CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

BY:
MARLY CORDOVA
ELAINE SORILLO
ARALEE ARCILLA
MARIAN IMPERIAL
GLYEDELLE ASENTISTA
 CHINESE ARCHITECTURE

•Styles of Chinese ancient architecture are rich and varied, such as temples,
imperial palaces, altars, pavilions, official residencies and folk houses, which
greatly reflect Chinese ancient thought - the harmonious unity of human
beings with nature.
•Since ancient times, Chinese culture has been heavily influenced by
conservative philosophies like Confucianism, Taoism etc. Over the centuries,
the structural principles of Chinese architecture have remained largely
unchanged, the main changes being on the decorative details.
•Traditional Chinese buildings are always found in pairs or groups, whether
they are residences, temples or palaces. Traditional Chinese architecture,
unlike that of other cultures, uses wood-frame construction as one of its most
distinctive features.
Chinese Ancient Civilization
(Jing & Campbell 2009)

Display 1.0
Previous studies
focused on the
antecedents of
the Central Plains
Bronze Age, home
of the ruling
dynasties of the
traditional Chinese
historical narrative
and it is only with
the caveat of an
ancestral relation
that we can speak
of them in terms of
'Chinese͚
civilisation.
 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
 ERAS OF HISTORY OF
CHINA
History of China has been divided into 4 eras
 Prehistoric Era
 Ancient China
 Imperial China
 Republican China (or Modern Era)
Earliest Architect (Pheng
2001)
Display 2.0 portrayed Gongshu
Ban also known as 'Lu Ban' a
Chinese architect who is
responsible for inventions such as
grappling hooks and cloud ladder
during the slave society dating
back from 2100 BC – 1027 BC.
 TYPES OF BUILDING

Primitive Slavery Feudal

(Hemudu (Xia; Shang, Zhou; Spring (Qin up to Qing)
Culture) & Fall; Warring State)
Clay brick and
Dwelling on Wood-earth building and wooden
piles, a nest palace governmental
known as Wooden building building
'Ganlan' Adobe wall Clay brick and
Bag-shaped Wood-skeleton wall wooden Buddhist
upright cave Rammed-earth wall building like
Semi- 'Pagoda'
underground Stone-
cave structured bridge
Stone chamber
and temple
THE CHARACTER AND
MEANING OF
CLASSICAL CHINESE
ARCHITECTURE
THE AXIAL
CITY PLAN
AND
SITE PLAN
One of the great religious beliefs
that influenced the design of the
classical Chinese city and Chinese
architecture is Confucianism. In
order to create a stable social
order, Confucianism established
the strict doctrines putting the
society in order with rules and filial
piety.
THE MODULAR
SYSTEM

•One of the basic principles of classical

Chinese buildings is the USE OF A MODULE,
much like the modular concept of prefabrication
in contemporary architecture.
•Traditional Chinese carpenters used “JIAN” – a
structured bay as a standard unit to construct
all buildings. “Jian” was a rectangular space
marked by adjacent structural frames. “Jian”, as
the basic interior unit, can be expanded or
repeated along the architectural plan axis to join
together to create a hall, then a building.
•Odd numbers of Jian are allowed. Even
numbers are considered unlucky.
THE
EXPOSED
STRUCTURE
 
In ancient China, almost all of
the main structures of classical
Chinese architecture were
made of wood. Thus, the art of
traditional Chinese architecture
may be seen as the aesthetic
of wood.
 ARCHITECTURAL
DOUGONG FEATURES MUGUIJA
´Bracket sets Timber Frames
 

TAIZI COURTYARD
Podium

Main ridge
Gable
Double
Slope
eave

Double eave-gable-hip roof)

重檐歇山顶
 WU’ DING
Roof
 
1.  Renzi Xuan Shan
2. Renzi Yin Shan
3.  Juan Peng
4.  Lu Ding
5.  Fudian
6.  Xie Shan
7.  Conical Cuan Jian
8. Pyramidial Cuan Jian
9.  Renzi with Parapet
Wall
 METHOD OF
CONSTRUCTION
TAI-LIANG CHUAN DUO
´ Pillar and Transverse Tie
´ Pillars and Beam
Beam
 FENG SHUI
 
 Qi( 气 ), the energy of the universe, is
 carried in the wind and retained within
 water. Both elements were used as a way of
directing Qi
 
Feng shui is not only a practice that is related to
physical space, but also to the inhabitants of the
space itself, as both are interconnected.
 
The goal of feng shui guidelines is to locate and
orient dwellings, possessions, land and
landscaping, etc., so as to be attuned with the
flow of qi.
YIN AND YANG  
Fundamental to feng
  shui is the idea that
yin and yang are the
two basic principles
underlying all matter
and energy in the
universe. These forces
are opposites, but are
not in opposition.
Rather, they are
complementary and
need each other to
exist and flourish. The
constantly changing
interactions of
 
yin and yang give rise
to the infinite variety
of patterns in life.
 
Widely used in Taoism
 BAGUA
 
The bagua (or pa kua) of the I Ching (Book of Changes) is an
octagonal diagram used in feng shui analysis. Each direction on
the octagon (north, northeast, etc.) is associated with certain
significant aspects. When one maps the bagua onto a home,
village, cemetery, etc., information about correct orientation and
placement can allegedly be gleaned.
RELIGIOUS BUDDHIS
BUILDINGS M
 
 
Buddhism was
introduced to China from
India around the first
century AD, since the
fourth century AD, it was
widely spread and
gradually became the
most influential religion
in China.
 
Because of varied
introduction time and
channel as well as
regional, historic and
social backgrounds,
Buddhism in China is
 PAGODA
 
 Pagoda, symbol of Buddhism is
often erected in temples.
Pagodas were made of stone,
wood, colored glaze or metal.
 Pagodas have an odd number of
layers. Seven-layer and Nine-
layer pagodas are commonly
built.
 
The shape of cross-section is
rectangular, eight-sided or even
circular.
 Initially, the pagoda served as
the central axis alongside which
rows of halls and monks' rooms
spread out.Later, pagodas were
built near the main palace hall.
 
Chinese pagodas, in short, are a
significant part of the country's
 GROTTOES
 
 
•Grotto, another type of
Buddhist architecture, is often
chiseled into cliffs. In the 3rd
century, Chinese Buddhists
began to build grottoes and
Xinjiang is the first area
where grottoes were hewn.
 
Grottoes are decorated with
painted sculptures, carvings
and frescos.
 
Craftsmen revealed real life
pictures and their
understanding of society in
these art works, which gave
them great historical and
cultural value.
 
 TEMPLE
 
 
Buddhist temples tend to be decorated in red or
black, and there is a main hall for a statue of a
Bodhisattva, followed by a smaller hall with statues of
other Buddha's and deities.
 
Buddhist Temples are called Miao
 STUPA
 Stupas appeared in China with the import of Buddhism and, during a long
history of well over a thousand years, have become a valued part of the
national Buddhist art. Stupa, a word from ancient Sanskrit meaning a square
or round tomb or a 'soul shrine’.
 
The perfect proportions of the Buddha’s body corresponds to the design of
religious monuments – STUPAS Its architecture developed from the pre-
Buddhist Indian grave-mound.
 
Under these mounds the saintly ascetic were buried; their bodies were
seated on the ground and covered with earth. These dome-shaped graves, or
tumuli, of the saints were regarded as holy places. And were destinations for
pilgrimage for the devotional and places of practice for mediators.
 LAMA TEMPLES
 
Lama Temples are Buddhism temple found in
Tibet.
 
It is where the seat of the Dalai Lama is
situated.
 CONFUCIANIS
M
 
 
Confucius (551-479 BC)
established the Confucian school of
thought around 500 BC, during
China's Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476BC).
 
Confucianism became one of the
pillars of Chinese culture, and was
named China's official state
ideology around 100 BC, during the
Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD)
 
by Emperor Han Wudi, who reigned
from 140-87 BC.
 CONFUCIAN
IDEOLOGY
 
 Confucian ideology was the core
of feudal China's hierarchical
social system.
 
Traditional courtyard residences
drew strict distinctions between
interior and exterior, superior and
inferior, and male and female;
internal affairs and external
affairs, the honorable (master)
and humble (maid) ranking.
 
The compounds were enclosed
and isolated from the outside
world, and serving as material
expressions of Confucian ideology.
 
The chinese quadrangle buildings
(known as “Si He Yuan") was
 TAOISM
 
 
Taoism is a religion
native to China. Laozi,
a famous thinker living
in 6th Century BC,
established this
philosophy and came
to be regarded as the
father of Taoism.
 
It formed mainly
during Eastern Han
Dynasty (25-220).
Many Taoist ideas and
thoughts are greatly
reflected in Taoist
architecture.
 TEMPLE
 
 
Taoist architecture applies two
architectural styles -
traditional style and Ba-gua
style.
 
In the traditional style,
traditional architectural
layout, which is symmetric,
was applied.
 
The second is the Bagua style
in which all structures surround
the Danlu (stove to make pills
of immortality) in the center
according to Bagua's position
request. A Statue of Dragon and
Lion guards the gates of a
Taoist temple;
 
In the main hall, the four
 FUNERAL BUILDINGS
QIN LING TOMB
 
The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
This mausoleum was constructed over 38
years, from 246 to 208 BCE, and is situated
underneath a 76-meter-tall tomb mound.
 
A terracotta army guards the complex
 IMPERIAL PALACE

FORBIDDEN
CITY
 
Situated in the heart of
Beijing, the Forbidden City
is the world's largest palace
complex. It has lavishly
decorated ceremonial halls
and royal palaces. All the
gates, palace and other
structures of the Forbidden
City were arranged about
OTHER NOTABLE STRUCTURES

GREAT
WALL OF
CHINA
 
The Great Wall of
China is a series of
stone and earthen
fortifications built by a
number of emperors
to protect the
northern borders
against nomadic
tribes.
TEMPLE OF
HEAVEN
 
Temple of Heaven is not a
single building but a
complex located in the
southern end of central
Beijing.
 
The temple was used by the
emperor to make offerings
to the heaven and to prey
for a good harvest.
SUMMER
PALACE
 
Situated 13 Km
northwest of central
Beijing, the Summer
Palace is one of the
largest, best preserved,
and most interesting
royal gardens in the
world.