CHINESE ARCHITECTURE LECTURE

HISTORY

Only ancient civilization that has continued to this day.

Succession of emperors and dynasties and warring states

In 1750 BC, a kingdom emerged in the middle reaches of the Yellow river in China, ruled by Shang Dynasty

Lasted 1000 years but broke up into smaller kingdoms

SOCIETY

Foreign trade by land and sea

Theorists, school of philosophy Confucius - Lao-Tzu

Writing, calendar, money, arts, painting, calligraphy and architecture

RELIGION

Religious and ethical influences:

Confucianism, code of social conduct and philosophy of life, family and ancestor worship

Taoism, universal love as the solution to social disorder

Buddhism

GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY

Larger than Europe in area, 1/13 of the total land area of the world

Mountainous with extensive fertile valleys, great plains and deserts, excellent harbors

Materials used are metals, trees, bamboo, clay

ANCIENT CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

China has some of the world’s most enduring cultural traditions. Thousands of years later, artistic, linguistic and cultural motifs that initially existed thousands of years ago still hold significant importance in the country.

This makes it an interesting location to learn about things including architecture. Although China’s architectural history spans back to the 3rd century BCE, it’s clear that we’re dealing with some very old concepts.

DUOGONG

translates to “cap and block”. They are conducted from a flst block of wood (dou) with curved wooden slats (gong) sitting on top of it. Each slat was longer than the one below it.

BALANCE AND SYMMETRY

In general, the finished piece should feel balanced, with diverse visual aspects holding varying aesthetic weight. As a result, the basic structure resembled that of a complex. The complex resembled a canvas, with each structure relating to the others as though they were items in a painting.

By dividing the complex along a central axis, ________were achieved. Buildings on opposing sides of the central axis often mirrored one another, separated by courtyards. From vast towns to imperial palace complexes to single residences, the same layout was applied.

A wealthy elite’s home, for example, would have a big courtyard in the center, with rooms on all sides matching in style and function. This same aesthetic was applied to every aspect of the project.

Taoism

an ancient Chinese philosophy that advocated for a life structured in harmony with the universe’s energy, was one of the most influential on architecture. Architecture had a role in taoist teachings, which saw all of existence as part of a connected spiritual quest for equilibrium.

The symmetry and balance of Chinese architecture, as well as the directionality of structures, were intended to aid establish cosmic and spiritual balance. Buildings in ancient China did not place a premium on height. Instead, they emphasize their horizontal traits, making them appear long and low to the ground. Even the characteristically curved roof draw the eye down towards a solid, ground base.

FENG SHUI

Chinese Geomancy is an ancient concept that focuses on creating harmony between people, structures and nature. These pseudoscientific rules span a wide spectrum of philosophies that date back to ancient China and have been passed down through many generations.

Most practitioners think that simple lifestyle and environmental modifications can improve and enrich an individual’s or a dwelling’s life force.

Once widely employed to place infrastructures such as ancestral graces, residential homes and agricultural fields in auspicious locations to bring luck to their family, land and companies.

It is still widely used in Asian architecture today, with many well-known architects today, with many well-known architects working with Feng Shui masters to incorporate these traditional notions into their buildings.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFING DESIGNS

Roof Characteristics:

• Steep gable roof w/ spreading eaves

• Extensive use of clay roof tiles:

  • Yellow, Green and Blue - Imperial Palace

  • Red - Mandarin (Bureaucrats)

  • Black or Gray - Citizens

• Sculptural works found on roof ridges:

  • Dragon Fish

OVERHANGING GABLE ROOF

The most common residential roof type south of the Yangtze River where the climate is humid and warm. The wide eaves are designed to keep the upper parts of the timber structure from the rain.

FLUSH GABLE ROOF

The flush gable roof is the most common residential roof style used north of Yangtze River where the climate is relatively cold and dry.

ROOF WITH HIGH FIREWALLS

The firewalls at both ends could be in various heights and shapes. Residential buildings with this type of roof are commonly seen in windy Anhui and Zhejiang provinces in Southern China.

SINGLE SLOPE ROOF

This type of roof is often seen on residential buildings in Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces in northern China where the Climate condition is quite windy and cold with heavy snowfall in winter.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE RESIDENTIAL ROOFS: GABLE AND SINGLE SLOPE ROOF

Multi-gable roofs are commonly used on multi-story residential buildings in Zhejiang Province in China’s humid southeast coastal region where it rains frequently.

This type of roof is quite common in residential buildings in southern China.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE RESIDENTIAL ROOFS: MULTI-EAVE GABLE AND HIP ROOFS

Multi-eave gable and hip roofs are commonly seen on residential buildings in hot and humid southern China.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE RESIDENTIAL ROOFS: GABLE ROOFS FOR STILT HOUSE

Roofs for stilt houses are usually seen in mountain areas in China’s subtropical southwest.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: GABLE AND HIP ROOF

Gable and Hip roofs were traditionally used on the less important palace, government and religious buildings.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: INTERSECTING GABLE AND HIP ROOFS

This is a building with overlaid gable and hip roofs in a Daoist temple in Zhengding County, Hebei Province.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: HIP ROOF

In the classic Chinese building code, hip roofs were reserved for public buildings of significance, such as meeting halls in royal palaces or the chief prayer hall in big temples.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: DOUBLE EAVE HIP ROOF

Double-eave hip roofs were in old days, exclusively reserved for major buildings in royal palaces such as the Hall of supreme Harmony in Beijing Forbidden City.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: DOUBLE EAVE HIP AND FLAT ROOF

This combination of flat and hip roofs does not appear often.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: SINGLE AND DOUBLE-EAVE GABLE AND HIP ROOFS WITH UPSWINGS AT THE ENDS

This is a set of roofs on a terrace building illustrated in a Song Dynasty painting.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: MULTI-LEVELED SINGLE-EAVE, DOUBLE-EAVE AND OVERLAID GABLE AND HIP ROOFS

This complicated roof set was for the ancient Tengwang Terrace building as illustrated in a Song Dynasty painting.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: COMBINATION OF MULTI-LEVELED CROSS GABLE AND HIP ROOFS AND ROUND RIDGE ROOFS

This set of L-shaped roofs is on the corner of watchtowers of Beijing Forbidden City.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON PUBLIC BUILDING: COMBINATION OF DOUBLE-EAVE HIP ROOF AND DOUBLE-EAVE PYRAMID HIP ROOFS LINKED BY GABLE ROOFS

This set of roofs is on Beijing Forbidden City’s Meridian Gate for the receiving Hall, corner watchtowers and verandas.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON GARDEN STRUCTURES: ROUND ROOF

most common roof style for garden pavilions.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON GARDEN STRUCTURES: TRIANGLE HIP ROOF

this type of roof allows the structure with three facades, normally used on a small garden pavilion built on a tiny plot of land with an awkward irregular shape.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON GARDEN STRUCTURES: OCTAGONAL HIP ROOF

a traditional Chinese roof with 8 facades, which could be either single or double eaves, is normally used on major pavilion structures in a big garden of a larger Buddhist pagoda.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON GARDEN STRUCTURES: FAN-SHAPED GABLE AND HIP ROOF WITH A ROUND RINGE

type of roof normally used on a waterside garden structure.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON GARDEN STRUCTURES: SINGLE-EAVE AND DOUBLE EAVE GABLE AND HIP ROOFS

was used on a waterside terrace building as illustrated in a Song Dynasty painting.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE ROOFS ON GARDEN STRUCTURES: DOUBLE-EAVE INTERSECTING GABLE AND HIP ROOFS

used in a garden structure.

ANCIENT CHINESE ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS

600-year-old architectural drawings for Beijing Forbidden City produced by Ming Dynasty architects from Suzhou.

HORSE HEAD WALL

It is an important feature of Huizhou architecture.

In villages inhabited by ethnic groups, the density of residential buildings is relatively high, which is not conducive to fire prevention.

The high horse head wall can cut off the source of fire in the event of a fire in neighboring residential buildings. Therefore, the horse head wall is also called the firewall.

The “horse head” of the horse head wall is usually a “golden seal” or “chaohu”, which shows the master’s pursuit of the ideal of “reading to be an official”.

Looking up from a height, the undulating horse head walls in the villages where the tribes live together give people a visual sense of movement of “tens of thousands of horses,” and a metaphor for the vitality and prosperity of the entire clan.

VERMILLION DOOR / CHINESE RED

The main colors of the palace decoration are golden yellow and vermillion, so vermillion represents nobility and authority and the vermilion door symbolizes dignity.

SIHEYUAN

The planning layout of the courtyard building is based on the symmetrical arrangement of the north-south longitudinal axis and the enclosed and independent courtyard as the basic feature.

Siheyuan adopts the old Beijing Siheyuan architectural style, emphasizing the privacy of living space.

Most residential buildings in China are courtyard-style residences, but there are differences between the north and the south.

In the courtyards in many areas in the south, the houses on all four sides are mostly buildings and the houses are connected at the four corners of the courtyard.

The residential courtyards are generally small and called “patio”; while the courtyards in the north are spacious and comfortable, with houses on each side. Independent, with verandas connected, convenient for living.

PAI LOU / PAIFANG

Monumental, ceremonial gateway and basic symbolic structure in Chinese architecture.

Erected as memorials to eminent persons

Led to temples, palaces, tombs or scared places

Related to the Indian Torana & Japances Torii

Trabeated form, in Stone or wood

Bold projecting roofs; 1, 3 or 5 openings

YUNHUI YUYU ARCHWAY

Also known as the Glowing Clouds and Holy Land Archway

A well-preserved Pai Lou is the one in front of the main entrance to the Summer Place Park. Built 200 years ago, it is composed of four columns forming three arches and carrying on top seven roofed ornamental units.

Wooden pillars on stone bases;

• Pillars painted reds

• Beams decorated with intricate designs and Chinese calligraphy

• Roof covered with colored tiles, complete with mythical beasts - 176 dragons and 16 golden phoenixes.

MING TOMBS PAI LOU

Among the pai lou of imperial mausoleums, the best known is the great archway standing at the southern end of the grounds of Beijing’s Ming Tombs, the first structure that the visitor will see.

A pai lou with 6 columns, 5 arches & 11 superstructures

It is built entirely of white marbles, and its stone columns are engraved with dragons, lions, unicorns and other mythical animals to display the power and dignity of the imperial house.

Majestic and simple, it measures 28.86 meters wide and stands 14 meters high in the middle, one the greatest of its kind in the country.

PAGODAS

Buddhist temple, the most typical Chinese building of religious significance

Later gained a secular nature: monuments to victory or a memorial to hold relics

Based on the Indian stupa and stambha

Octagonal in Plan

Odd numbers of stories, 9 or 13

Roofs projecting from each of its many floors, turned up eaves

Slopes inward to the top.

EXAMPLE OF PAGODAS: SONGYUE TEMPLE PAGODA

The oldest existing large pagoda in China. Its structure and style are consummate among ancient pagodas and were constructed in 520 during the Northern Dynasties.

The brick pagoda is the earliest multi-eave pagoda to be found thus far with a total height of about 39.8 meters and the diameter of the ground floor is 10.6 meters, including walls, which are each 2.5 meters thick.

The first story of the pagoda is very high which is characteristic of all multi-eave pagodas. The first story is divided into upper and lower parts of the balconies and there are doors on the eastern, southern, western and northern sides, linking the 2 parts.

The top part of each door is an arch with an ornamental relish above it.

The other 8 sides of the lower part of the first story are plain, without ornament.

The upper part is the most decorated part of the entire pagoda.

The interior of the pagoda is cylindrical and there are eight levels of stone supports for what originally must have been wooden flooring

The exterior of the entire pagoda presents the contour of a smooth parabola, making it not only towering and magnificent but also elegant and graceful, fully displaying the high artistic level of its design.

EXAMPLE OF PAGODAS: TWIN STONE PAGODAS

Situated in Kaiyuan Temple in Quanzhou of FUjian Province, the twin pagodas rank the highest pair among China's stone pagodas.

The twin pagodas (the east and west pagodas) stand on the ground on both sides of the praying yards at 200 meters.

The East Pagoda or “Zhenguo Pagoda” is 48.24 meters’ high

The West Pagoda or “Renshou Pagoda” is 44.06 meters high.

The twin stone architecture has become a landmark of the historic city of Quanzhou.

EXAMPLE OF PAGODAS: WHITE DAGOBA TEMPLE

The pagoda is 51 meters high with a brick masonry structure. The huge pagoda foundation is an octagonal double-floor Sumeru pedestal made of bricks and 2 meters high above the floor.

Bevel square tower is in the center and covers an area of 810 square meters achieving 9 meters high.

On the upper section is seated the polygonal angle cross Sumeru pedestal and further up is a huge, solid, 13-layer wheel, with each layer becoming smaller than the other called “Thirteen heavens”

36 copper bells hang down around the treasure cover.

EXAMPLE OF PAGODAS: BIG WILD GOOSE PAGODA / GIANT WILD GOOSE PAGODA / GREAT WILD GOOSE PAGODA / DAYAN PAGODA

Built for over 1,300 years, it is now the earliest attic-styled square brick tower in the Tang Dynasty with the largest scale in China.

To well preserve this treasurable Buddhist culture, the pagoda was constructed for 5 floors.

The Giant Wild Goose of the attic-styled square pagoda of brick imitating wood structure consists of the base, the body and the finial.

The whole pagoda is about 65-meter-high with the height of the base being 4.2 meter and the final being 4.87 meter.

EXAMPLE OF PAGODAS: HUGUO TEMPLE PAGODA / IRON PAGODA

Located northeast of Kaifeng City, Henan Province, Huguo Temple Pagoda.

It was built in 1049 in the Song Dynasty.

First called Kaibao Temple Pagoda, the name changed during the Ming Dynasty.

The color of the pagoda is like iron so it is also known as Iron Pagoda.

The structure is a 13-storey hexagonal tower that stand 55.08 meters high.

It has a variety og carvings including bodhisattvas, Buddha’s, dragons, lions and flowers.

However, the 4th to 13th stories were severely damaged in 1938 by Japanese artillery.

The pagoda recovered its original appearance aft.er the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.

EXAMPLE OF PAGODAS: SAKYAMUNI PAGODA OF FOGONG TEMPLE / YINGXIAN PAGODA

Located in Yingxian County, Shanxi Province is the oldest full-wooden pagoda still standing in China.

The pagoda was built in 1056 during the North Song Dynasty, measuring 67 meters tall and 30 meters in diameter, supported by a double-layered timber-frame structure with 24 columns in the external supporting system and 8 columns forming the internal network.

Both frames are further reinforced by timber bracings, beams and short columns.

From the exterior, the pagoda seems to have only 5-storey and 2 sets of rooft.op eaves for the 1st-storey, yet the pagoda’s interior reveals that it has 9-storey in all.

Each floor contains Buddhist statues, including a first-floor statue of Sakyamuni. The elegantly curved statue stands 11 meters tall. There are also statues of Manjushri and the Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.

Various kinds of Buddhist images are carved into the ceiling of every story of the pagoda. Windows on the eighth sides of the pagoda provide views of the countryside, including Mount Heng and the Songgan River.

PLAN, ELEVATION, & SECTION, SAKYAMUNI PAGODA OF FOGONG TEMPLE

TIMBER FRAME & NON-LOAD BEARING WALLS IN CLASSIC CHINESE ARCHITECTURE, SAKYAMUNI PAGODA OF FOGONG TEMPLE

BUDDHA STATUES, SAKYAMUNI PAGODA OF FOGING TEMPLE

EXAMPLE OF PAGODAS: WENFENG PAGODA / CULTURAL PEAK PAGODA

Located in Fenyang, Shanxi Province.

It was built at the end of the Ming Dynasty in the middle of the 17th century.

The structure is 84.93 meters tall and has 13 floors.

After a magnitude 6 earthquake in 1932, the pagoda began to tilt towards the east and, further owing to the collapsible nature of the yellow earth, the structure now leans eastward 1.82 meters.

TEMPLES

Contains statue of Buddha

Chief feature was the roof

Situated in the Middle of towns and have a north-south axis

Supported on timber uprights and independent of walls

A sign of dignity to place roofs one over the other

Up-tilted angles, with dragons and grotesque ornaments

Loft.y pavilions, 1-storey each

Successive open courts and porticoes, kitchen, refectories, sleeping cells for priests.

TEMPLE ELEMENTS

Entrance

Bell & Drum Tower

Temple Proper

• Hall of Celestial Guardians

• Hall of Buddha & Bodhisattvas

House of Arhats

Sutra Room

Lecture Room

Life Releasing Pond

Pagoda

Library

Monk’s dwelling

EXAMPLES OF TEMPLE / TIANTAN SHRINE: THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

One of the brilliant ancient architectures in China.

It is also an outstanding masterpiece of classic imperial buildings throughout Chinese history.

The site was first built in 1420 by Yongle Emperor, then expanded by the subsequent emperors of both the Mind and Qing Dynasty and has served as the holy place for emperors to pay homage to Heaven and to pray for a year of a rich harvest.

In 1998, UNESCO listed the temple of Heaven in the World Heritage Sites list with the description as “a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design which simply and graphically illustrates a cosmogony of great importance for the evolution of one of the world’s great civilizations.”

Featured in precise structure, peculiar design and magnificent decoration. It covers more than 267 hectares (660 acre).

It is the general reference of Huanqiu Altar and Qigu Altar which are located separately at an axle path from south to north - Danbi Bridge.

The most important building of the Huanqiu Altar is Huangqiongyu Pavilion.

Qigu Altar has Qinian Pavilion, Huangqian Pavilion and Qinian Gate, etc.

Ancient Chinese mythology believed that Heaven is a circle and the Earth is square, which is fully embodied in the design of Temple Heaven. Tow long-sketching codons of wall surrounded the temple complex.

The southern outer wall was built like a taller semi-circular representing Heaven.

The northern wall is shorter and rectangular and stands for the Earth.

Bothe the Huanqiu Altar and Qigu Altar are round and stand on two square yards.

QINIAN HALL, TEMPLE OF HEAVEN (Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest)

The most significant building in the Temple of HeAVEN

It is a wooden triple-gable circular pavilion that is 38 meters high with a three-level marble stone base.

The ancient emperors prayed for good harvest here.

There are 28 pillars propping up the hall.

• The inner 4 pillars are large and stand for 4 seasons.

• The middle 12 pillars represent the 12 months.

• The outer 12 pillars indicate 12 periods of a day.

HUANGQIONGYU HALL, TEMPLE OF HEAVEN (The Imperial Vault of Heaven)

It is smaller with only one circular gable and one level of marble stone base compared with Qinian Hall.

It is the place to enshrine the worshipping tablets of Gods.

Inside the hall are pillars and a vault decorated with beautiful paintings and carvings.

Outside is a HUANGQIU ALTAR, TEMPLE OF HEAVEN (The Circular Mound Altar) which can transmit sounds over a long distance 65 meters in diameter.

HUANGQIU ALTAR, TEMPLE OF HEAVEN (The Circular Mound Altar)

An empty circular platform with three levels of marble stones.

Vivid dragons were carved in the stones to stand for the emperors.

The number 9 stands for power as well as the emperors in ancient China.

Balusters and Steps are either the sacred number 9 or its multiples.

In ancient times, the emperor's burn offerings for Heaven on a stove on the platform.

EXAMPLES OF TEMPLE / TIANTAN SHRINE: SOUTH PUTUO TEMPLE / NANPUTUO TEMPLE

A 1000 years old Buddhist resort in Southern Fujian.

Since the 1920’s, Nanputuo Temple has been the center of Buddhism exchange at home and abroad. It is also a national key Buddhist temple in the Han area and one of the 8-scenic spots in Xiamen City.

It covers an area of 258,000 square meters.

With a thousand-year-old history, the temple was first built in the late Tang Dynasty and was called SIZHOU TEMPLE.

During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, SHI LANG recovered Taiwan and garrisoned in Xiamen.

• He built the Great Mercy Hall here to worship Guanyin and changed the name of the Guanyin Dojo on Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang province.

It is facing the azure sea in the south with a serene mountain in its back.

The main architectures in the central axis are Tianwang Hall, Daxiong, Dabei Hall and the Depository of Buddhist Sutras.

There is a square in front of Tianwang Hall and a 30 meter quadrate Free Life pond and a bigger Lotus pool.

MO-LI HAI, KING OF THE WEST (SANSKRIT: VIRUPAKSA)

MO-LI SHOU, KING OF THE NORTH (SANSKRIT: VAISRAVANA)

MO-LI HUNG, KING OF THE SOUTH (SANSKRIT: VIRUDHAKA)

MO-LI CHING, KING OF THE EAST (SANSKRIT: DHRTARASTRA )

MAITREYA OR MILEFO / FAT OR LAUGHING BUDDHA

TIANWANG HALL, SOUTH PATUO TEMPLE / HALL OF HEAVENLY KINGS

Situates at the forefront of the central axis and worships Maitreya Buddha.

The entrance door of the temple is just in front of Tianwang Hall. Entering the hall, you’ll see 4 Devarajas with fierce stares on the two sides of the hall, with the smiling Maitreya Buddha in the center.

DABEI HALL, SOUTH PATUO TEMPLE / HALL OF GREAT COMPASSION

It is another main shrine in the temple.

Worships thousand-hand Kwan-yin, it was built in the Qing Dynasty.

It’s situated on the high platform behind the Daxiong Hall, with nearly 30 stone stairs between them.

The main hall is an octagon shape, and the structure is very delicate and tight like spider web.

People in southern Fujian believe in Kwan-yin, thus Dabei Hall is very prosperous and many locals come here to burn incense.

DAXIONG HALL, SOUTH PATUO TEMPLE / MAHAVIRA HALL

It is the center of the temple, splendid.

Built in 1926, it is a wooden architecture with green titles in the roof and stone pillars as support and the beam is carved and the pillar is painted, which represent the traditional architecture skill in Southern Fujian.

Monks will do morning and even lessons in the hall.

Dharma assembly, worship and other Buddhism activities are also held in Daxiong hall.

DEPOSITORY OF BUDDHIST SUTRAS, SOUTH PATUO TEMPLE

The highest building among the architecture on the central axis.

Built in 1936, it is a 2-floor building.

• First floor is Dhammasala - a place used to speak Dharma.

• Second floor is used to store Buddhist texts and other cultural relics.

  • Lotus Sutra - written in blood from Ming Dynasty

  • White porcelain Kwan-yin statue - created by 28 Burmese Jade Buddhas and other Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics are all stored here., a famous sculptor in Ming Dynasty

28 Burmese Jade Buddhas and other Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics are all stored here.

28 Burmese Jade Buddhas and other Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics are all stored here.

FAMEN TEMPLE PAGODA / KING ASOKA TEMPLE

Situated at the Famen Town, 10 km north of Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province, China.

It is a famous Buddhist temple with a long history and became the Holy Land of Buddhism because the finger bone relic of Sakyamuni was placed in it.

It was built in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).

According to the Buddhist scriptures, in 272 BC, King Asoka of India presented relics of Buddha to different places to carry forward Buddhist doctrines. All places receiving such relics must build pagodas to enshrine them;

Therefore, 84,84,000 pagodas were built all over the world. There are 19 such pagodas in China, among which Famen Temple is the largest one.

The Famen Temple stupa also known as “the real Spirit Pagoda” - famous for the fact that is houses a finger bone of Sakyamuni and the Famen Temple and its stupa enjoyed the reputation of being the “forefather of pagodas and temples in Central Shaanxi”.

It’s a brick octagon pagoda of 13 stories, 47 meters in height.

FAMEN TEMPLE LAYOUT

FAMEN TEMPLE TREASURE HALL

BUDDHA’S RELIC, FAMEN TEMPLE

PALACE AND HOUSES

Imperial places and official residences

Isolated, one-storeyed pavilions resembling temples

Governed by building regulations limiting the dimensions and number of columns:

• Emperor - 9 bays

• Prince – 7 bays

• Mandarin – 5 bays

• Ordinary citizen – 3 bays

EXAMPLES OF PALACE AND HOUSES: THE FORBIDDEN CITY

Chinese (Pinyin) Zijincheng or (Wade-Giles romanization) Tzu-chinch’eng, imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing (Peking), China.

Commissioned in 1406 by the Yongle emperor of the Ming Dynasty - it was first officially occupied by the court in 1420.

It was so named because access to the area was barre to most of the subjects of the realm.

Government functionaries and even the imperial family were permitted only limited access; the emperor alone could enter any section at will.

The 178-acre (72 hectare) compound was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 in recognition of its importance as the center of Chinese Power for 5 centuries, as well as for its unparalleled architecture and its current role as the Palace Museum of dynastic art and history.

THE SOUTH-NORTH AXIS OF POWER, FORBIDDEN CITY

The architecture of the walled complex adheres rigidly to the traditional Chinese geomantic practice of feng shui.

The orientation of the Forbidden City, and for that matter all of Beijing, follow a north-south line.

Within the compound, all the most important buildings, especially those along the main axis, face south to honor the sun.

The buildings and the ceremonial spaces between them are arranged to convey an impression of the great imperial power while reinforcing the insignificance of the individual.

This architectural concept is borne out by the smallest of details - the relative importance of a building can be judged not only from its height of width but also by the style of its roof and number of figurines perched on the roof’s ridges.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: Wu (Meridian) Gate / Wu Gate

The imposing formal southern entrance to the Forbidden City.

Its auxiliary wings, which flank the entryway, are outstretched like the forepaws of a guardian lion or sphinx.

The gate is also one of the tallest buildings of the complex (125 ft.. or 38 meters) high at its roof ridge.

One of its primary functions was to serve as a backdrop for imperial appearances and proclamations.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: GOLDEN RIVER (GOLDEN WATER RIVER)

Beyond the Wu Gate lies a large courtyard, 460 ft. (140 meters) deep and 690 ft. (210 meters) wide, through which the Golden River runs is bow-shaped arc.

The river is crossed by 5 parallel white marble bridges, which lead to the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen).

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: GATE OF SUPREME HARMONY (TAIHEMEN)

North of the Gate of Supreme Harmony lies the Outer Court - heart of the Forbidden City, where the 3 main administration halls stand atop a three-tiered marble terrace overlooking an immense plaza.

The area encompasses some 7 acres (3 hectares) - enough space to admit tens of thousands of subjects to pay homage to the emperor.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: HALL OF SUPREME HARMONY (TAIHEDIAN)

Towering above the space stands the Hall of Supreme Harmony, in which the throne of the emperor stands.

This hall, measuring 210 by 122 ft. (64 by 37 meters), is the largest single building in the compound, as well as one of the tallest (being approximately the same height as the Wu Gate).

It was the center of the Imperial Court.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: HALL OF CENTRAL (OR COMPLETE) HARMONY (ZHONGHEDIAN OR ZHONG HALL)

The Hall of Central Harmony is located between the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Taihedian) and the Hall of Preserved Harmony (Baohedian).

These three, known as the Three Great Halls of the Outer Court, are on the central axis of the Forbidden City. Of the three, it is the smallest.

Covering a total area of 580 square meters, it is a square structure built like a pavilion, each side of which is five bays long, measuring 24.15m. It has a single-eave roof with a gilded pinnacle gleaming brightly in the sun.

served as a place for rest for the emperor when he was on his way to hold ceremonies in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

When everything was ready, he would go to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to receive homage. It was here that he consulted with his ministers and officials.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: HALL OF PRESERVED HARMONY (BAOHEDIAN)

Located behind the Hall of Central Harmony, was first built in 1420 and first named “Jinshen Hall”.

It was renamed “Baohe Hall” in Qing Shunzhi 2 year, which means the single-minded consciousness and maintaining harmony to get happiness, longevity and peace for the country.

The hall was once the place for the emperor to confer titles of nobility on the queen and the prince in the Ming Dynasty, also the living place for the Qing Emperor Shunzhi and Emperor Kangxi, the place for holding the feudal imperial examination in the Qing Emperor Qianlong period.

It has a construction area of 1240 square meters and a height of 29.5 meters.

It has double eaves and a gable roof; it is covered with yellow glazed tiles.

Its inner and outer eave are both decorated with golden dragon patterns; its ceiling is an embossed color painting which is to coordinate with the deep red furnishings and appears luxurious and wealthy.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: HALL OF PRESERVED HARMONY (BAOHEDIAN) HUGE STONE CARVING, HALL OF PRESERVED HARMONY (BAOHEDIAN)

Behind the Hall of Preserved Harmony, in the center of the stairway, is a huge marble relief of nine dragons playing with pearls.

It is the largest stone sculpture in the Forbidden City. Sculpted originally in the Ming dynasty, it was re-sculpted in the Qing dynasty.

During these dynasties, anyone who was caught touching this holy stone would receive the death penalty. Weighing about 250 tons, the marble slab is 16.57 meters long, 3.07 meters wide and 1.7 meters thick.

The huge stone was hauled into the palace from Fangshan, up to 70 kilometers from Beijing. This difficult task took about a month employing twenty thousand men and thousands of mules and horses.

It is said that a well was dug every 500 meters along the way and the well water was poured on the ground to form an icy road that could facilitate land boat transportation.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: GATE OF HEAVENLY PURITY OR QIANGINGMEN OR GATE OF CELESTIAL PIRTY

is on the central axis and divides the Forbidden City into two parts, the Outer Court and the Inner Court, therefore, serving as the main entrance to the imperial household.

The Gate of Heavenly Purity was established in 1420 and rebuilt in 1655.

Five bays wide, three bays deep, and sixteen meters high, it is a structure with a single-eave roof, resting on the 1.5-meter high white marble base of a Buddhist-style building surrounded by carved stone balustrades.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: PALACE OF HEAVENLY PURITY (QIANGINGGONG)

Is a smaller version of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, as it was deemed inferior to the Hall of Supreme Harmony everything within it is smaller than similar items in the superior palace.

However, it is the largest palace in the Inner Court of Forbidden City, and it is superior to any other structures there.

The Palace of Heavenly Purity was built in 1420 and rebuilt in 1798 because of fire damage Ming emperors and the first two Qing emperors lived in and attended to daily affairs of state.

In the center, the throne is on a raised dais, surrounded by cloisonné incense burners, long red candles, and large mirrors, which were placed beside the throne to ward off evil spirits.

On the surrounding columns, there are two pairs of couplets written by Qing emperors.

Over the throne hangs a plaque engraved with four Chinese characters, written by Emperor Yongzheng and which means “Justice and Brightness”.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: HALL OF CELESTIAL & TERRESTRIAL UNION (JIAOTAIDIAN) OR HALL OF UNION AND PEACE

one of the three main palaces in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City.

It is between the other two main palaces, the Palace of Heavenly Purity and the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

It was established in the reign of Jiajing (1522-1566) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was restored twice in 1655 and 1669.

In 1797, it was damaged by a fire and thus rebuilt the next year. It is a single-roof structure with a gilded bronze spherical pinnacle.

Square in shape, it is three bays wide and three bays deep, smaller than the Hall of Central Harmony which is a similar architectural style.

The name was adopted from the Book of Changes, meaning the union of heaven and earth, and peace and harmony of the whole nation in Chinese.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: HALL OF CELESTIAL & TERRESTRIAL UNION (JIAOTAIDIAN) OR HALL OF UNION AND PEACE | BIG CHIME CLOCK, HALL OF CELESTIAL & TERRESTRIAL UNION (JIAOTAIDIAN)

The big chime clock in the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union was fabricated in 1798, the third year of the reign of Jiaqing (1796-1820).

The shell is a wooden tank imitating the style of a Chinese pavilion.

With a total height of 5.80 meters, the clock has three tiers.

At the back of the clock, there is a stair, a step on which people can wind the clock.

The chime clock has run for more than two centuries, yet its chime is as clear and stentorian as ever.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: PALACE OF EARTHLY TRANQUILITY (KUNNINGGONG) OR PALACE OF TERRESTRIAL TRANQUILITY

the last of the three main palaces in the Inner Court of the Forbidden City, standing behind the Hall of Celestial and Terrestrial Union.

It was first built in 1420 and rebuilt in 1605 due to two fires in 1514 and 1596.

In later years, it underwent three other restoration works. Facing south, it is 9 bays wide and 3 bays deep. Twenty-two meters high, it has a double-eaved roof with side buildings just like the Palace of Heavenly Purity but smaller.

The Palace of Earthly Tranquility was where the empress lived in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). However, aft.er reconstruction in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it served as the nuptial chamber of the emperor and empress and the altar for worshipping the deities of Shamanism.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: IMPERIAL GARDEN (YUHUAYUAN)

The Imperial Garden is located outside of the Gate of Terrestrial Tranquility.

Constructed during the Ming dynasty in 1417, it is rectangular in shape and covers approximately 12,000 square meters.

This was a private retreat for the imperial family and is the most typical of the Chinese imperial garden design.

There are some twenty structures, each of a different style, and how they harmonize with the trees, rockeries, flower beds, and sculptural objects such as the bronze incense burners both delight and astonish visitors.

It is a worthy tribute to the art of the designers that so much can be achieved in so small a space.

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: HALL OF IMPERIAL PEACE (QIN’ANDIAN) THE HALL OF IMPERIAL PEACE (QIN'ANDIAN)

PAVILION OF FLOATING GREEN (FUBI PAVILION), IMPERIAL GARDEN (YUHUA YUAN)

PAVILION OF MYRIAD SPRINGS, IMPERIAL GARDEN (YUHUA YUAN)

IMPERIAL GARDEN (YUHUA YUAN)

PARTS OF THE FORBIDDEN CITY: GATE OF DIVINE PROWESS

The Gate of Divine Prowess (Shenwumen) is the north gate and the back gate of the Forbidden City.

It was built in the 18th year of Ming Yongle in 1420, originally called Xuanwumen. Later, it was renamed Shenwumen, because Xuanwu offended the Kangxi emperor, whose name is Xuanye.

Shenwumen used to be the entrance and exit for the royal members, maids, and eunuchs,and officials to deal with daily issues. Now, it is the main exit for tourists to visit the Forbidden City.

Shenmue is 31m (101 ft.) high and its rectangle base is built of white marble blocks, with three openings for people to pass through.

The gate tower is built on this white marble base, covered with yellow glazed tiles, and surrounded by corridors and white marble railings.

On the eaves, there is the plaque of “Shenwumen” with gold gilt blue bottom, written in Chinese and Manchu respectively.

SUMMER PALACE

Located in the western suburb and 15 kilometers away from downtown Beijing, the Summer Palace is known as a world famed royal garden that used to be called Qingyi Garden (literally translated as “the ripple garden”).

After its renovation in 1888, it was given the new name commonly referred to today; the Summer Palace.

It took 10 years to complete the renovation, involving an investment of 30 million taels of silver.

With an area of 293 hectares, it mainly consists of Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake. There, you can find over 3,000 royal garden architectures with various styles, which is roughly divided into three areas, particularly the administrative, the residential, and the scenic area.

Emperor Qianlong ordered the construction of the Summer Palace to celebrate his mother's sixtieth birthday.

The Summer Palace was built in 1750 and completed in 1764. At that time, the Summer Palace was not called the Summer Palace or even Yiheyuan, but Qingyiyuan (‘Clear Ripples Garden’).

The Summer Palace was listed as World Heritage in 1998. UNESCO reported that the Summer Palace is "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design”.

EAST PALACE GATE, SUMMER PALACE

Two side doors for royal family members and court officials, and three grand doors in the middle exclusively for the Emperor, Empress, and queen mother.

On the gate hangs a plaque inscribed by Emperor Guangxu with 'Yiheyuan’ (Summer Palace), which means to maintain energy and mellow the soul.

YUNHUI YUYU ARCHWAY, SUMMER PALACE OR GLOWING CLOUDS OR HOLY LAND ARCHWAY

Wooden pillars on stone bases. Pillars painted red, beams decorated with intricate designs and Chinese calligraphy, and the roof covered with colored tiles, complete with mythical beasts just like a Chinese palace.

LONGEVITY HILL, SUMMER PALACE

this 58-meter-high hill is the seat of some most important buildings of the Summer Palace located on the front and back hills, including Paiyun Pavilion ( 排云殿 ), Foxiang Pavilion ( 佛 香 阁 ), and some Tibetan Buddhist temples.

TOWER OF BUDDHIST INCENSE, SUMMER PALACE

It is the main building of the Summer Palace complex, built halfway up the front of Longevity Hill.

Empress Dowager Cixi went there every month to worship Buddha.

The 41-meter-high pavilion is a Buddhist temple for royal families to worship the Buddha in the Qing Dynasty.

It has 8 stories and was propped up by 8 huge wooden pillars. The design and decoration inside are fabulous.

HALL OF THE SEA OF WISDOM (ZHIHUIHAI), SUMMER PALACE

is a two-decked religious building first built in 1750 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799).

It imitated the wooden architecture’s appearance but was made of brick and stone without a single beam to support the weight of the hall.

Without any timber beams and was also known as "No Beam Hall".

This building is always eye-catching with shining glazed bricks all around it. Not only the roof but also the walls were stuck on colorful glazed tiles and bricks, in yellow and green with purple and blue stripes.

There are several real and virtual arch gates made of marble gate on the façade and the back of the hall. Exquisite glazed Buddha statues in rows were inlaid on the wall around the arch gates.

A total of 1,008 of these statues are the highlight making this building especially unique.

HALL OF DISPELLING CLOUDS, SUMMER PALACE

This was the Summer Palace’s main place for Empress Dowager Cixi to receive guests, host grand ceremonies, and celebrate her birthday.

Like the Tower of Buddhist Incense, it is located on the central axis of the ‘front hill’ area.