CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
TING (Chinese Pavilions)
TAI (Terraces)
LOU (Multi-story Buildings)
GE (Two-story Pavilions)
XUAN (Verandas w/ windows)
TA (Chinese Pagodas)
XIE (Pavilion/House on Terrace)
WU (Rooms along roofed corridors)
Chinese Architectural Types
1. COMMONER
- Center of the building would be a shrine for
dietes & ancestors w/c also be used during
festivals
- GUARDIAN DRAGONS (two wings of the building)
- TOLOU (Communal fortress) for protection
2. IMPERIAL
- Built to showcase the extravagant lifestyle
- 5 CLAWED DRAGON (adopted by the 1st Ming
Emperor)
- NINE JIAN (Space between two columns)
- RED (ancient Chinese color favored)
- buildings faced SOUTH for the COLD NORTH
WIND
- EAST (Direction of rising sun) Solar Worship)
3. RELIGIOUS
- sacrifices were also offered to the moon, sun,
earth, mountains, scholars & ancestors
Types of Chinese Religious Temples
BUDDHIST follows Imperial Style
DAOIST follows Commoner Style
General Architectural Features
1. ARCHITECTURAL BILATERAL SYMMETRY
- Emphasis on Balance & Symmetry in layout of
homes, altars & villages
2. ENCLOSURE
COURTYARD empty space surrounded by
building connected w/ one another
SKYWELL intersections of closely spaced
buildings
3. HIERARCHY architecture are based on the strict
placement of buildings in a property/complex
4. HORIZONTAL EMPHASIS architecture stresses
visual impact more in width less on height
5. COSMOLOGICAL CONCEPTS evil things travel
straight line saw screen wall provisions facing
main entrances to block evil forces
- GEOMANCY (feng sui) & TAOISM
CONSTRUCTION / STRUCTURAL
HANGTU pounding layers of earth to make
walls, foundations
DOUGONG structural element of interlocking
wooden brackets
ROOF
MATOQUIANG horsehead walls, w/c serves as
fire determent from drifting elements
GOLD/YELLOW auspicious (good) color for
Imperial roofs
GREEN symbolized bamboo shaft representing
youth & longevity
3 MAIN ROOF TYPES
1. STRAIGHT INCLINED Single Inclined
2. MULTI-INCLINED 2/more incline
3. SWEEPING roof w/ curvature at corners
CEILING FEATURE
CHENG (Inner Wall)
GUO (Outer Wall)
CHENGGUO (Walls)
CHI (Moats)
GENG (Inner City)
MAMIAN (Set of Ramps)
PAI-LOUS monumental, ceremonial gateway
TIBET ARCHITECTURE
- Contains Nepalese, Chinese & Indian Influences
PRINCIPLES OF TIBETAN
- Symmetry in Lay-out & Faade Design
- Slightly trapezoidal form
- Flat roofs w/ parapets
- Intricately carved interior timber frame
- ORGANIC DESIGN (Grow out of Landscape)
Two main Type of Tibetan Architecture
TEMPLES (GOMPAS) used for Religious
Ceremonies & Worship
STUPAS (CHORTENS) are Reliquary Symbols
- Small Temples, Roundish walls to Squares, Four
sidewalls
3 Types of STUPAS
1. PAGODA STYLE Multi-roofs structures w/ wide
eaves supported by carved wooden struts
- Finest Architectural Genius of Nepal
2. STUPA STYLE Hemispherical mound top by a
Square Base (HARMIKA) All Seeing Eyes
3. SHIKHARA STYLE Curvilinear/Pyramidal Tower
whose surface is Broken up Vertically into 5/9
Sections
MATERIALS (Stone, Clay, Wood)
CONSTRUCTION
- Elevated Sunny Sites Facing South
- Flat Roofs (used in Central & Western Plateau
where Rainfall is Slight)
- Sloping Roofs (used in Eastern where Summer
Rains are Heavier
- Roofs are covered either in Slate, Shingles, and
Ceramic Tiles
ROOFS
DURBAR SQUARE generic name for plaza
CONICAL SPIRES symbolizes 13 Buddhist
Heaven w/ Umbrella apex
(JHINGATI) special clay tiles w/ metal gutters
DWELLING (1000mm)
VIHARA (1500mm)
TEMPLES (4000mm)