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Chinese Architecture

Chinese architecture is characterized by bilateral symmetry, central courtyards, and an emphasis on horizontal lines over height. Common architectural features include horsehead walls, multi-tiered roofs in straight, curved or multi-angled styles, and auspicious colors like yellow and green. Imperial architecture featured dragon motifs and large ceremonial gateways, while religious structures followed either imperial or commoner styles depending on if they were Buddhist or Daoist. Tibetan architecture combines Nepalese, Chinese and Indian influences with an organic design centered around temples and stupas made of stone, clay or wood and topped by conical spires.

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Jaypee Tan
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187 views

Chinese Architecture

Chinese architecture is characterized by bilateral symmetry, central courtyards, and an emphasis on horizontal lines over height. Common architectural features include horsehead walls, multi-tiered roofs in straight, curved or multi-angled styles, and auspicious colors like yellow and green. Imperial architecture featured dragon motifs and large ceremonial gateways, while religious structures followed either imperial or commoner styles depending on if they were Buddhist or Daoist. Tibetan architecture combines Nepalese, Chinese and Indian influences with an organic design centered around temples and stupas made of stone, clay or wood and topped by conical spires.

Uploaded by

Jaypee Tan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CHINESE ARCHITECTURE MATOQUIANG horsehead walls, w/c serves as

TING (Chinese Pavilions) fire determent from drifting elements


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

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