CHINESE

ARCHITECTURE
中国建筑, Zhōngguó jiànzhú

Prepared by;
AR. JEYCARTER A. TILOY, UAP
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3
CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
 Styles of Chinese ancient architecture are rich and varied, such as temples,
imperial palaces, altars, pavilions, official residencies and folk houses, which
greatly reflect Chinese ancient thought – the harmonious unity of human beings
with nature.

 Since ancient times, Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by

conservative philosophies like Confucianism, Taoism etc. Over the
centuries, the structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained
largely unchanged, the main changes being on the decorative details.

 Traditional Chinese buildings are always found in pairs or groups,

whether they are residences, temples or palaces. Traditional Chinese
architecture, unlike that of other cultures, uses wood-frame construction as
one of its most distinctive features.
INFLUENCES
NAMES OF CHINA
Chin
• First recorded use of the word "China”,
dated 1555, derived from a Persian name
for China, popularized in Europe by Marco
Polo.
Cīnā
• Term for porcelain or ceramic ware
originally made in China.
China’s name changed with each
dynasty:
• Middle Kingdom/ Central Nation
(Zhongguo)

• Refers to the late Zhou Dynasty, as they

believed that they were the “Center of
Civilization."

• Came to official use as an abbreviation

for the Republic of China (Zhonghua
Minguo) after the government's
establishment in 1912.
GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY

China makes up roughly 4 million sq. miles ( similar to

the USA)
It comprises about 6.5 percent of the world total land
area.
Modern China is the third largest country in the
world, just behind Russia and Canada.
Rivers play a major role in China, both for transportation
and irrigation.

Great river systems:

Yellow River (Huang He) - 2,109 mi (5,464 km) long;
River often floods and leaves layers of silt. Nicknamed
“China’s Sorrow” because these floods can be very
Destructive.
Yangtze River (Chang Jiang) - the third longest river in
the world at 2,432 mi (6,300 km); Cuts through central
China, the third longest river in the world.
Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) - 848 mi (2,197 km) long
Yellow River Yangtze River Pearl River
(Huang He) (Chang Jiang) (Zhu Jiang)
Most part of the country is
mountainous.

China is a mountainous country. Two-thirds of its total

land area covered by mountains, hills and plateaus
Out of the world’s twelve high peaks of more than
8,000 meters, seven are located in China.
The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest (8,850
m) stands on the border between China and Nepal.
There are five major mountain systems in China.

• Tien Shan
• Kunlun chain
• Trans-Himalaya
• Tien Shan Kunlun chain Trans-Himalaya
North China
• Dominated by the alluvial plain along the Yellow
River.
• Mostly flat and the soil is well-suited to 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.

• Tibet was annexed in 1950

Tibetan Plateau in Southwest China
Mount Everest (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.
Mount Everest (Mount Zhumulangma)
Outer China
• Huge area to the north and west of China Proper.

• Ranges from 1,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level.

• Zone includes part of Northeast China (also known as

Manchuria), Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, the Yunnan-
Guizhou Plateau, part of the Loess Plateau, and a
stretch of mountains.

• North of China Proper, the Inner Mongolian Plateau is

a combination of prairie, mountain, and desert,
much of it suitable for raising sheep and yaks
Inner Mongolian Plateau
 INTRODUCTION
• Chinese architecture refers to a style of architecture
that has taken shape in East Asia over many
centuries.

• Since the Tang Dynasty, Chinese architecture has

had a major influence on the architectural styles
of Korea, Vietnam, and Japan.

• Chinese architectural style is a unique architectural

style which uses timber as the primary construction
material.
QIONGZHU TEMPLE
(CHINA)
DONGHWASA TEMPLE
(KOREA)
SENSOJI TEMPLE
(JAPAN)
 INTRODUCTION
• The architecture of China is as old as Chinese
civilization.

• Evidence of their use of an indigenous system of

construction that has retained its principal
characteristics from prehistoric times to the present
day.
• Construction system lasting over 4000 on a vast
territory & still remain a living architecture, retaining its
principal characteristics in spite of repeated foreign
invasions.
 MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF
CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
• Greatest achievements: royal palaces & city
planning which reflect China's supreme imperial
authority and social estate system.

• Its courtyards were built around an axis

• It is in perfect harmony w/ nature

• Chinese architectural style reflect the moral

principles, aesthetic conceptions & values of Chinese
people
CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
• Extreme cold to almost tropical

• Cold strong winter winds from Mongolia of 50 -

Mountain ranges in the north

• Warm with winter – South

• Northeast and south-westerly monsoons – summer
and winter
CLIMATIC INFLUENCE
• Geographical and climatic conditions - diversity
in the architecture of various regions in China.

• North-south axis as major axis and east-west axis

as the minor - China is geographically situated
north of the equator and the climate is, cold in
the winter for most part and warm in the
summer.
GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE:
Timber – principal material
• Bamboo
• Pine
• Persea nanmu – tallest and straightest of all
trees in China
BAMBOO PINE PERSEA NANMU
 GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE:
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
 LIMESTONE

ROOFS
SANDSTONE
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS INFLUENCES
• Buddhism - Founded by Siddhartha
Gautama (480-400 BCE) Buddha – “The
Enlightened One”
• Confucianism - was a new code of
social conduct and philosophy of life
(Middle Way). Founded by Confucius (551-
479 BC)

• Taoism - founded by Lao Tzu “Old Master”

(6th -4th Century B.C. )which offered a
doctrine of universal love as solution to social
disorder.
BUDDHISM
Buddhism was introduced to China from India
around the first century AD, since the fourth century
AD, it was widely spread and gradually became
the most influential religion in China.
Because of varied introduction time and channel
as well as regional, historic and social backgrounds,
Buddhism in China is divided into three branches
namely Chinese Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Pali
Buddhism.
CONFUCIUS CONFUCIANISM
Confucius established the Confucian school of thought
around 500 BC, during China’s Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476 BC.
Confucianism became one of the pillars of Chinese
culture, and was named China’s official state ideology
around 100 BC, during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220
AD) by Emperor Han Wudi, who reigned from 140 – 87 BC)

CONFUCIAN IDEOLOGY
Confucian ideology was the core of feudal
China's hierarchical social system. Traditional courtyard
residences drew strict distinction between interior and
exterior, superior and inferior, and male and female,
internal affairs and external affairs, the honorable
(master) and humble (maid) ranking.
The compounds were enclosed and isolated from the
outside world, and serving as material expressions of
Confucian ideology.
CONFUCIUS LAO TZU
The Chinese quadrangle buildings (known as
“Siheyuan") was highly influenced by Confucanism's rite.
 LAO TZU
TAOISM
Taoism is a religion native to China.
Lao Tzu, a famous thinker living in 6th
Century BC, established this philosophy
and came to be regarded as the father of
Taoism.

It formed mainly during Eastern Han

Dynasty (25-220). Many Taoist ideas and
thoughts are greatly reflected in Taoist
architecture.
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
INFLUENCES
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.
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
INFLUENCES
Feng shui is a Chinese philosophical system
of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding
environment.
The feng shui practice discusses
architecture in metaphoric terms of
"invisible forces" that bind the universe, earth,
and humanity together, known as Qi
Qi(气), the energy of the universe, is carried
in the wind and retained within water. Both
elements were used as a way of directing
Qi
Feng shui is not only a practice that is
related to physical space, but also to the
inhabitants of the space itself, as both are
interconnected. The goal of feng shui
guidelines is to locate and orient dwellings,
possessions, land and landscaping, etc., so
as to be attuned with the flow of Qi.

The bagua (or pa kua) of the Ching (Book of

Changes) is an octagonal diagram used in
feng shui analysis. Each direction on the
octagon (north, northeast, etc.) is associated
with certain significant aspects. When one
maps the bagua onto a home, village,
cemetery, etc., information about correct
orientation and placement can allegedly be
gleaned.
Historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings—
often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but
also dwellings and other structures—in
an auspicious manner. Depending on the particular style of
feng shui being used, an auspicious site could be
determined by reference to local features such as bodies of
water, or stars or the compass.
Major Principles of Fengshui
• Take the environment as a
whole
• In accordance with local
conditions
• Leaning against mountains
and facing water
• Observing Terrain
• Examining Geology
• Analyzing Water Quality
• Facing South
• Moderate Size and Well
Situated Beijing: The best Fengshui city
 China Cities with Good Feng Shui
Feng Shui followers believe feng shui is closely related to the rise and decline of a city. A
city with good Fengshui, no matter how small it is, has the magical power to produce
creative minds and gifted talents from generation to generation. Listed below are some
prime examples of these cities.

Xinjiang Nanjing Beijing Hangzhou

Chengdu Luoyang Xian Kunming

Feng Shui Decorations
They are used daily to bring
good energy in health, finance,
relationships, and career, drive
off evil spirits, and break taboos.
• Paintings
• Couplets
• Feng Shui Sword
• Eight Diagrams
Mirror
• Fish Bowl
• Pot Plants
• Wind Chime
• Wooden Floor
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
INFLUENCES
TAOISM IDEA
They believed that everything in nature
has two balancing forces…

"Tai Chi“ or Ying yang symbol -

encompasses the whole
concept of feng shui, it shows balance
completeness, and it also gives the
impression of movement
Fundamental to feng shui is the
idea that yin and yang are the two
basic principles underlying all
matter and energy in the universe.
These forces are opposites, but are
not in opposition. Rather, they are
complementary and need each
other to exist and flourish. The
constantly changing interactions
of yin and yang give rise to the
infinite variety of patterns in life.

Widely used in Taoism Architecture.

SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
INFLUENCES

LO SHU MAGIC SQUARE

According to the legend, thereafter
people were able to use this pattern in a certain
way to control the river and protect themselves
from floods.
Symbolizes the natural order of the
Universe, promoting logic, strategy and open-
mindedness.
Lo Shu MAGIC SQUARE
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
INFLUENCES
Lo Shu magic square is called a bagua
chart or map. Each of the numbers of the nine
equal squares of the Lo Shu represents a trigram.
Each of the sections of the bagua symbolize
specific properties including:
• Life area
• Element
• Direction
• Animal
• Color
SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS
INFLUENCES

Pinyin jiǔ

• Strongly associated with the Chinese dragon,

a symbol of magic, longevity and power.

• Predominantly used for the emperor

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
INFLUENCES

• Dynasties - rule the country under one family.

• Emperors - (Chinese rulers) based their

government on the Confucian model
1. ANCIENT CHINA
• Neolithic
• Xia Dynasty
• Shang Dynasty
• Zhou Dynasty

The first evidence of human presence in

the region was found at the Zhoukoudian Cave
Zhoukoudian Cave
1. ANCIENT CHINA

Zhou Dynasty (2000 - 256 BC)

• Emerged in the Huang He valley,

overrunning the Shang.

• “Mandate of Heaven" (tianming), the

notion that the ruler “The Son of Heaven”
or governed by divine.
Huang He Valley
2. EARLY IMPERIAL CHINA

• Qin Dynasty
• Han Dynasty
• Three Kingdoms
• Sui Dynasty
• Tang Dynasty
• Five Dynasties
• Northern and Southern Song Dynasty
Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 B.C.)

• United China in a legalist government seated

in Xiangyang, however it only lasted for 12
years

• Standardized the language and writing; and

its currency as a circular copper coin with a
square hole in the middle.

• Public works projects were also undertaken.

Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 B.C.)
• Great Wall was built in the north

• Roads and irrigation canals were built

throughout the country.

• Huge palace was built for Shi Huangdi/ Shi

Huang

• Terracotta Warriors (Mausoleum of the First

Qin Emperor)
Qin Dynasty
(221 – 206 B.C.)
Shi Huang/ Shi Huangdi’s Palace
Han Dynasty (207 – 220 B.C.)
• Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang), a commoner
overthrew the Qin emperor.

• Period of prosperity, with the country

embracing Confucianism.

• Empire’s territory expanded to southern

Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia and Central Asia.

• Buddhism first came to China

Han Dynasty (207 – 220 B.C.)
Civil Service (207 BC)
• The civil service would run for over 2000
years
• Led to the establishment of extensive
trading along the Silk Road which made
China the largest economy of the ancient
world.
• The Chinese took great interest in the
safety of their trade products and extended
the Great Wall of China to ensure the
protection of the trade route.
Emperor Gaozu
(Liu Bang)
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D)
• 2nd largest and longest-enduring empire in
the region after the Han Empire.

• Return to prosperity, called the Golden

Age of Ancient China.

• Buddhism became the dominant religion

but at the end of the dynasty, the rulers
made Confucianism the national religion
and banned all other religions.
Tang Dynasty
(618-907 A.D)
Five Dynasties (907-960 A.D.)
• Attacked time and again by the Khitans and
the Turks.

• Important development was in the field of

printing

• The practice of binding women's feet also

began during this time
binding women's feet
Five Dynasties
(907-960 A.D.)
Northern and Southern Song
Dynasties (960 – 1279 A.D)
• Great advances were made in the areas of
technological invention, material production,
political philosophy, government, and elite
culture.

• Use of gunpowder as a weapon in warfare

• Neo-Confucianism was developed during this

time, especially during the Southern Song
dynasty
Northern and
Southern Song
Dynasties (960
– 1279 A.D)
3. LATE IMPERIAL CHINA

• Yuan Dynasty

• Ming Dynasty

• Qing Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty (1206 – 1368 A.D.)

• MONGOLS - First of only two times that the

entire area of China was ruled by foreigners

• Established by Kublai Khan, he had his

grandfather Genghis Khan placed on the
official record as the founder of the dynasty
Kublai Khan
Yuan
Dynasty
(1206 – 1368
A.D.)
Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644)
• Revival and expansion of the Chinese
culture.
• Restoration of the Grand Canal
• Repair and completed the Great Wall of
China.
• Establishment of the Forbidden City in
Beijing during the first quarter of the 15th
century
GRAND CANAL (CHINA)
Ming Dynasty
(1368 – 1644)
Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912)

• Instituted changes in the dress of the Chinese

• Ordered all Chinese men to have their pigtail

hairstyle with the front of their heads shaved.

• Last imperial dynasty of China.

• Experience of western imperialism.

Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912)
Internal and external unrest :
• Taiping Rebellion, Punti-Hakka Clan War
(1855–67), Nian Rebellion(1851–68), Miao
Rebellion (1854–73),Panthay Rebellion (1856–
73) and the Dungan Revolt (1862–77).

• Two opium (Anglo-Chinese) wars erupted

and lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to
1860, the climax of a trade dispute between
the British Empire.
Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912)
• Boxer Rebellion, a violent anti-foreign, anti-
Christian movement by the "Righteous Fists of
Harmony,” or Society of Righteous and
Harmonious Fists in China

• Xinhai Revolution of 1911–12 brought an end

to the Qing dynasty and established the
Republic of China.
Qing
Dynasty
(1644 - 1912)
4. Republic of China (1912–49)
Kuomintang or Nationalist Party ruled by Sun Yat-sen in 1912.
Chiang Kai-shek ruled from 1920 -1949 Ending his rule after the World War II and Chinese
Civil War. His government moved to Formosa (Taiwan) in 1950.

1912-1928

Sun Yat-sen

1928-1949
Chiang Kai-shek
5. People's Republic of China (PRC)
1949- present
Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of PRC under Communist
Party in 1949

Mao Zedong
columns
Chinese Architecture Features
• Horizontal Emphasis
• Bilateral symmetry
• Enclosure
• Hierarchical
• Mythical & Geomancy concepts
• Emphasis on the horizontal 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.
– Chinese architecture stresses the
visual impact of the
width of the buildings

Forbidden City emphasis on Horizontal value

• Emphasis on articulation and
symmetry
– signifies balance
– are found everywhere in Chinese
architecture, from palace complexes to
humble farmhouses
– A notable exception is in the design Symmetrical layout of Forbidden City, Beijing, China
of gardens, which tends to be as
asymmetrical as possible. The principle
underlying the garden's composition is
to create enduring flow and also to
emulate nature.

Chinese gardens are contrast.

It tends to be asymmetrical to emulate
nature and create balance to the
symmetrical layout of building.
• Enclosure
– traditional Chinese architecture involves
constructing buildings or building complexes
that take up an entire property but encloses
open spaces within itself. These enclosed
spaces come in two forms: the open courtyard
and the sky well
– The use of open courtyards is a common
feature in many types
of Chinese architectures. This is best
exemplified in the Siheyuan (basic pattern
used for residences, palaces, temples,
monasteries, family businesses and
government offices) , which consists of an
empty space surrounded by buildings
connected with one another either directly or
through verandas.
– In southern Chinese architecture, large open courtyards are less common, instead the
buildings have structure known as the
"sky well".
– This structure is essentially a relatively enclosed courtyard formed from the intersections of
closely spaced buildings and offer small opening to the sky through the roof space from the
floor up.
– These enclosures serve in
• temperature regulation and
• in venting the building complexes.

– Northern courtyards are typically open and facing the south to allow the maximum
exposure of the building windows and walls to the sun while keeping the cold northern winds
out.
– Southern sky wells are relatively small and serves to collect rain water from the roof tops
while restricting the amount of sunlight that enters the building.
– Sky wells also serve as vents for rising hot air, which draws cool air from the lowers stories
of the house and allows for exchange of cool air with the outside.
• –Hierarchy
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 faces the sides. Building facing away from the front of the property are the least
important.
– As well, building in the rear and more private parts of the property are held in higher esteem
and reserve for elder members of the family or ancestral plaques than buildings near the front,
which are typically for servants and hired help.
– Front facing buildings in the back of properties are used particularly for rooms of celebratory
rites and for the placement of ancestral halls and plaques.
– In multiple courtyard complexes, Central courtyard and their buildings are considered more
important than peripheral ones, the latter which are typically used as storage or servant's
rooms or kitchens.
• Mythical & Geomancy concepts
– Concepts from feng shui geomancy and mythic elements of
daoism are usually present in the construction and layout of
Chinese architecture, from common residences to imperial and
religious structures.
– This includes the use of:
• Screen walls to face the main entrance of the house, which
stems from the belief that evil things travel on straight lines.
• Talismans and fortuitous imagery:
• Door gods displayed on doorways to ward evil and encourage
the flow of good fortune
• Three anthropomorphic figures representing Fu Lu Shou stars
are prominently displayed, sometimes with the proclamation
"the three star are present“.
• Meaning Happines (Fu), Prosperity (Lu) and Longevity (Shou).
• Fruits and animals that symbolize good fortune and
prosperity, such as bats and
pomegranates, respectively. The association is often done
through rebuses.
• Orienting the structure with its back to elevated landscape and ensuring that
there is water in the front.
• Considerations are also made such that the generally windowless back of the
structure faces the north, where the wind is coldest in the winter
• Ponds, pools, wells, and other water sources are usually built into the structure
ANCIENT CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE
TRADITIONAL CHINESE
MODULAR HOUSE
四合院
SIHEYUAN
 SIHEYUAN
• Siheyuan, literally meaning
quadrangle in Chinese, refers to a
common traditional Chinese
compound. Such compounds have
a history of over 2,000 years; they
date back in embryonic form to
the Western Zhou Period (1045–
770 BC).
• This kind of quadrangular
compound has historically been
the template for most Chinese
architecture. Siheyuan house or the
combination of four courts, forming a
center plaza.
 SIHEYUAN
• A basic Siheyuan house is considered a
module capable to be duplicated and
expanded when desired.
• There are many rules governing the design
of the Siheyuan house.
• These rules are based on the principles of
FengShui.
3 MAIN SECTIONS OF A SINGLE MODULE
 1. Main Gate and the
worker's quarters
• The frontal portion comprises
of the "Main Gate" and a
terrace of worker's quarters to
the left of the "Main Gate" and
the horseman station to the
left.
• the worker's quarters,
horseman station and the main
gates are barricading the
street front. The main gate is
always located to the right side,
looking from the street.
 2. The House proper
• The Zhengfang (main house)
• The western wing is the living abode
for the females. The opposite is called
the eastern wing also known as
the Green Dragon Embrace. The
eastern wing is the living abode for
the males. Contrary to Feng Shui
principles that the Green Dragon
Embrace must be higher than White
Tiger Embrace , the female quarters
are higher than the male quarters for
practical reason - allowing the female
to see and not to be seen from the
ground level.
 3. The Kitchen and
back of house
• The last portion of the house
comprising the kitchen, toilets and
the back of house. It is detached
away from the house proper
through a court of utilitarian in
nature.
• There is also a back door only
serves as the entrance for the
female members of the family and
as the only mean to allow the
disposal of "night soil" or sewer.
• When the family grows, the extended family require
extended place to live. The same module was duplicated to
the back, again with a second center court and more.
General Layout of Siheyuan
DAMEN
• Front gate, a siheyuan only
has one front gate, with scale
depending on the status and
wealth of its owner
• Almost always protected by
two stone lions.
• In wealthy homes, there
would even be a gatekeeper's
room next to the gate.
YINGBI

•A spirit screen,
also called a
spirit wall
•Its function is to
protect the
front gate.
DAOZUOFANG
•A reverse-
facing room,
beside the front
gate.
•they usually
served as
servants' rooms.
ERMEN/CHUIHUAMEN
• literally meaning
second gate or
flower-hung gate
in Chinese. This is
an inner gate
separating the
first from the
second courtyard.
XIXIANGFANG DONGXIANGFANG
WESTERN RESIDENCE EASTERN RESIDENCE
ZHENGFANG
•The main house of
the Siheyuan is
normally
positioned along
the north-south
and west-east
axes.
ERFANG
•literally meaning
ears' rooms
•Erfang were used as
children's or
servants' quarters,
and storage or
cooking rooms.
HOUZHAOFANG
•only exist in those
siheyuan with more
than three courtyards
•they are usually used
as unmarried
daughters' or female
servants' rooms.
FAMOUS
SIHEYUAN
IN CHINA
 Wang Family
Grand Courtyard
-Jingsheng town,
Capital of Shanxi Province

the Epitome of the Qing-Dynasty Style Dwelling

Qiao Family
Grand
Courtyard
-Shanxi Province

a Traditional Qing Dynasty Mansion

Traditional Chinese Modular
House
Components
North-South Orientation
• Solar-orientation provides a sunny, southern exposure to the
major living spaces.

• Halls for the elders and for important ceremonies - arranged

along the main axis, which usually was the north- south axis,
to have the best ventilation and sunshine.
Axial Planning
• Provides an organized method for giving Chinese houses a sense of
order and balance.
• The young generation occupied the side halls facing east and west.
Inward Planning Concept
• Houses are planned around a courtyard with the maximum linkage
between the indoor and outdoor space.
• Represents the unity of man and nature, while focusing on the
importance of the family
Courtyard

• Allows sunlight and air into the inner spaces of the house
• Provides an outdoor activity space for the celebration of festivals.
• Sometimes it is a garden
Walled Enclosure
• Secures privacy
• Serves as a defense
• Defines a physical space inside which people belong to one another, a
place for the unity of family
Layout
• 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
Layout
• Wealth and regional variation - houses were by no means identical in all
parts of China composed of:

o Front, middle and rear yards

o Master of the family, parents occupy the center, middle yard - stay on the axis
o 2nd and 3rd generation stay in the wing houses on both sides
o Servants stay in the rear yard
o Size, height and quality of the houses decreases according to the order of the main
house, wing houses and house in the front and rear yards
 CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY

● Building Materials
● Framing System
● Roofs
● Roof Bracket System
How to build Ancient Chinese Architecture for dummies

Materials needed:

❑ Foundation = pounded earth

❑ Walls = Bricks
❑ Roofing = Clay
❑ houses frames and roof support = Wood
❑ Thatch and bamboo = common materials for
the poor
Ancient Chinese Hut
 Building Materials
● Foundation of a house is made of pounded earth.
● Use of bricks for construction of walls in the absence of wood.
● Roofing materials vary depending on the wealth of a family.
Clay is a common material for making tiles for roofing.
● Thatch and bamboo - common materials for the poor
● Wood if available and affordable was used to frame houses
and as support for the roof.
● Wood framework systems for Chinese homes and other
buildings were standardized by the Ming dynasty.
 EARTH BUILDING MATERIALS
POUNDED EARTH

Earth has been a common

building material through
Chinese history. During the
Neolithic period, people lived in
caves or built their homes
above ground using wattle and
daub technique. More
substantial, load-bearing walls
can also be made of pounded
earth, a technique that also has
a long history in China.
Earth Building Materials
RAMMED EARTH
- wooden frame is
constructed to hold the earth,
and then the dirt is pounded
into place.

After the earth dries, the

wooden frame is removed.
The mold is being removed
here, revealing an earthen
wall that is free-standing. The
impressions left by the mold
can hold plaster after the wall
dries.
 New rammed earth building in Modern rammed earth construction,
Shangri-La (Zhongdian) County, Xi’an region (Maini)
Yunnan. Rammer detail
B R I C KS
3rd century BCE
- the cuboid solid brick was introduced.

-Builders began to realize the potential

of the material and to venture into
building walls and ceilings with it.

-Superior qualities of fired bricks were

recognized only once they were
introduced into tomb architecture.

-First employed in tomb building in the

urban centers of the northern Chinese
provinces Shaanxi and Henan but
soon spread as far as Shandong in the
east and Gansu in the west.
B R I C KS
The four-sided dome
- changed brick architecture

-can be observed in central Henan at the

beginning of the 1st century CE.

- sometimes measuring more than 6

meters in length.

-wide space between the coffins at the

rear and the entrance at the front of the
chamber this space was left free of
grave goods to create an open area for
special functions during the funeral, or to
strengthen the resemblance of the tomb
chamber to a house in which the
deceased could spend eternity. Four-sided dome and non-interlocked barrel vaults, tomb Wunü zhong 461 near
Luoyang, between 7 and 14 Ĉ Ċ . Wenwu 1995/11,
B R I C KS
The basic ingredient of brick is clay.

Clay
-must have plasticity when mixed with water,
so that it can be molded or shaped;
-it must have sufficient tensile strength to keep
its shape after forming;
-clay particles must fuse together when
subjected to sufficiently high temperatures.

Clay occurs in three principal forms.

a.Surface clay - found near the surface of the
earth.
b.Shales - clay subjected to high pressure until
they have become relatively hard.
c.Fire clays - are found at deeper levels and
usually have more uniform physical and
chemical qualities.
CL AYRO O F
This image from a Ming dynasty
manual shows how roof tiles are
formed using a round circular
wooden mold.

After a flat rectangular piece

of clay has been formed to the
desired shape, it is placed on a
wooden mold which has been
covered with a moistened
cloth.
C LAY R O O F

This image from a

Ming dynasty
manual shows how
roof tiles are formed
using a round circular
wooden mold.
After a flat rectangular
piece of clay has been
formed to the desired
shape, it is placed on a
wooden mold which
has been covered
with a moistened
cloth.
 T H AT C H
Thatch roofing is a traditional
roofing method that involves
using dry vegetation such as
straw, water, reed, rushes,
sedge, and so on to create a
roof covering.
 T H AT C H
Thatch roofing is a
traditional roofing
method that involves
using dry vegetation
such as straw, water,
reed, rushes, sedge,
and so on to create a
roof covering.
 BAMBOO
-light and tough with
elasticity and bearing
capacity.

-can be used to
construct houses,
scaffolding and pillars.

-In southern China

where bamboo is
abundant, bamboo stilt
houses are common
residences for the
people.
 WOOD
traditional building material, easily
-
worked, has durability and beauty

-great ability to absorb shocks from

sudden load

-freedom from rust and corrosion, is

comparatively light in weight, and is
adaptable to a countless variety of
purposes

-Easier to process and to get than stone

in ancient China.

--Chinese had complex environment,

mountains, rivers, weather, etc. Wood
had more raw material than stone and
wood is more easy to transport.
Wooden architecture in the Forbidden City
 4 Basic Reasons forWooden
Architecture in China
1.Wood was an abundant resource in early China.
- abundance of forests in Chinese civilization's
birthplaces — the Yellow River and Yangtze River
valleys.

2.Ancient Chinese philosophy states that wood is lucky.

- Wood remained the most popular building material
even after quarrying and brickmaking developed,
due to the Five Elements Theory used in fengshui
(geomancy), which has dictated many aspects of
life since the Spring and Autumn Period (770–476
BC).
As wood is the element that represents spring and
life, it has the best auspicious connotations for
buildings. So fengshui believers have felt compelled
to build their houses etc. out of wood.
3.Wood was easy to produce.
- easy to obtain, process, and replenish.
- Some dynasties decreed that each
family should plant some trees to
ensure the ready supply of China's
construction material of choice.

4.Wood was easy to work with.

- The good workability of wood made
building speed much faster than
other civilizations' structures of stone
and mortar. Decorations were also
easier to form.
- Chinese buildings were usually finished
in several years, while other
civilizations' needed decades.
However, the buildings of the Romans
and other ancient civilizations
generally lasted much longer
Yingxian wooden pagoda
 Building Materials
● Foundation of a house is made of pounded earth.
● Use of bricks for construction of walls in the absence of wood.
● Roofing materials vary depending on the wealth of a family.
○ Clay is a common material for making tiles for roofing.
● Thatch and bam boo - common materials for the poor
● Wood if available and affordable was used to frame houses and as
support for the roof.
● Wood framework systems for Chinese homes and other buildings were
standardized by the Ming dynasty.
FRAMING
SYSTEM
BASIC ELEMENTS
OF CHINESE
TIMBER BUILDING
 FOUNDATION
•Platform of pounded earth faced with
stone or tile.
•Lower class construction – the platforms are
constructed on rammed earth platforms
that are unpaved or paved with brick or
ceramics.
•Upper class constructions – typically have
high raised stone paved rammed earth or
stone foundations with ornately carved
heavy stone pedestals for supporting large
vertical structural beams.
POST-AND-LINTEL
FRAME
•Vertical posts topped by
horizontal tie beams. These
beams are connected to each
other directly or, in larger and
higher class structures, tied
indirectly together through the
use of brackets.
 STRUCTURAL
CONNECTIONS

•In terms of techniques for timber-

framed building constructions, tenon-
and mortise joint methods were well-
developed at Hemudu Culture
•Use of non-rigid support such as
dougong.
 THE TILE ROOF

•Tiles were the most

common material used for
ancient Chinese roofs. They
provided good protection
against fire, stayed
waterproof, and were good
for drainage.
 WOOD FRAMING SYSTEM

•Development of a distinctive wooden

framing system to support the heavy tile
roof.
•Wooden posts, beams, lintels and joists
make up the framework of a house.
•Walls serve as the separation of rooms
without bearing the weight of the whole
house. It can be made of materials such
as brick, earth, wood, bamboo, or even
corn or cotton stalks.
 WOOD FRAMING SYSTEM

•Another significant difference

from European traditions is that
Chinese timber buildings do not
rely on triangular bracing to
create rigidity, but use instead
elaborately jointed corbelled
brackets known “dougongs”.
 TYPES OF WOOD FRAMING SYSTEMS
•Chuandou (Pillar and Transverse Beam)- comprised of tie-beams and sills
that are tied into columns, while the roof is constructed via direct
connections of purlins and columns
•Tailiang (Pillar and beam)– comprises successive tiers of beams and struts
in a transverse direction
•Jinggan – consists of horizontally laid logs with interlaced corners
TYPES OF WOOD FRAMING
SYSTEMS

tailiang framing system

chuandou framing system

CHUĀNDÒU 穿鬥
“Penetrating and interlocking
framework”
•The term cameto be used to describe the
structural system of timber-frame domestic
architecture in southern China.
•The system is consists of several layers of tie-
beams that are tenoned through the pillars to
join them together and the pillars support the
purlins directly without the use of a bracketing
layer.
CHUĀNDÒU 穿鬥
•A row of columns is erected along the depth of the house according to the number
of purlins. Each column is erected with a purlin.
•The roof load is directly transmitted from the purlin to the column.
Each row of columns is crossed horizontally by the penetrating beams that penetrate
the column body, forming a frame.
PURLIN - part of framing system
•Horizontal member that is erected at
the beam head along the width of the
building.
•It transfer the roof load downwards
through the beams.
Names of the purlin:
•The eave purlin on the eaves column,
•The golden or intermediate purlin on the
gold column,
•Ridge purlin on the middle column.
CHUĀNDÒU 穿鬥
•Advantage: the wooden frame uses
small materials, strong integrity, and
strong earthquake resistance.

•Disadvantages: the columns are

arranged too densely, and can only
be used when the indoor space
scale is not large (such asa bedroom,
a mixed house).

Application: mostly used for

residential and smaller buildings
 TÁILIÁNG 抬梁

•Also called as Liangzhushi 梁柱式,

jialiangshi 架梁, dieliangshi 叠梁式,
zhuliangshi 柱梁式
•Literally, “tailiang” means lifting
beams on top of the pillars.
•It is interpreted as a framing system in
which beams are supported on top of
the pillars, and purlins are extended
across the beams.
 TÁILIÁNG 抬梁
•It is usually considered to be the
standard timber-frame structure of
traditional official buildings in
northern China.
•It is also oneof the most important
architectural types.
•They are mainly used in official
buildings, and examples in Yingzao
fashi 营造法式 (1103) and
Gongcheng zuofa 工程做法
(1734) And the existing ancient
official buildings are usually tailiang.
 TÁILIÁNG 抬梁
The interpretation of the definition of
tailiang mostly focuses on two aspects:
1.The emphasis on the relationship
among the components
- The pillars bear the weight of the
beams, and the melon-shaped
columns (guazhu 瓜柱) stand on the
beams.
2.The emphasis on distribution of force.
- The beam, as a bending member,
must transmit the roof load to the
pillars
 TÁILIÁNG 抬梁

•Advantage: a beam with a larger

span can be used to reduce the
number of columns and obtain a
larger indoor space. So it is suitable for
palaces, temples and other buildings.

Disadvantage: the wood material is

large and the adaptability is not
strong.
ROOFS
 FEATURES
Timber Jointing System
·Joints were favored over metal
fixings, the interlocking and
overlapping columns and cross
beams made the roofs not just
strong, but also interesting to look
at
FEATURES

Graceful Curved Shape

● the upturned eaves on roof corners
are the most identifiable mark of
Chinese roof architecture
● it appeared during the Han
Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and
were the standard type used until
the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279)
FEATURES
Graceful Curved Shape
● enables more light to enter the house
and a better view outside frominside
● Ancient people refer the roofs to be
like divine birds flying high in full
swings
● Make it more appealing – graceful
and lightness in weight
FEATURES

Round Tiles
● Rounded tiles were most commonly
used with profiles of arcs and
semicircles
● The most popular way to interlock
rounded tiles was to place rows of
cupped tiles on the roof, then rows
of arched tiles spanning between
them, their edges inside the
cupped tiles
FUNCTION
Drainage

● the combination of lines, curves, and

upturned eaves increased the roofs'
surface area
- this design not only improved the
drainage of rainwater and reduced
snow load, but also added a special
aesthetic to the architecture
● roofs in southern China were normally
steeper than those in the north for extra
drainage, while roofs in northern China
put more emphasis on lighting and
warmth
FUNCTION
Protection
● ancient Chinese roofs had wide eaves,
which could shield the walls below from
all but the fiercest wind-driven rain
● this characteristic kept the internal pillars
and brackets, which were usually made
of stone or wood, protected from
erosion caused by rainwater
● walls were built with clay and bricks,
with wooden windows and doors (all
are subject to wearing or deterioration
due to water)
FUNCTION

A Symbol o f Hierarchy
● Roof architecture showed different
levels of importance for buildings
● roofs had to meet institutional
requirements
● graded according to the size and
differences in images – high to low;
big to small, important to less
important
TYPES OF ROOF

Wudian (Hip Roof)

● with all sides sloping
● has four slopes and five ridges
(four crest)
● the classiest traditional roof
style
● used for special constructions
TYPES OF ROOF
There were two kinds of hip roof: single-eave
and double-eave

● Double-eave – highest architectural roof,

were only used in royal palaces and
Confucian temples during the Ming
(1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912)
dynasties

- Examples: Hall of Supreme Harmony

in the Forbidden City, Tian’an Hall of
Dai Temple in Tai’an City, Dacheng
Hall of Confucius Temple in Qufu City

● Single-eave – mostly used in the side

palace halls or chambers of ceremonial Tian’an Hall of DaiTemple

and religious architectures

TYPES OF ROOF

Xieshan
(Gable and Hip
Roof/Resting Hill
Roof)
● nine-ridged roof with two curved sides
● has one formal ridge, four vertical
ridges, and four diagonal ridges
● has four slopes in all sides
● the slopes in the back and front are
called full-face slopes and the ones in
the left and right are regarded as half
slopes, the triangular area above those
half-slopes are called Shanhua
TYPES 0F ROOF

● were second in importance to hiproofs

● Double-eave - were mainly used for
important halls, temples, gardens, and
other official buildings

- Examples: Hall of Preserving Harmony,

Gate of Supreme Harmony, and the
Gateof Heavenly Peace in the
Forbidden City, Bell Tower, and Drum
Tower

● Single-eave – mainly used in other buildings

in the palace, governmental houses such as
ancestral temples, administrations,
departments and the publichalls
Hall of Preserving Harmony
TYPES OF ROOF

Xuanshan
(Overhanging
Gable Roof)
● have five ridges and two straight,
overhanging slopes
● the roofs usually extend beyond
the gable and get supported by
the trusses protruding from below
● the four surfaces of the hanging
hill roofs also extend beyond the
eaves
TYPES OF ROOF

● third grade roofs, after hip roofs

(wudian) and resting hill roofs
(xieshan)
● one of the most frequently used
roof designs for more well-to-do
premises in China
● the most obvious feature is eaves
overhanging the gable walls by
three-tenths of the wall height
TYPES OF ROOF

Yingshan
(Flush Gable
Roof/Hard Hill Roof)
● had a main ridge and raised sloping ridges on
the gable walls
● a very simple style with two slopes
facing front and back
● can only be tiled with green slab tiles
● considered a low-grade roof style in China, in
the Ming and Qing dynasties hard hill roofs
were mostly used in common buildings
 TYPES OF ROOF

Cuanjian (Pyramidal Roof) Zhongyan (Double-eaved)

 USES
RESIDENTIAL
Overhanging Gable Roof (Xuanshan)
- most common residential roof type in south of
Yangtze River where the climate is humid and
warm
- the wide eaves are designed to keep the upper
parts of the timber structure from the rain

Flush Gable Roof (Yingshan)

- most common residential roof style used in the
north of Yangtze River where the climate is
relatively cold and dry
 USES
RESIDENTIAL
Roof with High Firewalls
- the firewalls at both ends could be in various
height and shape
- the residential buildings with this type of roof are
commonly seen in windy Anhui and Zhejiang
provinces in southern China

Single Slope Roof

- this type of roof is often seen on residential
buildings in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces in
northern China where the climate condition is
quite windy and cold with heavy snowfall in
winter
 USES
RESIDENTIAL
Gable and Single Slope Roof
- multi-gable roofs are commonly used on
multi-storey residential buildings in Zhejiang
Province in China’s humid southeast coastal
region where it rains frequently

Gable and Double Slope Roof

- this type of roof is quite common on the
residential buildings in southern China
 USES
RESIDENTIAL

Multi-Eave Gable and Hip Roof

- commonly seen on the residential buildings
in hot and humid southern China

Gable Roof for Stilt Houses

- usually seen in mountain areas in China’s
subtropical southwest
 USES
PUBLIC BUILDING
Gable and Hip Roof (Xieshan)

- were traditionally used on the less important

palace, government and religious buildings

Intersecting Gable and Hip Roof

- this is a building with overlaid gable and hip
roofs in a Daoist temple in Zhengding County,
Hebei Province
 USES
PUBLIC BUILDING
Hip Roof (Wudian)
- In classic Chinese building code, hip roofs
were reserved for public buildings of
significance, such as meeting halls in royal
palaces or the chief prayer hall in big
temples

Double Eave Hip Roof

-exclusively reserved for major buildings in
royal palaces, such as Hall of Supreme
Harmony in Beijing Forbidden City
 USES
PUBLIC BUILDING

Double Eave Hip and Flat Roof

- this combination of flat and hip roofs do not
appear often

Single and Double-Eave Gable & Hip Roofs

with Upswings at the Ends
- this is a set of roofs on a terrace building
illustrated in a Song Dynasty painting
USES
PUBLIC BUILDING
Multi-leveled Single-Eave, Double-Eave and
Overlaid Gable & Hip Roofs
- this complicated roof set was for the ancient
Tengwang Terrace Building as illustrated in a
Song Dynasty painting

Multi-leveled Single-Eave, Double-Eave and

Intersecting Gable & Hip Roofs with Upswings
at the Ends
- this complicated roof set was for the ancient
Yellow Crane Terrace Building as illustrated
in a Song Dynasty painting
 USES
PUBLIC BUILDING

Combination of Multi-leveled Cross Gable & Hip

Roofs and Round Ridge Roofs
- this set of L-shaped roofs are on the corner
watchtowers of Beijing Forbidden City

Combination of Double-Eave Hip Roof and

Double-Eave Pyramid Eave Roofs Linked by
Gable Roofs
- this set of roofs is on Beijing Forbidden City
Meridian Gate for the Receiving Hall, corner
watchtowers and verandas
USES
GARDEN STRUCTURES

Round Roof
- most common roof style for
garden pavilions

Triangle Hip Roof

- this type of roof allows the structure with three
facades, normally used on a small garden
pavilion built in a tiny plot of land with an
awkward irregular shape
 USES
GARDEN STRUCTURES
Octagonal Hip Roof
- a traditional Chinese roof with 8 facades, which
could be either single or double eaves,
normally used on a major pavilion structure in a
big garden or a lager Buddhist pagoda

Fan-Shaped Gable and Hip Roof with a Round

Ridge
- this type of roof is normally used on a
waterside garden structure
 USES
GARDEN STRUCTURES

Single-Eave and Double-Eave Gable and Hip

Roofs
- it was used on a waterside terrace building as
illustrated in a Song Dynasty painting

Double-Eave Intersecting Gable &

Hip Roofs
- it is used in a garden structure
ANCIE NT CHINESE ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

These are 600-year-old

architectural drawings for
Beijing Forbidden City
produced by Ming Dynasty
architects from Suzhou.
ROOF BRACKET
SYSTEM
 BRACKET SYSTEM

● One of the most instantly

recognizable aspects of
Chinese architecture.
• The visually compelling and
highly complex structures that
support the roofs use wooden
joints set.
 BRACKET SYSTEM (DOUGONG)

● During the Ming dynasty period, variations

on the basic shapes of the dougong
system were developed allowing for taller
and more decorative structures.
● This Bracket Sets is also known as Dougong.
● Dougong was widely used however after
the Song Dynasty, the bracket sets
became more ornamental than structural
when used in palatial structures.
DOUGONG

● Was widely used in the ancient

Chinese and developed into a
more complex set of interlocking
parts in Tang and Song periods.
● Arranged like baskets of flowers,
placed under the overhanging
eaves, adding to the building’s
character.
● Fixed layer upon layer. The
arrangements bear the load of
the roof.
 DOUGONG

● Found only in the most important

buildings such as palace and
temple halls. The number of layers
of the bracket structures also
dependent on the importance of
the buildings.
● Measured in “piles” which vary
greatly in their complexity of
structure. The number of tiers also
vary in each pile.
DOUGONG (Chinese Bracket System)
PARTS OF THE BRACKET SET (DOUGONG)
PARTS OF THE BRACKET SET
(DOUGONG)

DOU – serves as the bearing

blocks that captures/holds the
gong.

GONG– is the horizontally

oriented wooden slats that
will support a beam or
another gong on top of it.

ANG – is the cantilever beam

USES & PURPOSE
Bracket systems help to solve problems as the building gets
bigger

1. Reduce 2. Brace wall sections 3. Support a wide

beam spans. above columns. eave.
USES & PURPOSE

Bracket systems help to

solve problems as the
building gets bigger:

4. Strengthen the
frame.
 THE SECRET BEHIND THE FLEXIBLE BUT STRONG STRUCTURE

Bracket sets are created by placing a wooden block (dou) onto a

column to form a solid base. Another wooden bracket (gong) is then
inserted into the dou to support either a wooden beam, or another
gong. As multiple dougong brackets are added, the weight of the roof
compresses the joints and distributes the weight evenly throughout the
structure. This way, individual elements are not prone to splitting or
cracking and the system of interlocking beams cannot be shaken apart,
or shattered under stress.
 ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF BRACKET
SYSTEM
ADVANTAGES:

❑ Much easier to use than stone in terms of collecting, transporting to processing

which save time and labor.

❑ Resist earthquakes because of the use of joints (tenons and mortises)

❑ Timber frame structure carries all the weight of the roof as well as the beam while
walls perform as enclosures and partitions only.

DISADVANTAGES:

❑ Can be easily destroyed by fire.

❑ Vulnerable to humidity and pest. Must be raised and columns
must be on a stone base.
RELIGIOUS
BUILDINGS
 PAGODA (Ta)
Pagoda, symbol of Buddhism is often erected in
temples.
This structure were made of stone, wood, colored glaze
or metal.
Pagodas have an odd number of layers. Seven-
layer and Nine-layer pagodas are commonly built.
The shape of cross-section is rectangular eight-sided
or even circular Initially, the pagoda served as the
central axis alongside which rows of halls and
monks' rooms spread out. Later, pagodas were built
near the main palace hall.
Chinese pagodas, in short, are a significant part of the
country's cultural heritage –with their beautiful shapes,
bas-relief carvings, dougong brackets and upturned
eaves.
 PAGODA (Ta)
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, 9 or 13
Roofs projecting from each of its many floors, turned
up eaves
Slopes inwards to the top
 Stupa & Pagoda – Analogy with the 5 elements of nature
The pagoda is evolved from the stupa from the Indian subcontinent, a tomb-like structure where sacred
relics could be kept safe and venerated. The Chinese word for stupa, ta, is an abbreviated translation
(from tapo) of the sanskrit Stupa. The origins of the word Pagoda are obscure. In modern usage, the word
Stupa and Pagoda refer to the same thing.
 The earliest base-structure
type for Chinese pagodas were square-
base and circular-base. By the 5th-10th
centuries the Chinese began to build
octgonal-base pagoda towers. The
highest Chinese pagoda from the pre-
modern age is the Liaodi Pagoda of
Kaiyuan Monastery, Dingxian,

The tallest pre-modern

pagoda in Chinese history was the 100-
metre-tall wooden pagoda (330 ft) of
Chang’an, built by Emperor Yang of Sui. Liaodi pagoda
The Liaodi Pagoda is the tallest pre-
modern pagoda still standing, yet in
April 2007 a new wooden pagoda in
Tianning temple of Changzou was
opened to the public; this pagoda is
now the tallest in China, standing at 154
m (505 ft).
 Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Big Wild Goose Pagoda was finished in 652 A.D. Its five
stories were 60 meters in height. The decay of the
earth-cored pagoda made necessary the new
construction of a new 10-storey pagoda from 701 to
704 A.D.
• However, the winds of war in the years to come, not to
mention a massive earthquake in 1556, reduced the
pagoda almost to ruins, which in turn resulted in the
construction of a 7-storey, 64 meter-tall structure in
the later Ming Dynasty, which still stands today.
 Nine Pinnacle Pagoda or
Jiuding Pagoda

• The Nine Pinnacle Pagoda or Jiuding Pagoda

(Chinese: 九顶塔; pinyin: Jiǔ Dǐng Tǎ,
sometimes translated as "Nine Roof Pagoda")
is an 8th-century pavilion-style brick pagoda
located in central Shandong Province, China.
• It is noted for its unique roof design featuring
nine small pagodas.
The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple

• Is a wooden Chinese pagoda built in 1056,

during the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty. The
pagoda was built by Emperor Daozong of
Liao (Hongji) at the site of his
grandmother's family home.
• The pagoda, which has survived several
large earthquakes throughout the
centuries, reached a level of such fame
within China that it was given the generic
nickname of the "Muta" (Chinese: 木塔;
pinyin: mùtǎ; literally: "Timber Pagoda").
• In 2013, the pagoda was placed on
China's tentative list for UNESCO World
Heritage Site consideration, along with
the Fengguo Temple.
The Sakyamuni Pagoda of Fogong Temple
山西佛宫寺释迦塔(1056A.D.)
 GROTTOES

Grotto, another type of Buddhist architecture

is often chiseled into cliffs. In the 3rd century,
Chinese Buddhists began to build grottoes
and Xinjiang is the first area where grottoes
were hewn.
Grottoes are decorated with painted
sculptures, carvings and frescoes.
Craftsmen revealed real life pictures and
their understanding of society in these art
works, which gave them great historical
and cultural value.
The four famous grottoes in China are
Mogao Caves, Longmen Grttoes, Yungang
Grottoes, and Maiji Caves
 CHINESE TEMPLE (Ming)
Buddhist temples tend to be decorated in
red or black and there is a main hall for a
statue of a Bodhisattva, followed by a
smaller hall with statues of other Buddha's
and deities.
SHISHI CHINESE TEMPLE (Ming)
Chinese guardian lions, or imperial
guardian lions, are a traditional Chinese
architectural ornament, but the origins
lie deep in much older Indian Buddhist
traditions. Typically made of stone, they
are also known as stone lions or shishi (
石獅; shíshī). They are known in
colloquial English as lion dogs or foo
dogs / fu dogs. The concept, which
originated and became popular in
Chinese Buddhism, features a pair of
highly stylized lions—often one male
with a ball which represents the
material elements and one female with
a cub—which represents the element
of spirit, were thought to protect the
building from harmful spiritual
influences and harmful people that
might be a threat.
CHINESE TEMPLE (Ming)
Main Hall of Fuoguang Temple, Shanxi
“山西五台山佛光寺大殿”(857A.D.)
Zhuanlunzang Pavilion, Longxing Temple , Hebei
“河北正定隆兴寺转轮藏阁”(ca 975A.D.)
Hall of Moni, Longxing Temple , Hebei
“河北正定隆兴寺摩尼殿” (ca 975A.D.)
Shaolin Temple, Shanxi Temple of Heaven, Beijing Longshan Temple, Taipei
 TEMPLE OF HEAVEN, BEIJING

The Temple of Heaven is considered the

most holy of Beijing's imperial temples. It has
been described as "a masterpiece of
architecture and landscape design".
The Temple of Heaven has also been listed as
World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO

Temple of Heaven is not a single building but

a complex located in the southern
end of central Beijing.

The temple was used by the emperor to

make offerings to the heaven and to pray
for a good harvest.
FUNERAL / MEMORIAL
BUILDINGS
QIN LING TOMB
The Mausoleum of the First Qin
Emperor (Shih Huang Ti) . This mausoleum was
constructed over 38 years, from 246 to
208 BCE, and is situated underneath a
76-meter-tall tomb mound.
A terracotta•army guards the complex.

•
The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor (Qin Shi Huang)
(Chinese: 秦始皇陵; pinyin: Qínshǐhuáng Líng) is located in
Lintong District, Xi'an, Shaanxi province of China. This
mausoleum was constructed over 38 years, from 246 to 208
BC, and is situated underneath a 76-meter-tall tomb mound
shaped like a truncated pyramid. The layout of the
mausoleum is modeled on the Qin capital Xianyang, divided
into inner and outer cities. The circumference of the inner
city is 2.5 km (1.55 miles) and the outer is 6.3 km (3.9
miles). The tomb is located in the southwest of the inner
city and faces east. The main tomb chamber housing the
coffin and burial artifacts is the core of the architectural
complex of the mausoleum.

The tomb itself has not yet been excavated. Archaeological

explorations currently concentrate on various sites of the
extensive necropolis surrounding the tomb, including the
Terracotta Army to the east of the tomb mound. The
Terracotta Army served as a garrison to the mausoleum and
has yet to be completely excavated.
PAILOUS
• 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
• As an accessorial architecture, the
archway firstly serves as a gateway
and decoration of the main
building. Many shops create
archways to prettify its entrance
and attract customers. Meanwhile,
traditional Chinese archways
generally carried inscriptions to
propagate certain moral principles
or to extol government
achievements. In ancient China, for
example, many widowed women,
fettered by the feudal ethical code,
refrained from remarriage just in the
hope to have "archway of chastity".
 Famous Chinese
Tangyue Memorial Archway group
archways
According to relevant records, there used to
be some 57 archways in old Beijing. A well-
preserved archway is the one in front of the main
entrance to the summer palace. Built 200 years ago,
it is composed of four columns forming three arches
and carrying on top seven roofed ornamental units.

Shexian near Huangshan City is regarded as

the Town of Archways in China. Here stand many
outstanding memorial archways, among which
Tangyue Memorial Archway group is the most
famous. Built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it is a
collection of seven memorial archways winding
their ways into the group.
PALACES
PALACES

SUMMER PALACE

Situated 13 Km northwest
of central Beijing, the
Summer Palace is one of
the largest, best preserved,
and most interesting royal
gardens in the world.
 The Forbidden City was the Chinese
imperial palace from the Ming dynasty
Beijing: Forbidden City to the end of the Qing dynasty—the
years 1420 to 1912. It is located in the
center of Beijing, China, and now
houses the Palace Museum.
Beijing’s Forbidden City
The Forbidden City
It was the Chinese imperial palace from the
Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. It is
located in the center of Beijing, China, and now
houses the Palace Museum. For almost 500 years,
it served as the home of emperors and their
households, as well as the ceremonial and
political center of Chinese government.
The palace complex exemplifies traditional
Chinese palatial architecture, and has influenced
cultural and architectural developments in East
Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was
declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is
listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of
preserved ancient wooden structures in the
world.
The Forbidden City

Situated in the heart of Beijing, the

Forbidden City is the world's largest
palace complex. It has lavishly decorated
ceremonial halls and royal palaces. All the
gates, palace and other structures of the
Forbidden City
were arranged about the north-south
central axis of old Beijing
Forbidden city – Architecture of Quadrangles
A. Meridian Gate
B. Gate of Divine
Might
C. West Glorious Gate
D. East Glorious Gate
E. Corner towers
F. Gate of Supreme
Harmony
G. Hall of Supreme
Harmony
H. Hall of Military
Eminence
I. Hall of Literary
Glory
J. Southern Three
Places
K. Palace of Heavenly
Purity
L. Imperial garden
M. Hall of Mental
Cultivation 9
Hall of Supreme Harmony
“太和殿”(1695A.D.)
Turret of Forbidden City
“紫禁城角楼”(1420A.D.)
FORTIFICATION
The Great Wall of China
The first major wall was built during the reign of Qin Shi
Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in)
Dynasty (221 B.C - 206 B.C.). It was created by joining several
.
existing walls built previously by regional governments
This first wall was built much further north than the current
Great Wall, and made of materials that have largely
disappeared over time.
The Great Wall that can still be seen today was built
during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), on a much larger scale
and made of stone on the sides and top.
The wall housed garrisons, signal fires, and a messenger
and postal service. The primary purpose was to make it
difficult and slow for Mongol nomadic armies to get their
horses across the wall. Without their horses the Huns were
not a serious military threat. It is total length of 13,170 mi long,
or 21,196 km.
 The Great Wall
“八达岭长城”(1505A.D.)
OTHER STRUCTURES
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

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