (4 on each tower pointing to the 4
sides) Of serene and smiling stone faces of
Brahma on the many towers which jut out
from the upper terrace and cluster around its
central peak.
Originally a Hindu
temple, The Bayon
was the last state
temple to be built at
Angkor and the
only Angkorian state
temple to be built
primarily to worship
Buddhist deities,
though a great
number of minor and
local deities were also
encompassed as
representatives of
the various
districts and cities of
the realm.

LAOS
After the acquisition of Cambodia in 1863, French explorers went on several
expeditions along the Mekong River to find possible trade relations for the
territories of French Cambodia and Cochinchina (modern-day Southern
Vietnam) to the south. In 1885, a French consulate was established in the
Kingdom of Luang Prabang, which was a vassal kingdom to Siam modern-day
Thailand) led by King Chulalongkorn.
In 1895 Siam ceded the lands east of the Mekong including its islands, and
French Protectorate of Laos was officially established. The ministrative
capital moved from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. However, Luang Prabang
remained the seat of the royal family, whose power was reduced to
figureheads while the actual power was transferred over to French officials.
In January 1896, France and the United Kingdom signed an accord recognizing
the border between French Laos and British Burma.

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LAOS
The Royal Palace in Luang Prabang
It was once the residence of King Sisavang Vong
who was a King of Laos for 55 years. Locally, the
Palace is known as the Haw Kham or Ho Kham. The
Palace was built between 1904-1909 during the
French colonial occupation. It was built to replace
the old Palace after the city had been largely
destroyed and looted in 1887 by the Black Flag
Army, a militia group from China. The palace was
made of brick and Its style is a mix Of Beaux Arts
and traditional Laos style.
○ Gold accents
○ French rococo

PHA THAT LUANG (Lao: 'Great

LAO FRENCH ARCHITECTURE
During the French colonial period in Lao PDR
(from 1893-1953), France integrated its
architectural elements into traditional Lao
architecture and modified them to suit the
climate. The French colonial style continues
to make a modest impact in most major towns
and cities.
Stupa) is a gold-covered large
Buddhist Stupa in the centre of the
city of Vientiane, Laos. Buddhist
missionaries from the Mauryan Empire
are believed to have been sent by the
Emperor Ashoka and five
Arahanta monks who brought a sacred
relic (believed to be the breastbone) of
Buddha and enshrined into the Stupa in
3rd century BC.

- Louvered windows

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 VIETNAM
1. Ancient Architecture
Ancient architecture in Vietnam had stilt
houses built with materials like wood and
bamboo. There are 2 types of houses :
• with roofs curved up like a boat
• roofs curved down like turtle shells
○ Vietnam has the most influence
in China

Feudal architecture
CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
has influenced Vietnamese architecture
immensely, and many other countries
around China including Japan and Korea.
Vietnamese architecture has imported
influences from China, during this While there is a lot of influence in Vietnamese
period Vietnamese architecture was architecture, there are also a few differences
influenced by Buddhist architecture.
with Chinese architecture. The dougong (Chinese:
dougong / Vietnamese: Dau cung)which is an
important part of Chinese architecture is not
found In Vietnamese architecture starting from
the Ly dynasty where Vietnamese architecture
began to develop and innovate away from Chinese
traditional architecture. Vietnamese architecture
- was also influenced by Feng Shui (Vietnamese:
Phong thuy), wherein buildings were built
according to the directions and stars.

○ Pagoda
○ Actually stupa -

○ A fortress
-

○ Pai-lou inspired

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VIETNAM
FRENCH ARCHITECTURE
has also influenced Vietnamese architecture with any
colonial buildings being built with Vietnamese
architecture and French architecture.

- Louvered windows
- French architecture
- French colonial

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