the Ancient civilisations

China
One of the world's oldest continuous civilizations, dating as far back as 16th c BC Under control of an emperor. The forced imposition of a common system of writing by the Qin emperor in the 3rd c BC and the development of a state ideology based on Confucianism in the 2nd C, marked the foundation of what is now termed the Chinese civilization. Politically, China is said to have alternated between periods of political unity and disunity, to be occasionally conquered by external groups of people, some eventually being assimilated into the Chinese population.

Architecture
There are certain features common to Chinese architecture, regardless of specific region or use. The most important is its emphasis on the horizontal, in particular a heavy platform and a large roof that floats over this base, with the vertical walls deemphasised. The architecture stresses on the visual impact of the width of the buildings. Built with either red or grey bricks, but wooden structures are the most common; these are more capable of withstanding earthquakes, but vulnerable to fire. Gave more importance to the macro the general scheme of overall design than the micro and the interior.

General Principles of Chinese Design

Chinese architectural principles in both domestic and religious buildings are basically the same. : rectilinear and axiality : horizontality conscious preference for a uniform range of heights. Status was determined by: : placement of buildings in the general scheme of the city : level of the terraces on which they stood : area they covered : degree of ornamentation

The roof of Chinese buildings are usually curved; there are strict classifications on different types of gables

Conceived as a series of imbricated squares at the centre of which lay the capital of the empire strictly orientated towards the pivots of the compass; to be at ease with the forces of nature, and the environment. This the result of Confucian pragmatism and Taoist ecological sensibility. Emphasis on symmetry, which connotes a sense of grandeur

Aim was always to screen the intimate world of the home from the bustle of the street: : to observe internal rules of behaviour : to unfold spatial sequence according to graduated privacy Eg Courtyard house, royal walled cities

Gardens tend to be as asymmetrical as possible. Like Chinese scroll paintings, the principle underlying the garden's composition is to create enduring flow, to let the patron wander and enjoy the garden without prescription, as in nature herself.

Categories

Imperial Architecture Features imperial mausoleums and imperial palaces, which are always splendid and magnificent. Religious Architecture Temples - Buddhist Taoist Confucius Garden Architecture Combination of structures and man-made landscape within natural scenery. Traditional Chinese Residences

A Chinese tradition in architecture, links the whole process from site selection, designing, construction and interior and exterior decorating in ancient times, origins from Taoism. Feng means wind and shui is water. Combines the trinity of the Heaven, the Earth and humans, and seeks harmony between selected site, orienting, natural doctrine and human fate cohabitation with the environment Qi is the basic element of the physical world. Fengshui seeks an auspicious qi. Qi of the Heaven and the Earth must be in harmony in the construction of a new structure. The best orientation is facing a river or a lake in the south and back against a hill in the north. Ancient cities were built with fengshui used to select locations based on their environmental surroundings, placement of structures of significance and location of the city central axis which should face certain peak of mountains.

Fengshui

North Black Turtle Water, winter Mountains, old age/destruction

palace n/s axis south face

West: White Tiger Metal Autumn, harvest Maturity, wars/regret

East: Blue Dragon Wood Spring, rising sun/ birth

South: Red Phoenix Fire Summer /growth

Imperial architecture
Yellow was the Imperial colour were reserved for the Emperor. The roofs are almost invariably supported by brackets, a feature shared only with the largest of religious buildings. The wooden columns of the buildings, as well as the surface of the walls, were red. The Chinese dragon, an emblem reserved for the imperial regime, were heavily used on imperial architecture - on the roofs, beams, pillars, and doors. Only the buildings used by the imperial family were allowed to have nine gan (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 Chinese axis is a line of privilege, usually built upon, regulating access - there are no vistas, but a series of gates and pavilions. Numerology heavily influenced Imperial Architecture, hence the use of 9 in much of construction (9 being the greatest number). The Forbidden City in Beijing is said to have 9,999.5 rooms - just short of the mythical 10,000 rooms in heaven. The importance of the East in orienting and siting Imperial buildings is a form of solar worship found in many ancient cultures, where the notion of Ruler is affiliated with the Sun.

The architecture stresses on the visual impact of the width of the buildings.

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.

The Emperor and the Empress lived in palaces on the central axis of the Forbidden City; the Crown Prince at the eastern side, and the concubines at the back (the numerous imperial concubines were often referred to as The Back Palace Three Thousand.

Yellow roof tiles still adorn most of the buildings within the Forbidden City.

The Temple of Heaven, however, uses blue roof tiles to symbolize the sky.

The Forbidden City

Former imperial palace, now known as the Palace Museum, home to twenty-four Chinese emperors over 491 years between 1420 and 1911. The palace is 960 m long and 750 m wide. It has 9,999.5 rooms - a room being the space between four pillars.

'Gate of Heavenly Peace.' The gate structure was first built in 1417 as a centerpiece entry to the middle layer of three concentric walled enclosures defining the urban expression of the Ming dynasty's (1368-1644) capital city. Three cities an outer city populated by selected well-heeled commoners, followed by an Imperial City of privileged assistants serving all possible needs of the throne, ending with the elite Forbidden City of an emperor and his retinue.

Tiananmen

He who builds a garden builds happiness. An important part of ancient Chinese architecture. Combination of structures and manmade landscape with natural scenery landscaping with architecture, environment and human in full harmony. Classification Imperial gardens spacious, exquisite and grandiose, were built for the leisure and pleasure of royal families. Private gardens built in urban areas, neighbored with residences. Since land is expensive in cities private gardens are generally small and simple but delicate and look tasteful and play multiple functions. Monastic gardens found in monasteries. With natural beauty, these gardens are solemn within the sacred atmosphere.

The Chinese Garden

The Temple
Built according to architectural traditions initial shrines were humble thatched structures; these were replaced by later more elaborate structures. Similar architectural principles as domestic architecture its importance determining its extant and grandeur The architectural style incorporates the fundamental belief that every aspect of life is closely related to nature, and is expressed symbolically in its colours and designs. Eg, roofs may resemble the shape of waves (cats crawling) and of swallows and fish tails. Five elements represent the world and their corresponding colours wood (green), earth (yellow), metal (white), water (black) and fire (red) are ascribed a proper position in a temple building to ensure the auspiciousness and totality of the entire structure. Red used extensively to symbolise the sun and the male Yang principle and suggests joy, prosperity and festivity.

Features Roof ridge Clan Straight/ Horizontal, decorative

Prominent widely curved, highly decorative, uses chienmien Curved-less than Hokkien Decorative but less elaborate Less pronounced, straight/horizon tal; less horizontal; chien-mien

Brickwork

Proportions

Other features
Ornate wooden /concrete tie beam ;rigid approach:no front prayer hall; square columns, gabled side walls above roof pitch

Cantonese

Plastered and painted

Higher, more pronounced

Hokkien

Exposed red brickwork

High

Front pavillion separate but attached to the first hall Front pavillion part of the first hall

Hakka

Exposed red brickwork

High

Teochew

Plastered walls painted white or limewashed yellow

Flatter proportion

Sections of the Temple

Upper section truss system of wooden brackets Middle section the pillars carry the weight of the roof via a truss system Lower platform (base plinth) of stonework protect against damp

Altar of Heaven is a complex of religious building, regarded as a Taoist temple. Comprises 3 main parts - Earthly Mount is the altar proper. It is an empty platform on three levels of marble stones, where the Emperor prayed for favourable weather - House of Heavenly Lord a single gabled circular building, built on a single level of marble stone base, where the altars were housed when not in use - Hall of Annual Prayer a magnificent triple gabled circular building, built on three levels of marble stone base, where the Emperor prayed for good harvests. The emperor was regarded as the Son of Heaven administered earthly matters on behalf of, and representing, heavenly authority. Sacrifices to heaven, were extremely important. The temple was built for these ceremonies, mostly comprised of prayers for good harvests.

The Temple of Heaven 1420

The architecture and layout of the temple of Heaven is based on elaborate symbolism and numerology. The buildings are round, like Heaven (the sky as a rounded dome), while the foundations and axes of the complex are rectilinear (or 2 dimensional that is, flat), like the earth. reflect ancient Chinese religious beliefs that heaven as round and earth as square. The buildings in the temple are constructed on a central axis. The temples themselves are round and sit within square shaped areas.

Entrance to the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The circular wall around it is called the Echo Wall. A person can stand on one side of the inner wall, with another on the other side. Facing the wall and talking at a normal volume, the other person can hear each other perfectly separated by a good distance.

The roofs of the important structures are tiled in blue symbolizing heaven.

the courtyard house

Fully enclosed by buildings and walls. There are no windows on the outside walls the only opening to the outside is through the front gate. Privacy was a main concern. The walls create a protected environment. The space within the walls become a sanctuary Courtyards were constructed so that when one looked through the first doorway of the house only a brick screen was visible. Folk beliefs that say bad spirits can only move in a straight line, so a screen blocks their access to the interior. These walls give privacy and protection from burglary, but also create a sharp distinction between inner and outer. .

The courtyard was not only the basis of design for Chinese homes, but was also used in the design of more complex structures such as palaces and temples. The courtyard layout can be clearly seen in the overview of the temple here.

House Planning
Uses of rooms in a typical two courtyard house plan : 1. Main entrance 2. Rooms facing the rear, near the entrance to the courtyard, were reserved for the servants, if any First courtyard. Cooking was carried out here, and the second courtyard was a living space. East and west-side rooms, for the sons and daughters, or the sons' families. Inner Hall members of the family greeted guests or where family ceremonies were held. Main building living space for parents. Small side rooms for children and extended family members.

3.

4.

5.

6. 7.

The sizes of courtyard houses vary greatly depending on the wealth, size, and the taste of the family, but generally the compounds had an inner courtyard (or a series of inner courtyards) and were built on a north-south axis. Like the simple three-bay house, the door of the main building faced south. The line drawings below show how the courtyard shape could vary while retaining balance.

One of the most impressive features of courtyard homes is the flexibility of the courtyard space. Traditionally, much time was spent in these courtyards. Plants and trees often grew in courtyard spaces, providing shade from summer sun. Courtyards could be used as a place for carrying out household tasks, or as a place to relax.

In many northern homes, the living quarters are dominated by this kang, a raised platform with flues underneath for heating. Inhabitants slept on the kang and in the winter much of the daily activity took place there.

One of the most important spaces in Chinese homes was reserved for the family's ancestors. Chinese families encompassed the dead as well as the living. As a result, traditionally Chinese families, rich or poor, devoted a space to the ancestors of the family. In ordinary homes this usually consisted of a small shrine set up in the main room of the house. In richer families, an entire hall may have been made into the ancestral shrine. Shrines might take the form of tables, upon which tablets were set. Families would also hang couplets on either side. Often offerings of food and incense are placed on this table to show reverence to the ancestors.

Archway usually made of fine wood or stone, and painted or ornamented with glazed tiles. A form of memorial architecture, although it can also be built as mere decoration. Moral inscriptions are carved onto the middle beam and reflect the people's life aspirations. Commemorates historical events and important historic figures, giving those structures great significance in Chinese history. An important folk ritual in feudal society. The event that marked the erecting of the Paifang was considered very solemn. Ceremonies expressing praise, honor, prayer, commemoration, or blessing were performed. A symbol of China. It is valued for its rich connotations and unique art form. It is also a silent evidence of China's ancient customs and ancient values

Paifang
Pailou