Chinese Architecture
Rick Smith
As you look at the world around you, a lot of the history of the human
civilization is in the architecture that we have currently, and that we have left
behind. For centuries people have built timeless structures. They all have a purpose
either for work, play, or religious purposes. Buildings have kept getting bigger and
more advanced over the years. Different cultures have different types of
architecture. The most well known civilizations that put the most value in
architecture are the ancient Greek and Romans. They are a civilization that has been
building things since 2000 BCE; they are responsible for building one of the
wonders of the world. The Chinese have being building architectural dreams for
many years.
The earliest Chinese architecture that has been found dates back to 2000 BCE
in the early in the Neolithic Period. They are responsible for the Great Wall of China,
which is one of the most spectacular structures of all time. Stretching over hundreds
of miles and over mountains. They focused on building for strength and shelter.
They used regularly spaced wooden columns to support the roof rather than rely on
walls. Walls were paper-thin which saved weight and materials. Floors were made
with stones, and then with simple mud brick, eventually mastering the art of fired
bricks. (The CHina Travle guide) So much like the Greek and Romans they used post
and lintel designs. It was first during the BCE 202 – CE 220 or the Han Dynasties that
the traditional Chinese roof as we know it today started to take shape; the
overhanging, curved shape of the roof. In Chinese culture, the curved line served to
ward off evil, represented by the straight line. The sides of the roof were covered
with colored, glazed tiles, and over time this artwork became increasingly valued.
(The CHina Travle guide) As things progressed through the golden age of China
(581-907 CE) there were many advancements in the bricks that were used and
more complex roofs, along with trying for more height. The y hit their “ building
boom” in the last two dynasties. This time period is where cities started getting very
big and new perimeter walls were built around the city. This was also the time
period where the great wall was extended and the Forbidden City was built in the
new capitol Beijing. This was for seen by Emperor Yongle in the 18th century. (The
CHina Travle guide)
There are many famous buildings around china that display true Chinese
architecture. They are The Forbidden City (or The imperial Palace), 13 Ming Tombs,
Great Wall of China, Chinese gardens and towers (pictures at the end). The
Forbidden City was created when the capitol was moved to Beijing. It has been
widely used in movies that have to deal with china. The 13 Ming Tombs has also
been used in movies. The tomb holds 13 of the 17 Ming dynasty emperors. It is 7 Km
long and has emperor Yongle at the front, which was the greatest of them all.
(tourbejing.com) There are many famous towers built throughout china’s history.
An example of an ancient Buddhist tower is the Small Wild Goose and the Big Wild
Goose. They date back to the Tang Dynasty (707 CE). They were a symbol of peace
and the Small one is 45 meters tall with originally 15 stories (an earthquake
reduced it to 13) (The CHina Travle guide). Chinese gardens were a very important
part of Chinese culture. It was a huge form of art. It most important thing about
Chinese gardens was that the buildings around the flowers and ponds were part of
the art. They were a symbol of status. The buildings were built to flow with the
wildlife. (Zhongguo meishu quanji)
Chinese architecture has art and life in the buildings structure. They have
been building things for centuries. As the times changed so did their buildings but
not the art that goes into building it. They keep tradition and will so for many years
to come, especially with the gardens.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=chinese+gardens&hl=en&safe=off&client
=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1280&bih=620&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnsb&tbnid=4Exak
zf3KFukcM:&imgrefurl=http://www.mobot.org/hort/tours/cgtrad.shtml&docid=Sz
8fpqfqndpvqM&imgurl=http://www.mobot.org/hort/imgs/tours/china1.jpg&w=5
91&h=400&ei=p158T4fcHcr50gH3xOCGDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=263&vpy=183
&dur=2371&hovh=185&hovw=273&tx=143&ty=64&sig=10310897924655241331
1&page=1&tbnh=120&tbnw=155&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:137
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.crystalinks.com/chinawallarg
e.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.crystalinks.com/chinawall.html&h=445&w=667&sz=2
39&tbnid=2Qk5igjXkgN7VM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dthe%2
Bgreat%2Bwall%2Bof%2Bchina%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=the+g
reat+wall+of+china&docid=pLRSmdeap9WHYM&sa=X&ei=X158T828GMfG0QGH4Z
H9Cw&ved=0CD0Q9QEwAg&dur=1976
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=small+wild+goose+pagoda&hl=en&safe=off&cli
ent=safari&sa=X&rls=en&biw=1280&bih=620&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=Kn5
svRDjBHhTWM:&imgrefurl=http://www.chinaodysseytours.com/xian/small-wildgoosepagoda.html&docid=g6rKBk3tCS4MbM&imgurl=http://www.chinaodysseytours.co
m/xian/img/small-goose1.jpg&w=300&h=400&ei=wFF8T9ubMqmN0QG1r8SUDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=3
40&vpy=126&dur=292&hovh=168&hovw=126&tx=118&ty=137&sig=1031089792
46552413311&page=1&tbnh=136&tbnw=102&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:2,s
:0,i:73
Bibliography
guilin Co. Ancient China Buildings. 1998. China International Travel Service Guilin
Co. Ltd. 26 3 2012
<http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/architecture/examples.htm>.
Lan Su gardens. Lan Su Chinese Garden. 2010. 2012
<http://www.lansugarden.org/about_us>.
The CHina Travle guide. ancient chinese architesure . 2012. CTG. 28 3 2012
<http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/architecture/>.
Thinkquest. chinese architecure. 2012. Oracle Education Foundation. 28 3 2012
<http://library.thinkquest.org/10098/china1.htm>.
tourbejing.com. Bejing Ming Tombs. 2012. 2012 <http://www.tourbeijing.com/excursion_guide/ming_tomb.php>.
Zhongguo meishu quanji, Huihua 6: Mingdai huihua, shang (Beijing: Wenwu
chubanshe, 1988), pl. 42, p. 49. Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei