Architectural Characteristics 1. Courtyard and Sky wells a. Open courtyard - A large empty space surrounded by buildings connected with one another either directly or through verandas - More common in northern Chinese b. "Sky well" - A relatively small enclosed courtyard which offer small opening to the sky through the space from the floor up - More common in southern China 2. Hierarchical - importance and uses of buildings are based on the strict placement of buildings in a property/complex a. Orientation of Doors - Facing the front (important) - Facing the sides (less important) - Facing the rear (least important) b. Location of Buildings - At the back of properties are more important : a. Elder members of the family b. Celebratory rites c. Ancestral plaques - In front of the property: typically for servants and kitchen c. Courtyard Location - central courtyard are more important than peripheral ones 3. Horizontal Emphasis - Emphasis on the breadth and less on height with close heavy platform and a large roof that floats over this base with vertical walls not well emphasized - Stresses the visual impact of the width of the buildings to denote the all-embracing nature of imperial China 4. Mythical Concepts - Feng shui and mythic elements in the construction and layout of . This includes the use of: a. Screen walls to face the main entrance of the house, which stems from the belief that evil things travel on straight lines b. Talismans and fortuitous imagery: 1) Door gods on doorways to ward evil and encourage the flow of good fortune 2) Fu Lu Shou - Taoist concept which denotes the attributes of the good life: good fortune, prosperity and longevity Craft: Techniques & Materials 1. Jian - "Bay" - The interval/ space between four and is the basic module of a Chinese dwelling - This space is both a two-dimensional floor space and is also a volumetric measure of the void defined by the floor, the columns, and the beams set across the columns - More than a structural unit, this type of measurement is used by carpenters as a design module to be duplicated in series to form the overall layout at ground level and on the floor above - This ultimately regulates the overall size of common dwellings and fashions their visual proportions - The use of this structural unit enforces a discipline, an order, on the building, standardizing the timber construction members and facilitating their assembly

4 Chinese Architecture Page 1 2. Foundations - Following building traditions, reaching back at least as far as the Shang dynasty, a tamped earth foundation or podium at ground level or slightly elevated is considered the necessary base - A dry tamped foundation can be achieved using troughs and sometimes underground conduits to drain water - Stone foundation or wall footings are commonly laid along tamped perimeter of Chinese dwelling/structures in an effort to reduce the absorption of soil moisture by the walls 3. Chinese Building Fundamentals - Chinese builders span and enclose space using a variety of building solutions to collect the forces of gravity and transmit them to the ground a. Load-bearing walls  Directly carries the weight of the roof and/or upper stories b. Wooden structural frameworks  Sustain the load of upper storeys and the roof independently of the walls  Utilize freestanding lightweight interior walls separate from the load-bearing columns 4. Walls - Can be either: a. Load-bearing  Walls which directly support the roof structure, often thick with few breaks for windows or doors b. Non load-bearing  Walls that encircle the wooden structural framework or placed between pillars - Common materials used:  Tamped earth or a composite material ► "hangtu" - method of constructing solid walls involving piling freshly dug earth into a slightly battered caisson or box frame  Adobe ► Permits greater variations in construction form ► Widely used by poorer peasants  Kiln-dried brick ► Walls made up of this material usually have larger and more numerous openings for windows and doors  Vegetable origin ► Use of bamboo, kaoliang or cornstalks to form a curtain wall that bears no load from above  Wood, Grasses  Stone  Wooden structural framework  Bamboo matting  Wattle  Daub ► used to form the curtained enclosure 5. Wooden Structural Frameworks - Framing systems: a. Pillars and Beams (tailang or liangzhu)  Also known as post and  Simplest  A pair of pillars supporting a horizontal upon which are set short vertical posts or struts to lift another beam, upon which is fitted another strut, and on these are fitted five purlins which define the slope of the roof and across which the roof rafters are laid b. Pillars and Transverse tie beams (chuandou)  Differs from other framing system in three important manner: i) The roof purlins which support the rafters and roof itself rest directly on notched pillars rather than on beams or struts ii) The number of pillars is greater iii) Horizontal tie beam members are mortised directly into or tenoned through the multiple pillars to form an interlocked matrix that inhibits skewing of the frame

4 Chinese Architecture Page 2 Construction System 1. Dougong Brackets - Structural system of brackets found between the top of a and a cross beam - Each is formed of a double bow-shaped arm (gong) which supports a block of wood (dou) on each side - Fixed layer upon layer, the arrangements bear the load of the roof - Highly resistant to earthquakes

Roof Craft: Techniques and Materials 1. Firm mountain(Yingshan ding) □ Most common roof profile 2. Overhanging gable (Xuanshan ding) □ Combined with the use of overhanging eaves on the facade to offer a degree of protection from both rain and sun 3. Horse's head walls(matou qiang) □ Orignated as fire walls to retard the spread of sweeping roof fires in adjacent dwellings, temples, clan halls and other buildings in towns and nucleated villages Construction System Three main types: 1. Straight inclined □ Roofs with a single incline □ Prevalent in commoner 2. Multi-inclined □ Roofs with two or more sections of incline □ Used in higher class constructions, from the dwellings of wealthy commoner to palaces 3. Sweeping □ Roofs with a sweeping curvature that rises at the corners of the roof □ Reserved for temples and palaces although it may also be found in the homes of the wealthy

Building Types Commoners 1. Tulou □ "earth dwelling" □ "round stronghouse" □ A large, enclosed and fortified earth building with very thick load-bearing rammed earth walls □ Smaller interior buildings contain halls, storehouses, wells and living areas □ Well-ventilated, windproof and earthquake- proof □ Has only one main gate, guarded by 4-5 inch thick wooden doors reinforced with an outer shell of iron plate □ Top level of these earth buildings has gun holes for defensive purposes

4 Chinese Architecture Page 3 4 Chinese Architecture Page 4 2. Siheyuan

1 Main entrance 2 Rooms facing the rear 3 First courtyard for cooking Second courtyard was a living space 4 Rooms for the sons and daughters 5 Inner Hall for greeting guests and family ceremonies 6 Main building Living space for parents 7 Small side rooms Used for children and extended family members

Parts of a Chinese Dwelling Symbol and Tradition Wuji Ridge roof Jia - Chinese word for both home the dwelling, Chuanzi Rafter and family related members of the Jilin Ridge pole household who occupies it - Shelters the household, providing it with a Lin Purlins haven from the changing forces of nature Liang Main beam - A dwelling is symbolic of family unity and Shan qiang Gable wall sanctuary - A public statement of status as well as a Zhuzi Pillar/ post tangible expression of the family's aspiration Chuanggezi Lattice window - Is it a dynamic entity that expresses in Chuang-hu Solid window varying degrees the changing relationships within the family Chuang tai Window sill - Symbolizing and accommodating evolving Qiang Wall hierarchical patterns - Taijie Steps In the organization of the layout of a Chinese dwelling and/or structure, the individual is Menken Threshold essentially disregarded with space defined Menkuang Door frame more broadly in terms of family rather than personal needs and use Men Door Menmei Lintel Yan Eaves

4 Chinese Architecture Page 5 Imperial - Palaces Architectural features that were reserved solely for buildings built for the Emperor of China 1. Color coding - Yello w roof tiles - Red wooden columns and wall surfaces - Black often used in pagodas . They believe the gods are inspired by the black color to descend on to the earth 2. Dougong brackets - A feature shared only with the largest of religious buildings 3. Five-clawed dragon - Adopted by the first Ming emperor for his personal use - Used as decoration on the beams, pillars and on the doors 4. Nine jian - Jian: Space between two columns 5. Five - Only the gates used by the Emperor could have five arches - Center reserved for the Emperor himself 6. Orientation - Buildings faced the south because the north had a cold wind - Important of the east (direction of the rising sun) in orienting and siting Imperial buildings is a form of solar worship 7. Numerology - Heavily influenced Imperial architecture - Hence the use of nine in much of construction, as nine being the greatest single digit number

The Forbidden City - Built in 1406 to 1420 - Consists of 980 surviving buildings - 8, 707 bays of rooms - 720 000 square meters - Declared a world heritage site in 1987 - Largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world

Tiananmen Square - Extensive open area in central Beijing, China - World's largest public square - Adjacent to Forbidden City - Site of festivals, rallies and demonstrations - In 1989, Chinese troops fired on an estimated 2 000+ student demonstrators:(

Gate of Heavenly Peace - Famous monument in Beijing - Widely used as a national symbol

4 Chinese Architecture Page 6 Religious 1. Temples 1) Confucian Temple a) Lingxing Gate ◊ First grand gates in Confucius Temples ◊ Were the deities are welcome d and sent off in a memorial ceremony for Confucus 2) Taoist Temple  A complex of Taoist buildings used for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest 3) Pagodas  Original purpose was to house relics and sacred writings  Earliest base structure type: square base and circular base  By the 10th century, octagonal base pagoda towers emerged

4 Chinese Architecture Page 7 Definition - Chinese philosophy of geomancy or the understanding of the forces of the earth - Complement of astrology which seeks to understand the forces of the heavens - Its application in architecture promotes the creation of designed environment in harmony with the cosmic forces of nature - Literally means "wind" and "water" . Relates to its concept of qi or ch'i which means the flow of natural energy that circulates the earth and moves in specific patterns on a site . In western science this may be related to the earth's natural electromagnetic currents . Sha qi: qi that is too forceful; may have negative effect on people Two Main Theories 1. Form Theory - Based on influences of the landscape - Particularly mountains and water courses - Older and more subjective 2. Compass Theory - Places emphasis on mathematical calculations, formulas and diagrams - Based on compass points using an instrument called a lo p'an Yin and Yang - Harmonious balance of opposites: good and bad, light and dark, positive and negative - Relates to the necessary balance of the positive and negative forces of the qui The Five Elements - They stimulate and shape all natural and human activity - In site design the elements represent particular features of the landscape Element Site Design Representation Color Direction Wood Life Tall, cylindrical features Blue East Femininity (tree trunks) Green Southeast Creativity Organic material Fire Energy Sharp peaks Red South Intelligence (flames) Pink Earth Stability Flat terrain Yellow Southwest Endurance Brown Northeast The earth itself Metal Competitiveness Rounded hills White West Business acumen (coins) Silver Northwest Masculinity The metal itself Water All that flows Wavy, undulating ground Black North Blue

Productive Interaction: Burning WOOD Produces FIRE Which leaves behind EARTH Which is the source of METAL

Which can be liquefied into flowing substances like WATER Destructive Interaction:

WOOD Sucks up nourishment from EARTH Which muddles WATER Which quenches FIRE

Which melts METAL

4 Chinese Architecture Page 8 The Eight Trigrams - System of location of spaces in design based on the l Ching symbols and their particular qualities and directions - Should be combined with the system of five elements

K'an Wheels North Danger Ken Obstacles North-East Chen Speed East Roads Sun Trade South-East Growth Li Fire South Heat K'un Nourishment South-West Tui Joy West Serenity Ch'ien Kingship North-West

Nine Basic Cures

Reflective objects Mirrors Multi-faceted crystals that reflect light and qi Sound Music Wind chimes Bells Color Used to bring balance and vitality to spaces Living objects Flowers Plants Aquariums Electrically-powered items Computers TV Etc. Bamboo items As plants Curtains Flutes Moving items Water fountains Mobiles Heavy objects Furniture Statues Stones Others Meaningful items (favorite possessions, memorabilia, etc.)

4 Chinese Architecture Page 9 Some Basic Rules 1. Main doors should face south or east. 2. Doors should not face each other especially if they lead outside. 3. Main door should not ace any neighbor's gate, electric post or dead trees. 4. Stairways must not face a door, especially the main door. 5. The number of steps in a run of stairs must not be divisible by four. 6. The kitchen stove must not face a door, must not be opposite the sink or aligned with the sink. 7. Faucets and shower heads should face the interior of the structure. 8. There should not be a window on the wall above the headboard of a bed. 9. The bed should not face a door. 10. The bed should not rest on a wall that has a water closet on the other side. 11. There should be no exposed beams or pointed objects above the bed. 12. The water closet should not face the door. 13. Eating areas should not be located below toilets. 14. A round dining table is better than a rectangular one. 15. An altar must never be placed under a stairway. 16. Exposed columns should be round. 17. Columns should not be placed directly opposite doors or windows. 18. The number of columns should be even but must not be divisible by four. 19. Eight silver coins wrapped in red cloth must be placed at the foundation of each column.

4 Chinese Architecture Page 10 The Chinese Classical Garden - Also called Chinese Scholar's Garden - A place for solitary or social contemplation of nature - A combination of landscape and paintings together with poems - So called "poetic garden"

History - Built by and for scholar class (civil servants) - First appeared during the Eastern Han Dynasty with the rise of Confucian ideology - Ended a strict class division by ending advancement in the civil service - Scholar class thus retreated into a more contemplative life in their gardens

Yuanye and Chinese Garden Design - Yuanye was written by a Ming Dynasty garden designer: Ji Cheng - Design of Chinese gardens was to provide a spiritual utopia for one to connect with nature, to come back to one's inner heart, to come back to ancient idealism - A spiritual shelter for people - A place they could be far away from their real social lives - Close to the ancient way of life, their true selves and nature - Served multiple functions . semi-public extension of the house and a place . Retreat . Festivity . Study of poetry . Romance Symbols

Bamboo Represents a strong but resilient character Pine Is used to represent longevity, persistence, tenacity and dignity Lotus Is used to symbolize purity Flowering Plum It represents renewal and strength of will Flowering Peaches Are grown for spring color and Sweet Olive Chrysanthemum Is used to symbolize splendor, luster and "the courage to make sacrifices for a natural life" Peonies Symbolize wealth Banana Trees Are used simply for the sound they make in the breeze

Seventeen Essential Elements 1. Proximity to home 9. Water 2. Small 10. Trees 3. Walled 11. Plants 4. Small individual sections 12. Sculpture 5. Asymmetrical 13. Jie jing (borrowed scenery) 6. Various types of spatial connections 14. Chimes 7. Architecture 15. Incense burners 8. Rocks (axis mundi) 16. Inscriptions 17. Use of feng shui for choosing site

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