CHINESE

ARCHITECTURE
An Architecture of Culture and Beliefs

Geographical
Republic of China comprising 23 provinces
and the autonomous regions
Mongolia and Sinkiang- Uigur.

of

Inner

 Covers an area larger than the whole of

Europe.
China is the world's third largest country
area of 9.6 million square kilometers and a
coastline of 18,000 kilometers, its shape on the
map is like a rooster.
China is bordered by 14 countries -- Korea,
Vietnam, Laos, Burma, India, Bhutan, Nepal,
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakstan, Mongolia, and Russia. Marine-side
neighbors include eight countries -- North Korea,
Korea, Japan, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Vietnam.
China has large areas of mountainous land,
about two-thirds of the country.

 Regional Divisions: Although the physical features are

as described, people tend to divide China into four
regions, that is, the North, South, Northwest and the
Qinghai-Tibetan areas. Because of geographical
differences, residents of each region have distinctive life
styles and customs.
China has numerous rivers and lakes. The Yangtze,
the longest in China and even in Asia, is the third-longest
in the world. Li River in Guilin is the largest and most
beautiful karst landscape in the world.
Many lakes in the northwest are salty. Qinghai Lake, a
beautiful natural salt-water lake, is the largest. In
southeast China, most lakes are fresh water. Poyang Lake
, Dongting Lake , and Taihu Lake are all fresh water lakes.

Karst topography is a landscape

formed from the dissolution of
soluble rocks such as limestone,
dolomite, and gypsum.

 Mountainous Topography
China has large areas of mountainous land, about twothirds of the country.

Tianzi (Son of Heaven) Mountains, Zhangjiajie, China

(1,098 m)

Mt. Huanshan, Shaanxi, China

(2,160 m)

Geological
Coal is abundant; widely distributed.
Deficient in iron and petroleum.
South China:
Tin
antimony
mercury
Copper
tungsten
Zinc
manganese
North Chinas soil:
Loess
alluvium
With marked absence of trees.

 West of Yangtze:
pine trees
chestnuts maples
South of Tsinling:
Bamboo trees
South West China:
Sedimentary Rocks
Bamboo, Pine, and Persea Nanmu are the
tallest and the straightest of all trees in China.
(serve as columns in palaces and temples in
Peking)
Bricks, limestones and sandstones are
abundant in river plains.

Climatic Conditions
The northeast experiences hot and dry
summers and bitterly cold winters.
The north and central region has almost
continual rainfall, hot summers and cold
winters.
The southeast region has substantial rainfall,
with semi-tropical summers and cool winters.

 These climatic conditions are responsible for

the characteristic Chinese roof with its
accentuated curved eaves.
Heating of buildings was often provided by
charcoal burners without flues or fire-places.
Beds are raised on a dais (kang) were heated
underneath with burning charcoal.

List of Chinese Dynasties and Modern Governments

Architectural Character
Architectural bilateral symmetry.
Temples, palaces and houses are symmetrical in plan.
In contrast to the buildings, Chinese gardens are a notable exception
which tend to be asymmetrical.
Enclosure
Courtyard ( ): The use of open courtyards is a common
feature in many types of Chinese architectures.
- "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.
These enclosures serve in temperature regulation and in venting the
building complexes.
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.

 Horizontal emphasis
- Classical Chinese buildings, especially those of the wealthy, are built
with an emphasis on breadth and less on height.
- featuring an enclosed heavy platform and a large roof that floats over
this base, with the vertical walls not well emphasized.
- This contrasts Western architecture, which tends to grow in height and
depth. Chinese architecture stresses the visual impact of the width of
the buildings.
Ex: The halls and palaces in the Forbidden City, for example, have rather
low ceilings when compared to equivalent stately buildings in the West,
but their external appearances suggest the all-embracing nature of
imperial China.
Cosmological concepts
from Chinese cosmology such as feng shui (geomancy) and Taoism to
organize construction and layout 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 in straight lines.

The Forbidden City, viewed from Jingshan Hill to the north, showing the emphasized
horizontal spread of the buildings in the complex.

- Talismans and imagery of good fortune:

Door gods displayed on doorways to ward off evil and encourage the flow
of good fortune
Three anthropomorphic figures representing Fu Lu Shou ( f-lshu) stars are prominently displayed, sometimes with the proclamation
"the three stars are present

Three stars: Happiness, Prosperity, Longevity

Door Gods

Animals and fruits 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.

Structural Characteristic
Foundations: Most buildings are typically erected on raised platforms
( ) as their foundations.
Structural beams: Use of large structural timbers for primary support of
the roof of a building.
Roofs: Roofs are either built on roof cross-beams or rest directly on
vertical structural beams.
In higher class construction, roof supporting beams are supported
through complex dougong bracketing systems that indirectly connect
them to the primary structural beams.

Three main types of roofs are found:

Straight inclined: Roofs with a single incline. These are the most
economical type of roofing and are most prevalent in commoner
architectures.

Multi-inclined: Roofs with 2 or more sections of incline. These

roofs are used in higher class constructions, from the dwellings of
wealthy commoners to palaces.

Sweeping: Roofs with a sweeping curvature that rises at the

corners of the roof. This type of roof construction is usually
reserved for temples and palaces although it may also be found
in the homes of the wealthy. In the former cases, the ridges of the
roof are usually highly decorated with ceramic figurines.
Roofs apex: The roof apex of a large hall is usually topped with a ridge
of tiles and statues for both decorative purposes as well as to weigh
down the layers of roofing tiles for stability.
Roof top decorations: Symbolism can be found from colors of the
eaves, roofing materials and roof top decorations.

Gold/yellow is an auspicious (good) color, imperial roofs are gold or

yellow. They are usually used by the emperor. Green roofs symbolize
bamboo shafts, which, in turn, represent youth and longevity.

GROUND PLAN
Symmetry at its finest

Classifications of Chinese
Architecture

Imperial Architecture
Traditional Chinese Residences
Garden Architecture
Buddhist Architecture and Temples
Taoist Architecture and Temples
Confucius Architecture and Temples

Imperial Architecture
It features the highest achievement of
the Chinese ancient architecture that
includes imperial palace, mausoleum
and garden architecture.
There were certain architectural
features that were reserved solely for
buildings built for the Emperor of China.

Built by Emperor Shi Huang Di, as fortification against

barbarian invasion. (Ming Dynasty)

1. The official length

is 21,196.18
km (13,170.7 mi) (
6+ dynasties' worth)
2. Most of today's
relics are the Ming
Dynasty Great Wall:
length 8,851
km (5,500 mi).
3. The Great Wall is
more than 2,300
years old.
4. The Ming Great
Wall crosses 9
provinces and
municipalities:
Liaoning, Hebei,
Tianjin, Beijing, Inner
Mongolia, Shanxi,
Shaanxi, Ningxia,
Gansu.

 One example is the use of yellow roof tiles;

yellow having been the Imperial color.
The roofs are almost invariably supported by
brackets ("dougong"), a feature shared only with
the largest of religious buildings.
The wooden columns of the buildings, as well as
the surface of the walls, tend to be red in color.
Black is also a famous color often used in
pagodas. They believe the gods are inspired by
the black color to descend on to the earth.
The Chinese dragon, an emblem reserved for
Imperial China, were heavily used on Imperial
architecture - on the roofs, on the beams and
pillars, and on the doors.

 Only the buildings used by the imperial family were

allowed to have nine jian ( , space between two
columns);
Only the gates used by the Emperor could have
five arches, with the centre one, of course, being
reserved for the Emperor himself.
The ancient Chinese favored the color red.
The buildings faced south because the north had
a cold wind.
Numerology heavily influenced Imperial
Architecture, hence the use of nine in much of
construction (nine being the greatest single digit
number) and reason why The Forbidden City in
Beijing is said to have 9,999.9 rooms - just short of
the mythical 10,000 rooms in heaven.

FORBIDDEN CITY PALACE,

BEIJING
(Kuai Xiang)
Chinese Name: /
English Name: Palace Museum /Forbidden City
Location: in the center of Beijing
Number of Bays: 8,700
Previous Residents: 14 emperors from the Ming Dynasty, 10 emperors from
the Qing Dynasty, and their royal families.
Initiator: Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty
Designer: Kuai Xiang
Builder: ancient Chinese laborers
Construction Period: 1406 to 1420 in the Ming Dynasty
Main Colors: Red for walls and yellow for roofs

FORBIDDEN CITY PALACE,

BEIJING
(Kuai Xiang)
1.Entrance
Enter through Meridian Gate, and go across Golden Stream Bridge, then you will arrive at the outer court.
2. Outer Court
- The first hall is the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the most important and largest structure in the Forbidden
City. The emperors' Dragon Throne (Longyi) is in this hall.
-.Behind the Hall of Supreme Harmony is the Hall of Central Harmony (Zhonghedian), the resting place of
the emperor before presiding over grand events held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
-. The last hall is the Hall of the Preserving Harmony used for banquets and later for imperial examinations.
3. Inner Court
-.The first structure inside the inner court is the Palace of Heavenly Peace, the emperors' sleeping quarters.
-.Behind it is the Palace of Union and Peace, where the imperial seals were stored.
-. The third hall is the Hall of Terrestrial Tranquility, the emperors' wedding room.
-.Exiting and going further north, travelers will find the Imperial Garden. The garden offers an aesthetic
change from the crimson and gray building complex to a colorful and luxuriant atmosphere.

Meridian Gate (to the Outer Court)

Hall of Supreme Harmony

Hall of Central Harmony

Hall of Preserving Harmony

Gate of Heavenly Peace (to the inner court)

Palace of Heavenly Peace

Palace of Union and Peace

Palace of Terrestrial Tranquility

Imperial Garden

Hall of Mental Cultivation

-On the left side of the inner court, travelers will find the Mental Cultivation Hall (Yangxindian), the most
important building except for the Hall of Supreme Harmony. State affairs happened here.
4. Exit
The main exit gate of the Forbidden City is the Gate of Divine Might, behind the Imperial Garden.

Gate of Divine Might

MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION:

STONES
Huge amounts of TIMBER
BRICKS were made from white lime and glutinous rice.
CEMENT is made from glutinous rice and egg whites. These
incredible materials make the wall extraordinarily strong.
Marble Staircases
Roofs are built with YELLOW GLAZED TILES

FEATURES:
Typical of the painting on the eaves and brackets of the Forbidden City.
Brocade-like patterns of blue, gold, red, white, and green form a bright
contrast against the uniform red of the building walls and columns.

 These are often made of glazed ceramic and form an outward marching
procession. Here we see the imperial yellow glaze reserved for the emperor.
At the tail of the procession will be an imperial dragon, representing the authority of
the state.
The mythical beasts are set to pounce upon the man and devour him should he
stray from performing his duties with faithfulness and rectitude.
The maximum number of beasts is nine, including evil-dispelling bull, courageous
goat-bull ( ), wind- and storm-summoning fish ( ), mythical lion ( ),
auspicious seahorse, heavenly horse, lion, and chiwen( , a son of dragon).

Brass door knob

Bronze Lion Statue

Red walls from timber

SYMBOLIMS

If you look at the roof-ridge of a building,

his image is often carved there so he can
gaze into the distance and provide early
warning.

A bronze tortoise in the Forbidden City in

Beijing. Tortoises were a symbol of strength

 Why are there no trees in the Outer Court?

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the
Hall of Preserved Harmony in the Outer Court are the prime structures for holding
important rites and events. To show the imperial dignity and supreme authority, it
was forbidden to plant trees around these halls.
Why are the door-nails in rows of 9?
That's because nine implied supremacy in monarchist China and reserved for the
emperor's use.

Why are yellow and red the most common colors?

Yellow symbolizes earth elements at the centre. The emperor assumes that the
imperial palace is at the world's centre and his reign radiates out from it.
Pillars, windows, doors and walls are mostly red which symbolizes auspicious
events, happiness and celebrations, popular with the Chinese in daily usage.

Summer Palace, Beijing

(Jin Dynasty)
The Summer Palace is located on the western edge of Beijing,
between the fourth and fifth ring roads, close to the western
Fragrant Hills, 12km from central Beijing.
The gardens that became the Summer Palace date from the Jin
Dynasty (1115-1234).
In 1750, Emperor QianLong (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911), who travelled extensively throughout China noting
places of beauty, added substantially to the gardens of the
Summer Palace.
He appointed designers to reproduce the styles of various
palaces and gardens from around China. For example, KunMing
Lake was extended to imitate the famous West Lake in
HangZhou.

Summer Palace, Beijing

(Jin Dynasty)

In 1860, the Anglo-French Allied Forces invaded Beijing and set fire to many
of the buildings within the Summer Palace.
In 1886, Dowager Empress CiXi, with embezzled funds from the Imperial
Navy, restored the grand gardens.
After completion of the renovation, CiXi renamed the gardens 'YiHeYuan'
('Garden of Peace and Harmony'), its official name today.
Tales of CiXi's excesses (including the Marble Boat) are numerous and
came to symbolize the decadence of the imperial family.
Then, after the last Qing Emperor PuYi was thrown out of the Forbidden City
in 1924, the Summer Palace was turned into a park, which has become a
popular and relaxing destination for both domestic and international tourists.
The park can be historically divided into three parts, namely : administration,
residence and scenery browsing area.
The Summer Palace was designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in
1990.

MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION:

Bronze (statues)
Hardwood (halls)
Marble (boat)
Timber
Clay tiles (Roofing)
Bamboo (roofing)
CEMENT is made from glutinous rice and egg
whites

FEATURES:
A marvel of design, the palace with its huge lake and
hilltop views offers a pastoral escape into the landscapes
of traditional Chinese painting.
arched bridges, pretty promenades, decorated
corridors, and breezeways (a hallway that allows the
passage of a breeze between structures) lead visitors
through ever-changing views and scenery.
by the east gate, housing a hardwood throne and attached
to a courtyard decorated with bronze animals
the Long Corridor is trimmed with a plethora of paintings,
while the slopes and crest of Longevity Hill behind are
adorned with Buddhist temples.
Cixis marble boat sits immobile on the north shore

Front Hill Facade

North side faade with the marble boat

Garden arch way

Pai-lous gateway to the landscape

garden

Hallway

All timber pavilion with rock landscaping

White cement bridge with arch ways for the
canal entrance

Decorated pavilion with bronze lion statue

Chinese lanterns and dragons

17 arch bridge (white cement)

Girls in green theater performance

SYMBOLISMS

The mythical Beasts on the roof

Green as a symbol of longevity
Orange indicating change,
adaptability, spontaneity,
strengthens concentration

Deer as a symbol of
longevity

Dragon as a symbol of the Emperor

Imperial Gardens
Is a landscape garden style which has evolved over three
thousand years.
It includes both the vast gardens of the Chinese emperors
and members of the imperial family, built for pleasure and
to impress
the more intimate gardens created by scholars, poets,
former government officials, soldiers and merchants, made
for reflection and escape from the outside world.
Examples:
1. Mountain Resort of Chengde (Bishu Shanzhuang)
2. Beihai Park
3. Jingshan Park
4. Yuyuan Garden

MOUNTAIN RESORT OF CHENGDE

It was built in the
Qing Dynasty (16441911) and took about
90 years (1703-1792)
to construct.
It covers an area of
564 sq meters (218
sq miles) and was
originally built for the
royal families to
spend the hot
summer months.

The Palace Area lies in the south part of the resort and is a
concentration of palaces where the Qing emperors handled
the political affairs and where the royal families lived.

The Mountain Resort

is divided into four
parts:
Palace Area
Lake Area
Plain Area
Mountain Area

MOUNTAIN RESORT OF CHENGDE

MOUNTAIN RESORT OF CHENGDE

Play on the lake

The Hall of the Emperor

Lotus and Pavilions on the lake

BEIHAI PARK, BEIJING

a public park and
former imperial
garden located to the
northwest of the
Forbidden City in
Beijing, China.
The park has an area
of more than 69
hectares (171 acres),
with a lake that
covers more than
half of the entire
park.

The Beihai Park, as with many of Chinese imperial

gardens, was built to imitate renowned scenic spots and
architecture from various regions of China

At the center of the

park is an island
called Jade Flower
Island ( ;
; Qinghudo),
whose highest point
is 32 meters (105 ft).

BEIHAI PARK, BEIJING

Jade Flower Island with the

White Pagoda

Pai-lous on the entrance to the

Pagoda

BEIHAI PARK, BEIJING

White ceramic bridge with marble

decorations leads to the tower

The red tower with the White

Pagoda

JINGSHAN PARK, BEIJING

The hill served as an
imperial garden and
was properly laid out
under the Ming
Dynasty when
numerous fruit trees
were planted as well
as many palaces and
pavilions built for the
emperor to make
sacrifices to his
ancestors.

Situated in the city center, it is a beautiful royal landscape

garden. Covering an area of 230,000 square meters (about
57 acres), the park stands on the central point of the southnorth axis of the city and faces the north gate of the
Forbidden City.

The hill has five

summits, and on
each summit there is
a pavilion, built in
1751

JINGSHAN PARK, BEIJING

The site where emperor

Chongzhen Hanged himself

Potted plants

JINGSHAN PARK, BEIJING

Jifang Pavilion in Jingshan Park

Fulan Pavilion at Jingshan Park

YUYUAN GARDEN, SHANGHAI

a famous classical
garden located in
Anren Jie, Shanghai.
It was finished in
1577 by a
government officer of
the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644) named
Pan Yunduan.
Yu in Chinese means
pleasing and
satisfying, and this
garden was specially
built for Pan's
parents as a place
for them to enjoy a
tranquil and happy
time in their old age.

There are six main scenic areas here: Sansui Hall,

Wanhua Chamber, Dianchun Hall, Huijing Hall, Yuhua Hall
and the Inner Garden. Each area features several scenic The true treasure of
spots within its borders.
Yuyuan is the Exquisite
Jade Rock.

YUYUAN GARDEN, SHANGHAI

Yuyuan Garden District at Night

YUYUAN GARDEN, SHANGHAI

The Exquisite Jade Rock

Circular Entrance to the Jade

Rock
Dragon Statue connecting to the Yuyuan wall

Imperial Mausoleums

Imperial Mausoleums
Terracotta
Army held
more than
8,000
soldiers, 130
chariots with
520 horses
and 150
cavalry
horses

Imperial Mausoleums

Imperial Mausoleums

Imperial Mausoleums

Imperial Mausoleums

BUDDHISM: CHINESE PAGODAS &

TEMPLES
Buddhism was introduced into China mainly during Eastern Han
Dynasty (25 - 220) via the South China Sea and Western Region.
It consists of temple, pagoda and grotto. Localization starts right after
Buddhist architecture was introduced into China with Buddhism during
the Han dynasty, interpreting Chinese architectural aesthetics and
culture.
Chinese Buddhist architecture follows symmetric style strictly.
The layout of Buddhist temples has been long established. Generally
speaking, the mountain gate (front gate) is the entrance part.
The Hall of Heavenly Kings, where sculptures of Four Heavenly Kings
stand on the two sides with two in a group and Maitreya (the fat
laughing Buddha) laid in the middle altar, is the first main hall.
Refectories, monks' rooms and other attached architecture are
distributed along the central axis.
Bodhisattva Hall worships the main Bodhisattva of a temple

Famous Buddhist Pagodas of China

Originally built in 652 during the reign of
Emperor Gaozong of theTang Dynasty
They established a pagoda where
the wild goose fell and stopped eating
meat. Hence its name.

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

is a well-preserved ancient building and a
holy place for Buddhists.
First built to a height of 60 meters (197
feet) with five stories, it is now 64.5 meters
(211.6 feet) high with an additional two
stories.
Built of brick, its structure is very firm.

Daci'en Temple is the home of Big Wild

Goose Pagoda.

Famous Buddhist Pagodas of China

Rises to a height of about 27 m (90ft) in
fifteen blind storeys
unique in form, being twelve-sided
The tower is 40 m (131 ft) high and built
of yellowish brick held together with clay
mortar.
The ornamented arch doors and
decorative apses or niches are intricately
carved into teapots or lions.

The Songyue Pagoda

At the base of the door pillars are

carvings shaped as lotus flowers and the
pillar capitals have carved pearls and lotus
flowers.

Is the oldest pagoda still standing in China

(523 A.D)
constructed of brick and mud on an
octagonal base.

Beneath the pagoda is an

underground series of burial rooms
to preserve cultural objects buried
with the dead.

Famous Buddhist Temples of China

The two monks who brought the
scriptures from India are buried at
the temple.

White Horse Temple, Louyang City

History states that the site was originally
used as a summer resort by the second
Han Emperor, Liu Zhuang.
The emperor, a devout Buddhist believer,
built the temple to house the scriptures and
named it the White Horse Temple.

Qiyun Pagoda, White Horse Temple

Famous Buddhist Temples of China

Guiyuan Buddhist Temple is
situated in the west section of
Hanyang district in Wuhan City.
The word 'Guiyuan' originates
from a sutra, meaning to return
to purity and tranquility.
Guiyuan Buddhist Temple

Though it is a construction of a
Buddhist temple, it is also in a
garden style.

The temple, which was originally

established in 1658 in the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911), was initially
built on the site of Wuzhangpu
Kuiyuan in the Ming Dynasty
(1368-1644)

Runner- ups for Famous Buddhist Pagodas

Leifeng Pagoda, Hangzhou

Liuhe Pagoda, Hangzhou,

Qiantang River

TAOISM: PAGODAS AND TEMPLES

A Chinese philosophy based on the writings of Lao-tzu ( fl. 6th century BC),
advocating humility and religious piety.
Taoism, the oldest religion in China, originally did not think that people's remains
should be buried after death.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, however, as a result of combining the
doctrines of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism advocated by the ruling class,
Taoists adopted the method of burying the ashes of the departed in pagodas.
The structure of a Taoist pagoda was not much different from that of a Buddhist
pagoda.
Taoist pagodas tend to be bright and colorful structures, with broad curving roofs
that are adorned with divine figures and traditional symbols of luck such
as dragons and carp.
Unfortunately, many great Taoist pagodas were constructed of wood - wood holds
special religious significance for Taoists - and have not withstood the onslaught of
time.

TAOISM: FAMOUS PAGODA

Yellow Crane Tower, Wuhan City

The tower is also a sacred site of Taoism

The Yellow Crane Tower was originally
built for the reason of military purposes.
The current structure was built in 1981,
but the tower has existed in various forms
since at least AD 223.

Yellow Crane Tower is considered one of

the Four Great Towers of China.
In its modern version, it has the
appearance of an ancient tower but is built
of modern materials, including an elevator.

TAOISM: THE MOST FAMOUS TEMPLE

Temple of Heaven, Beijing

Is a medieval complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central

Beijing.
The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual
ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest.
It has been regarded as a Taoist temple.
The temple complex was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle
Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

The Temple grounds cover 2.73 km of parkland and comprises three main groups of
constructions, all built according to strict philosophical requirements:
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests ( ) is a magnificent triple-gabled
circular building, 36 meters in diameter and 38 meters tall, built on three levels
of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests.
The building is completely wooden, with no nails.
The Imperial Vault of Heaven ( ) is a single-gabled circular building,
built on a single level of marble stone base.
The Circular Mound Altar ( ) is the altar proper, located south of the
Imperial Vault of Heaven. It is an empty circular platform on three levels of
marble stones, each decorated by lavishly carved dragons.

Symbolism in Temple of Heaven

Earth was represented by a square and Heaven by a
circle; several features of the temple complex
symbolize the connection of Heaven and Earth, of
circle and square.
Both the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests and the
Circular Mound Altar are round, each standing on a
square yard, again representing Heaven and Earth.
The number nine represents the Emperor and is
evident in the design of the Circular Mound Altar: a
single round marmor plate is surrounded by a ring of
nine plates, then a ring of 18 plates, and so on for a
total of nine surrounding rings, the outermost having Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests
99 plates.
The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests has four inner,
twelve middle and twelve outer pillars,
representing the four seasons, twelve months and
twelve traditional Chinese hours respectively.
Circular Mound Altar

CONFUCIAN ARCHITECTURE:
Education, Family Harmony and Individual Recognition
Confucianism was further developed by Mencius (372B.C.-289B.C.)
and Xun Zi. It was in the reign of Emperor Wu during the Han Dynasty
that it was promoted to being the state ideology.
Although transformed over time, it is still the substance of learning, the
source of values, and the social code of the Chinese.
Confucianism was a concept and philosophy and was not a religion as
well as did not involve gods and sorcery.
The hierarchical Confucian code of conduct influenced the residential
design of courtyards.
Confucius- has proved to be the greatest influence over the Chinese
character. Besides being a great educationist, thinker and
unsuccessful politician, he was first of all an intellect with a noble
morality.

CONFUCIAN ARCHITECTURE:
FEATURES

Multi-tiered roofs, beautifully designed archways and magnificent temples and

residences; these are prominent characteristics of traditional Confucian architecture.
Confucian temples were built in county schools throughout the empire, either to the
front of or on one side of the school
Confucian temples represent knowledge and education, rather than worship alone.
Unlike Daoist or Buddhist temples, Confucian temples do not normally contain
images.
This absence emphasized the teaching of Confucius and not the worshiping of the
teacher himself.
The sections and walls within courtyards were distinctly separated in order to
represent the hierarchical social system as well as the Confucian influenced value of
superior/subordinate relationships, for example the relationship of parent/child.
In courtyard residences, the centre of the courtyard was thought to be superior and
most significant while the sides were less so.
The north end of the courtyard was highly desirable as it faced south and received
the most sunlight. This choice location was therefore used by the head of the
household, or by family elders.
According to Confucian family order, the east and west ends were occupied by the
younger generation.

TEMPLES OF CONFUCIUS
Temple of Confucius in Qufu (Confucius Hometown)

Cemetery of Confucius, Qufu

TEMPLES OF CONFUCIUS
Temple of Confucius in Beijing
Other temples of Confucius
can be found :
mainland China
Taiwan
Hong Kong
Macau
Korean
Japan
Vietnam
Singapore
Other temples of Conficius:
Temple of Confucius in Beijing
Temple of Confucius in Nanjing
Temple of Literature in Shanghai
Temple of Literature in Shanghai
Temple of Literature in Suzhou

Due to huge influence of

Confucianism to neighboring
countries

Traditional Chinese Houses

How Traditional Chinese Houses are built?

Homes all over China in pre-modern times had a lot in common. The way
of laying out a house was similar among the rich and poor, both in earlier
and later times.
Certain materials and techniques, such as pounded earth foundations,
timber framing, and use of bricks and tile were present throughout the
country.

 One of the most striking aspects of Chinese domestic architecture is the

practice of making houses face south.
Feng-shuiconcepts also dictated the kinds of material used in buildings.
Combined with the location of the building, the proper building materials
were thought to re-direct beneficial energy for the inhabitants.
The most common building materials for houses in China are earth and
wood
The foundation of a house generally is made of pounded earth, and in some
situations where wood was rare, earth was used in the construction of walls.

 The basic building block of Chinese architecture is the bay or "the space
between," which is the space defined by roof supports. Chinese houses
almost always consist of an odd number of bays; an even number of bays is
considered unlucky.

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

Types of Traditional Chinese Houses

4 Most Famous Bridges in Ancient

Chinese Architecture

aozhou Bridge (Single-arch stone bridge)

1412 years old (Li Chunchu)

Also known as Anji Bridge, or Great Stone

Bridge, this is the oldest standing bridge in
China, and the oldest open-spandrel stone
segmental arch bridge in the world.

Zhaozhou Bridge is located in the

southern part of Hebei Province in
northeast China. It was constructed
more than 1,400 years ago and has
the nicknames King of Bridges and
Bridge Deity of Longevity.
Built during the Sui Dynasty (581618), construction of the Zhaozhou
Bridge was led by master architect
Li Chunchu
What makes the Zhaozhou
Bridge outstanding is that with
an arch span of 123 feet, it has
remained standing for 14
centuries, despite 10 major
floods, eight wars, and

4 Most Famous Bridges in Ancient

Chinese Architecture
Luoyang Bridge (Sea-crossing stone bridge)
952 years old

Its located in Huian County, Fujian Province.

Luoyang Bridge is the earliest sea-crossing stone bridge, crossing over the Luoyang River
where it meets the sea.
The construction of the bridge began in the year 1,053 during the Northern Song Dynasty
and was completed in 1,059.
The original bridge was 3,940 feet long, over 16 feet wide, and 24 feet high. Extensively
damaged in the War of Resistance against Japan, the bridge was rebuilt and is now 2,395
feet long, 14.8 feet wide, and 24 feet high.
Built of granite, it has 44 boat-shaped bridge piers, 645 handrails, 104 stone lions, 1 stone
pavilion, and 7 stone towers.

4 Most Famous Bridges in Ancient

Chinese Architecture
Lugou Bridge , Beijing(10-piered, multi-arched
stone bridge)
819 years old

The Lugou Bridge, also known as Marco Polo Bridge because it was highly praised by
Marco Polo on his trip to China, is the only ancient bridge in the world that can sustain a
400 ton load.
Construction on the Lugou Bridge began in 1,189 A.D. during the Jin Dynasty.
Construction was completed in 1,192.
The bridge is made of solid granite and is supported on 10 piers.
It is 874 feet long and 30.5 feet wide, and was built to resist the flooding and the strong
currents of the Yongding River, thereby securing safe passage to Beijing.

4 Most Famous Bridges in Ancient

Chinese Architecture
Luding Bridge (Iron-chain suspension bridge)
305 years old

The Luding Bridge is built over the Dadu River in Luding County, Sichuan Province. It is the
oldest chain suspension bridge in China, and a milestone in architecture.
Construction was completed in 1,706 during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty.
The bridge is 405 feet long, 10 feet wide and is suspended 33 feet above the river. It is supported
by 13 thick iron chains9 of which cross under the bottom to bear the load, and the other 4
deployed along the two sides as handrails to safeguard travel.
The iron chains of Luding Bridge are, on average, 420 feet long, each weighing one-and-a-half to
two tons.