CHINA:CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

ARCHITECTURE IN

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES• THE ROOF

– THE CHIEF FEATURE– either built on roof cross-beams rests directly on vertical structural beams. In higher class construction, roof supporting beams are support through complex dougong bracketing systems that indirectly connect them to the primary structural beams.  

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• THE ROOF– Three main types of roofs based on shape

• Straight inclined: – most economical type of roofing – most prevalent in commoner architectures

• Multi-inclined: – with 2 or more sections of incline. – used in higher class constructions- wealthy commoners to palaces.

• Sweeping: – sweeping curvature that rises at the corners of the roof.

– usually reserved for temples and palaces– usually highly decorated with ceramic figurines.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• THE ROOF– types of roofs based on structure:• 1. 悬山 : xuanshan, Overhanging gable roof• 2. 硬山 : yingshan, flush gable roof• 3. 庑殿 : wudian, Hip roof• 4. 歇山 : xieshan, Gable and Hip Roofs• 5. 攒尖 : cuanjian, Pyramidal Roof• 6. 重檐 : zhongyan, Double-eaved versions (of 4, 3)• 7-9.  Double-Eaved versions of 5, 6, 3

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• THE ROOF– PANTILES• a type of fired roof tile, normally made from clay. It is S-shaped in appearance and is single lap, meaning that the end of the tile laps only the course immediately below

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES• THE ROOF– apex and ridges:

• topped with a ridge of tiles and statues for both decorative purposes but also to weight down the layers of roofing tiles for stability.

• often well decorated, especially for religious or palatial structures.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• THE ROOF– Roof framing• System of trusses on rigid triangles

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• THE ROOF– Roof framing• 2 main types: pillars-and-beams or tailiang( left), and pillars-and-transverse-tie-beams or chuandou (right.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• THE ROOF– Bracketing

Dougong (Chinese: 斗拱 ; pinyin: dǒugǒng; literally "cap [and] block") is a unique structural element of interlocking wooden brackets, one of the most important elements in traditional Chinese architecture.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• PAI LOU– pai-loo/paifang – a monumental Chinese arch or gateway with one, three, or five openings; erected at the entrance to a palace, tomb, or processional way.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES• ENCLOSURE– COURTYARD

• a common feature in many types of Chinese architectures.

• Best exemplified by siheyuan, which consists of an empty space surrounded by buildings connected with one another either directly or through verandas.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• ENCLOSURE– SKYWELL

• a relatively enclosed courtyard formed from the intersections of closely spaced buildings and offer small opening to the sky through the roof space from the floor up.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• WALLS– The common use of curtain walls or door panels to delineate rooms or enclose a building, with the general de-emphasis of load-bearing walls in most higher class construction

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• COSMOLOGICAL CONCEPTS– Chinese architecture from early times used concepts from Chinese cosmology such as feng shui(geomancy) and Taoism to organize construction and layout from common residences to imperial and religious structures.

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• COSMOLOGICAL CONCEPTS– Screen walls to face the main entrance of the house,

which stems from the belief that evil things travel in straight lines.

– Talismans and imagery of good fortune:• Door gods• Three anthropomorphic figures• Animals and fruits that symbolize good fortune and prosperity

– Orienting the structure with its back to elevated landscape

– ensuring that there is water in the front. – generally windowless back of the structure faces the

north

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• NUMBER OF BAYS• EMPEROR- 9• PRINCE- 7• MANDARINES- 5• COMMONERS- 3

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• ORNAMENTS– MAINLY ZOOMORPHIC(ANIMALS)– OTHER ORNAMENTS INCLUDE FLOWERS, CLOUDS AND LEAVES

CHINA: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

• MAIN ZOOMORPHIC ORNAMENTS– THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUTE THE 4 GODS OF CHINESE CULTURE:• GREEN DRAGON-EAST• WHITE TIGER-WEST• RED PHEONIX-SOUTH• BLACK TORTOISE-NORTH