Chinese Architecture: History and Influences

Cin

First recorded use of 'China,' dated 1555, derived from a Persian name.

Qin

Dynasty that unified China; identified with the westernmost Chinese kingdom.

Zhōngguó

Term meaning 'central country' from the Zhou Dynasty.

Cathay

Historical name for China used in Europe, possibly from 'Khitans.'

Yellow River

Also known as Huang He, 2,109 mi long, called 'The Great Sorrow.'

Yangtze River

Third-longest river globally, 2,432 mi long.

Pearl River

Also known as Zhu Jiang, 848 mi long.

Tibet

Annexed in 1950, with Mount Everest on the Sino-Nepalese border

Silk Road

Trade route leading to extensive trading, boosting China's ancient economy.

Buddhism

Religious influence in China.

Confucianism

Code of social conduct and philosophy of life in China.

Taoism

Doctrine of universal love, offering solutions to social disorder.

Feng Shui

Belief in forces affecting energy flow in spaces.

Tai Chi

Practice advocating balance through movement.

Yin and Yang

Chinese concept of opposing but complementary forces in nature.

Lo Shu Magic Square

Pattern where numbers in every row add up to 15, symbolizing the natural order.

Dynasties

Ruled China under one family, with emperors based on the Confucian model.

Qin Dynasty

First Chinese empire, standardized language, and built the Great Wall.

Han Dynasty

Golden Age of China, expanded territory and embraced Confucianism.

Sui Dynasty

Ruled from 581-618 A.D., known for public works projects.

Tang Dynasty

618-907 A.D., one of China's longest-enduring empires.

Wu Chao

Only female empress in Ancient China

Golden Age

Return to prosperity in Ancient China

Five Dynasties

Period from 907-960 A.D. in Ancient China

Foot binding

Practice that began in Ancient China during the Five Dynasties

Neo-Confucianism

Philosophical development during the Northern and Southern Song Dynasty

Yuan Dynasty

Ruled by the Mongols from 1206-1368 A.D.

Ming Dynasty

Last Chinese dynasty ruled by ethnic Hans

Qing Dynasty

Last imperial dynasty of China from 1644-1911

Taiping Rebellion

Rebellion in China from 1850-1864

Boxer Rebellion

Anti-foreign movement in China in the early 20th century

Xinhai Revolution

Revolution that ended the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China

Bilateral symmetry

Balance concept applied in Ancient Chinese architecture

Enclosure

Architectural concept of enclosing open spaces within buildings

Sky well

Enclosed courtyard with openings to the sky in Chinese architecture

Hierarchy

Importance and placement of buildings within a site in Ancient Chinese architecture

Imperial Palaces

Symmetrical structures for emperors in Ancient China

Mandarin residence

Residence for bureaucrats in Ancient China

Wealthy businessmen

Housing for the wealthy in Ancient China

Ordinary people

Simple houses for commoners in Ancient China

Horizontal Emphasis

Architectural focus on breadth over height in Ancient Chinese buildings

Forbidden City

Imperial palace complex in Beijing, China

Feng shui

Use of geomancy in organizing construction and layout in Chinese architecture

Axial City

City layout influenced by Confucianism in Ancient China

Square plan

City streets laid out in a checkerboard grid

Wall enclosure

City's surrounding protective barrier

Harmony

Confucian concept of deference and happiness

Classical Chinese house

Structure with halls for different generations

Surrounding wall

Provides privacy, security, and limited access

Ting (Hall)

Formal room for treating important guests

Tang (Living room)

Space for family meetings

L'ou (Apartment)

Living space with scenic advantages

Ting (Pavilion)

Area designated for relaxation

Axis

Controls layout and serves as a path

Alternating interior and exterior spaces

Spatial sequence of solids and voids

Modular system

Jian units forming a Chinese courtyard house

Exposed structure

Aesthetic of wood with visible structure

Ancient Chinese architecture

Mainly timberwork with flexible buildings

Layout symmetry

Central axis focus with unique courtyard views

Residential architecture

Includes cave, cliff, and pit dwellings

Sloping roof

Fixed structure supported by pillars

Terrace

Living space extension formed by timber frame

Wooden framing systems

Tailiang and chuandou for roof support

Hutong

Narrow street or alley in northern Chinese cities

Siheyuan

Traditional courtyard residences

Tulou

Large fortified earth building for communities

Decorative roofs

Elaborate structures for important buildings

Timber jointing systems

Elaborate wooden coffers and jointing techniques

Roof components

Various parts including covering and ridge decorations

Hip roof

A type of roof with slopes on all four sides that meet at the top to form a ridge

Resting Hill Roof

A type of roof with a diagonal ridge starting from the eaves gable board below the vertical ridge and ending in entangled animal heads

Hanging Hill Roof

A type of roof with a vertical ridge that is not the positive ridge

Hard Hill Roof

A type of roof with a vertical ridge that is not the positive ridge

Roof covering

The surface of the roof between the top and the eaves

Edging Finishing

The part of the roof near the eaves, often with a different color from the upper part

Full-face Ridge

The ridge at the highest point of a building roof formed by the intersection of the front and back slopes

Full-face Ridge Decoration

Various decorations set on the roof ridge, such as roof crown and different decoration carvings

Vertical Ridge

For certain roof types, any ridge other than the positive ridge is called a vertical ridge

Diagonal Ridge

In Resting Hill Roofs, a ridge starting from the eaves gable board below the vertical ridge and ending in entangled animal heads

Eaves

The part of the roof that protrudes beyond the truss

Ridge Beast

A protruding beast head fixed on the lower corner end of the eaves to protect the beam head from rain

Baoding

Roof crown

Shanhua

Triangular wall formed on both sides of the Resting Hill Roof

Dougong

A structural element of interlocking wooden brackets in traditional Chinese architecture

Grottoes

Cave-like spaces in Buddhist architecture for meditation and worship

Yungang Grottoes

Buddhist grottoes in Datong of Shanxi Province with 50,000 statues surviving in 52 caves

Longmen Grotto

Also known as Dragon's Gate Grottos, located in the Northern Wei capital of Luoyang

Temples

Structures resembling Indian temples with open courts, porticos, and various halls for different purposes

Buddhist Temples

Temples following the imperial style with green roof tiles and strict symmetry

Taoist Temples

Temples with slightly less grand architecture, usually with the main hall at the front

Qingyang Palace

A palace from the Zhou Dynasty

Fayuan Temple

A temple in Beijing with various halls and structures

Foguang Temple

Temple known as the 'Temple of Buddha's Light' with preserved timber structures and pagodas

Longxing Temple

Temple with various halls and pavilions dedicated to different deities

Pagodas

Originally attached to monasteries to preserve relics, now symbolizing victory and prestige

Pailou

Ceremonial entrances or archways to temples, tombs, or streets, often erected in memory of virtuous people

Dian

A large single building in traditional Chinese architecture, often referred to as Dadian or grand hall

Ornamental Pillars

Huabiao pillars often seen in palaces and imperial gardens as decorative elements

Gardens

Classified into imperial, private, monastic, and scenic resort gardens, incorporating rocks, water, buildings, and plants

Imperial Architecture

Includes altars, temples, and gardens for worshiping, commemorating, and offering sacrifices