Chinese Architecture
Modern Architecture – Chinese Folklore
As with many other elements of the Chinese culture, tradition has been interwoven with modern technology. Although many traditional buildings still exist, almost all new buildings are built in Western style. It is not uncommon to see skyscrapers in a large city of China. Traditional houses, however, are still exquisitely built.
Traditional Architecture – Chinese Folklore
Ancient Chinese architecture enjoys a long history and great achievements, and created many architectural miracles such as the Great Wall. In the process of its development, superior architectural techniques and artistic design were combined to make unique Chinese architecture one of the three greatest architectural systems.
The combination of units of space in traditional Chinese architecture follow the principles of balance and symmetry. The main structure is the axis, and the secondary structures are positioned as two wings on each side to form the main rooms and yard.
Residence, official buildings, temples, and palaces all follow these basic principles. The distribution of interior space reflects Chinese social and ethical values. For instance, in traditional residential buildings, members of a family are assigned living quarters based on the family hierarchy. The master of the house occupies the main room, and the elder members of the master’s family live in the compound in the back. The younger member of the family live in the wings to the left and right; those with seniority on the left and the others on the right.
Another characteristic of traditional Chinese architecture is its use of a wooden structural framed with pillars, beams, and earthen walls surrounding the building on three sides. The main door and windows are in front. Chinese have used wood as a main construction material for thousands o years; wood to the Chinese represents life, and “life” is the main idea that Chinese culture strives to communicate. This feature has been preserved up to the present.
Based on the structure of the wooden beams and pillars, traditional Chinese rectangular buildings are divided into several rooms. In order to cover the structure with an over-hanging roof, the Chinese invented a special type of support bracket, called toukung, which both supports the structure and is an attractive ornamentation.
Roofs usually slope down on both sides in a simple fashion. However, many traditional Chinese buildings have curved eaves. The characteristic curve of Chinese roofs is symbolic of the spirit of Chinese culture. While the building itself is relatively plain and straightforward, the ridge and eaves of the roof introduce a more intricate aspect in the form of upward-curving eaves. This is analogous to the Chinese national character which is by nature plain and straightforward but full of vitality.
Timber framework decides that color is the main ornament used on ancient Chinese architecture. In the beginning, paint was used on wood for antisepsis while later painting became on architectural ornament.
In the feudal society, the use of color was restricted according to strict social status classification. Since yellow was deemed noblest color and green the second, they were often applied on palace painting, which was called Hexicaihua in Chinese.
The sundry color murals found on a traditional of myths to paintings of landscapes, flowers, and birds. Clearly these color murals have both symbolic and particularity in Taiwan, is fine wood sculpture. Such sculptures coupled with murals give the structure an elegant and florid effect under the background of while granite basement.
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