Chapter 11 Architecture

1. A Glimpse of Chinese Culture Chapter 11 Architecture

2. 本章教学的目的 • 1. 掌握中国古代建筑的特点 • 2. 了解中国古代建筑的主要类型 • 3. 介绍中国桥梁 • 4. 辨认典型的中国风格建筑

3. 本章教学的重难点 • 1. 中国古代建筑的特点 • 2. 中国古代建筑的主要类型 • 3. 中国的桥梁 • 4. 典型的中国风格建筑

4. 本章教学的时间安排 • 教师课堂讲解 (60 minutes) • 1. Architecture in Ancient China (10 minutes) • 2. Famous Styles of Ancient Chinese Architecture (20 minutes) • 3. Chinese Bridges (15 minutes) • 4. Typical Chinese Structures and Ornaments (15 minutes) • 讨论 (10 minutes) • 学生课件展示 (30 minutes)

5. Architecture in Ancient China • The Characteristics of Chinese Ancient Architecture • Traditionally, Chinese architecture, from the village houses to imperial palaces, features the following characteristics:

6. Timber framework Ancient Chinese architecture featured timber framework as the supporting structure. Walls were not load bearing; they were only used to separate spaces. The timber frame supported most of the weight of the house, so windows, doors, and walls were not restricted to certain locations.

7. Plain, flexible and beautiful layout Chinese structures are based on the principle of balance and symmetry. The main structure is the axis. The secondary structures are positioned as two wings on either side to form the main room and yard.

8. The building materials Wooden ancient Chinese buildings and structures were the most common but some were built with either red or grey bricks.

9. The artistic roof design Ancient buildings tend to have huge roofs with extended eaves. This was to ensure enough lighting and avoid the dampening of the walls.

11. The colorful decorations Colored paint not only functions as decoration, but also as a sign or symbol of protection. Initially, paint was used on wood for antisepsis while later it became an architectural ornament.

12. Famous Styles of Ancient Chinese Architecture • There are various architectural styles in Chinese history, of which the imperial, religious and civilian architectures have their own characteristics.

13. Imperial mausoleumsare important examples of ancient Chinese architecture since they usually represented the highest architectural techniques of their times. Imperial Architecture

14. These mausoleums were usually built against hills or mountains and face plains. Other imperial structures such as drainage systems beneath huge hills of clay, were often built beside the tombs.

15. Imperial palaces are where emperors lived and administered their court during their reign. They are the most revered, luxurious and grandiose architectural types from ancient China.

16. The number ninecarried a special meaning in ancient China. It was deemed that odd numbers represent yang while even numbers yin. Since nine is the largest odd number under ten, it was regarded an extremely lucky number. So, emperors liked to monopolize it to symbolize their superiority. Designs related to nine appeared almost on every imperial structure.

18. Civilian Residential Housing • Since China is a country of diverse natural environments and cultural traditions, its civilian residential housing features diverse styles.

19. Beijing quadrangles (北京四合院) Quadrangle dwellings in Beijing are formed by four inward-facing houses, linked by enclosing walls. The principal room at the center is where family rituals take place and distinguished guests are welcomed. The houses all face a courtyard, connected by verandas (走廊).

20. Shanxi cave dwellings (窑洞) Cave dwellings are common in the northwest Loess Plateau (黄土高原) of China and at the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River. The natural condition of dry weather, cold winter and limited timber left a room for the development and continuity of cave dwellings. They are warm in winter and cool in summer.

21. Huizhou residential houses • Huizhou residential houses embraced local physical features of the area. They incorporated fengshui concepts and aesthetic trends, with black tiles, white walls and decorations placed elegantly on upturned eaves. A garden style was a major feature of these old buildings. All buildings had exquisite wood, stone and brick carvings on the doors and windows.

23. Hakka castle-like dwellings (客家土楼) • The overall building complexes are round or square, and some in the style of large mansions or in the shape of the Eight Trigrams. There are usually three to four floors, but the tallest complexes have up to six floors. Including the houses in the yard,such a building usually holds more than 50 families.

24. Some Ethnic Houses • Dai bamboo house • Square, two-story bamboo houses have been the traditional dwellings of the Dai people for more than 1,000 years. The upper story is living quarters, supported by 20 wooden poles and are more than two meters above the ground. The open-walled lower story is for raising domestic animals and for storage. The building has an oblique (斜的) roof, shaped as an upside down V, covered with grass or tiles. The upper story of the house is divided into two parts: inner bedrooms and an outer living room. The upper story has a corridor and a balcony.

26. Stone chamber (雕舫 diaofang) The stone chamber is the most popular dwelling in Tibet and some areas of Inner Mongolia. Built mostly of stone and earth, they look like diaolou (blockhouse), hence the name of diaofang. The first floor is often used for livestock and poultry, and the second contains bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and storehouses. Some have a third floor as a family sutra hall and a balcony.

27. Mongolian yurts (蒙古包) Mongolian yurts are felt tents. Wooden wattles are fastened with leather thongs and studs to form a fence-like structure. Each part of the yurt is quite convenient to disassemble and carry.

28. Chinese Bridges • China has inherited innumerable bridges from her past. There are, it is said, 4 million bridges if one counts the stone arch bridges alone. In the southern regions of rivers and lakes, the landscape is dotted with bridges of various sizes and descriptions.

29. The first stone arch bridge named Lurenqiao (Wayfarers’ Bridge) was built in the year of 282, near the ancient Luoyang Palace. The Stone Arch Bridge (石拱桥)

30. Anji Bridge is the most famous stone arch bridge in China. It spans the Jiaohe River in Zhaoxian County，Hebei Province, and is better known as Zhaozhou Bridge after the ancient name of the county. Built at the end of the sixth centry, by the mason (石匠) Li Chun, Zhaozhou Bridge is still being used today, making it one of the bridges with the longest service life in the world today.

32. On wide rivers and lakes, multiple-arch bridges were erected in stone. One of them is Lugouqiao or Marco Polo Bridge. Built in the years from 1189 to 1192 in the southern vicinity of Beijing, it is 265 metres long and comprises 11 arches with spans ranging from 16 to 20 metres. What makes the bridge famous is the stone lions engraved on the balustrades (扶栏) on both sides. The 485 stone lions are lively and exquisite with different expressions and postures.

34. The Zigzag Bridge (曲折桥) • As a landscaping structure, the zigzag bridge is found in some gardens or suburban parks. It is intended to give an interesting scenic feature on lakes and ponds.

35. Such a bridge may have three, five or more zigzags. The Nine-Bend Bridge in Yuyuan Garden of Shanghai’s old town is a typical example. Crossing 30 metres of the lake, the bridge winds more than 100 metres because of its nine twists and turns.

36. The Pavilion Bridge (亭桥) • A component part of the art of landscape gardening, the pavilion bridge is often built over the surface of a quiet lake, forming a small scenic area and providing sightseers with a place of rest, sheltered from the sun and rain.

37. The Five-Pavilion Bridge in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, is a fine example of this style. Built in 1757, resembling a belt worn on the narrow waist of Slender West Lake , it has five pavilions. One pavilion is higher than the other four, two on each side in perfect symmetry. The middle pavilion is the only double-eaved structure. All pavilions have their four corners upturned, with rows of tiles under a crown roof. The pavilions are joined by short covered corridors, which have yellow-glazed roof tiles and green curving ridge tiles, creating a striking color contrast.

39. Another well-known pavilion bridge, built in 1916, is Chengyang Bridge, also known as Wind-and-Rain Bridge, on the Linxi River in the Dong Autonomous County of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Its wooden body, 70 metres long by 10 metres wide, rests on piers built entirely of large stone blocks. Standing above are five pagoda-like pavilions connected by a long covered corridor forming a covered bridge.

41. Typical Chinese Structures and Ornaments • There is a variety of typical Chinese structures and ornaments and each exemplifies China’s rich architectural heritage.

42. Chinese Stone Lions In China, the lion is regarded as the king of animals and ruler of the forest, and so it has long been used as a symbol of power and grandeur. Also, it is believed that a lion ornament can offer protection from evil spirits.

43. In front of the gates of traditional palace halls, old government offices, mansions, temples and other houses of style, a pair of stone lions are often seen standing guards. Carved from stone (some may be gilded or cast in iron or bronze), the male is on the left, his right paw resting on a ball, and the lioness on the right, her left paw fondling a cub . The ball symbolizes the unity of the empire, and the cub with the lioness represents thriving offspring.

45. Huabiao (华表) • Huabiao are paired ceremonial columns erected in front of a palace or tomb, usually carved with dragon and phoenix patterns, with a transverse-engraved stone slab on its top. It can be up to 20 meters in height and a meter or so in diameter. A typical huabiao has a round or octagonal base.

47. Pavilions • A common sight in the country is the Chinese pavilion, which is built of wood, stone or bamboo and the floor plan design may adopt a square, triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, five-petal flower or fan shape. All pavilions have columns to support the roof, but no walls. In parks or at scenic spots, pavilions are built either on slopes to command panoramic (全景的) views or by the lakeside to create intriguing (有魅力的) images in the water.

49. Pagodas • Chinese pagodas come in various sizes and shapes. Some resemble towers, others pavilions and still others are similar to pyramids. Some stand alone, and others have been built in clusters.