Chinese building name. Abstract: Chinese architecture

The traditional architecture of China, as you know, is very different from European. The combination of bright colors - red, blue, green in the decor of buildings, the presence of obligatory curved roofs with obligatory figures of dragon sons at their ends is striking.

At first, these figurines surprise, and you constantly photograph them. Then you notice that they are repeated everywhere and you no longer pay attention to them.

I asked the guides why the roofs are curved, because making them so is not very convenient. From the inconsistent answers it turned out that this was a tradition related, it seems, to the fact that in ancient times heavy tiles were laid on weak beams, and they sagged. But whether this is true, I don't know.
Particularly ancient buildings were not shown to us - China was many times subjected to barbarian invasions, the cities were not spared and the peasants who often revolted. So the bulk of the antiquities are the buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties, i.e. according to European chronology, 14th - 19th century. By our standards, this, of course, is ancient, but for China, with its five thousand years of history, it is almost modern.
But even during these last dynasties, many magnificent and incomparable things were set up. Every city has a bell tower and a drum tower. They are huge and in one morning they beat the bell, meeting a new day, in the other they saw off the past day with a drumbeat. How in these Europes of yours they managed without such towers is not clear.

The Chinese of our time restore antiquity so quickly and stylize it so well that it is often not clear whether this building is ancient, or a remake, or the result of restoration.
We saw and climbed the famous multi-tiered Chinese pagodas (“bagoda” as the guides say), which, as I thought, are the hallmark of Chinese architecture. The pagodas are tall, ancient, inside almost devoid of decor, the stairs lead to the very top. But the stairs are not spiral, but ordinary (maybe the Chinese did not think of spiral ones?)

It turned out that the pagoda is nothing more than a memorial library for storing Buddhist manuscripts taken from India at different times. And they are built according to Indian models.

The Forbidden City, or Gugong, in Beijing, in which the emperor lived with his numerous wives, concubines and eunuchs, is really a whole city of buildings for various purposes, squares, passages, etc., surrounded by a tall wall and a moat with water, wide with a good river. All buildings of the palace are covered with golden tiles, which could only be used for buildings belonging to the emperor. There are 9999 rooms in the palace, and only the sky god has 10,000, who is thus only 1 room richer than the emperor. In fact, the rooms seem to be eight hundred something, but I did not check.
It is amazing how emperors and retinue lived in winter in this forbidden city. And at the end of March it was cold, in some places there was snow. And in January in Beijing there are quite Siberian frosts. But the pavilions in which people lived were practically open and without proper heating. Pity the emperor.

"kind of emperor"

Outsiders were not allowed to be there after sunset. For those who think that the emperor's life consisted of nothing but pleasures, I am passing on the guide's story that if the emperor stayed with one of his wives for more than the short time specified by etiquette, the eunuch on duty approached the door of the bedchamber and shouted: “Dear emperor! Your time is up". If the emperor did not react, then the eunuchs would come in and simply take away the woman they loved. For if the emperor spends more than the usual with her, he will not rest and restore his strength. And he needs them to run the state. Here is an oriental despot for you.
The famous Temple of Heaven in Beijing is a complex of structures built according to a standard plan, something like this: courtyard or square or garden - pavilion, courtyard - pavilion, courtyard - pavilion. And so many times. Moreover, such a layout is observed both in Buddhist and in Taoist, and in Confucian temples. They say that the mosques in China have the same plan, but I have never been inside the mosques in China, I saw the outside, but I did not have a chance to go inside.

The Temple of Heaven is very beautiful, its buildings are mostly wooden, made of giant logs. The main background is red, on which multi-colored patterns are applied. And the tiles are blue, the color of the sky.
The main temple buildings are the only round religious buildings in China. For the sky is, as you know, round. And the earth, of course, is square. And the buildings of the earth are therefore rectangular.
In the Temple of Heaven, the emperor, as the son of heaven, who was also the chief priest, prayed annually for the harvest, which has always been the most important thing for populous China.

There are a lot of people in Buddhist temples, many different images and statues of different Buddhas (out of ignorance I thought that there was only one Buddha and this is Prince Gautama, but there were a great many of them), his assistants and students. There are many worshipers there, but mostly young people pray on their knees and light candles (more precisely, incense sticks). I thought that this was the legacy of Mao, who staged a cultural revolution and completely eradicated the religious spirit of the older generation. The guide refuted my conjectures, saying that it was the atheists who were praying, while the believers were allowed to pray only twice a month, on the first and fifteenth, something like an advance payment and a paycheck. After all, the Buddha has a lot to do and you can’t constantly bother him with your requests.

By the way, although it is often claimed that Chinese Chan Buddhism is an original phenomenon that has little in common with Indian Buddhism, the Chinese themselves do not think so. They fully recognize Indian priority. Believing Chinese Buddhists try to go to India on a pilgrimage to the holy places of the life and work of the Buddha and other authorities.

In the temples of Confucius, and I visited two of them, in Beijing and Shanghai, it was almost deserted, centuries-old cypresses grew, and I wanted to indulge in reflections on the meaning of life. But a very large amount of ashes from candles in special braziers suggests that they also pray to the Teacher, although he does not seem to be a god.

This is a photo of the Confucius Temple in Beijing.

year old confucius

Chinese architecture reached its highest achievements during the reign of the Tang and Song dynasties (7th-13th centuries). Monumental architecture was distinguished by clear harmony, festivity and calm grandeur of forms. Cities were built according to a clear plan. They were powerful fortresses surrounded by high walls and deep ditches.

(1) In ancient China, the most typical construction of a house was considered to be frame-and-pillar, using wood for this. Wooden poles were installed on an adobe platform, on which longitudinal transverse beams were attached, and on them - a roof covered with tiles. Such a frame system not only allowed Chinese architects to freely design the walls of the house, but also helped to prevent the destruction of the house during earthquakes. (2) For example, in the northern province of China, Shanxi, there is a Buddhist temple over 60 meters high, the frame of which was wooden. This pagoda is more than 900 years old, but it is very well preserved until today.

(3) Compared to palaces, living quarters in southern China are very modest. The houses are covered with dark gray tiled roofs, their walls are covered with white flowers, and their wooden frames are in dark coffee color. Bamboo and bananas grow around the houses. Similar premises still exist in the southern provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian and others.

tombs

The numerous complexes of tombs of the nobility, created at the turn of our era, are perfectly preserved, which are large underground structures, to which the so-called alleys of spirits guarding the graves led. They were framed with sculptures of animals and stone pylons. The complex also included ground-based sanctuaries - tsytans. The reliefs on the walls of the burial structures depict guards in long robes, phoenixes, dragons, turtles, and tigers. The reliefs of the burial of Ulyantsy in Shandong (II century) tell about the creators of the earth and sky, about legendary heroes, about solemn processions, about the struggle between kingdoms.

The reliefs are friezes. A new scene is shown on each slab, and an inscription is placed next to it explaining the image. Gods and people are dressed alike, but gods and kings are bigger than ordinary people . (4, 5) An example of a different style is the reliefs from Sichuan, which are distinguished by simplicity and liveliness of images, attention to everyday subjects (harvest scenes, wild duck hunting, theater and circus performances, etc.). Increasing importance is attached to the image of nature.

the great Wall of China

(6) The Great Wall of China is a unique monument of fortress architecture. It began to be built in the IV-III centuries. BC, when the Chinese states were forced to defend themselves against the raids of the nomadic peoples of Central Asia. The Great Wall, like a giant serpent, winds its way through the mountain ranges, peaks and passes of Northern China. (7) Its length exceeds 3 thousand km, approximately every 200 m there are quadrangular watchtowers with embrasures. The distance between the towers is equal to two flights of an arrow, it was easily shot through from each side, which ensured safety. The upper plane of the wall is a wide protected road along which military units and carts could quickly move.

Pagodas

(8, 9) The pagoda as a type of structure dates back to Indian architecture. Early pagodas are reminiscent of Indian tower-shaped temples with their soft curvature and roundness of lines. In Buddhist monasteries, pagodas served as repositories of relics, statues, and canonical books. Many Chinese pagodas are huge and reach a height of 50 m. The best of them amaze with almost mathematically precise and proportionate proportions, they seem to embody the spirit of Confucian wisdom. Later pagoda towers, built in honor of Buddhist saints, are characterized by slightly upward curved, pointed roof edges. It was believed that thanks to this form, they reliably protect against evil spirits.

More favorable conditions for the development of architecture developed in the 15th-18th centuries, when it took a leading position among the arts. By this time, the construction of the Great Wall of China was completed. (10, 11) Such large cities as Beijing and Nanjing were built, wonderful palaces and temple ensembles were built. According to ancient rules, all buildings were facing south, and the city was crossed from south to north by a straight highway. New forms of architectural ensembles and cities are being developed. In Minsk pagodas, decorative features, fragmentation of forms, overload with details begin to prevail. With the transfer of the capital in 1421 from Nanjing to Beijing, the city was strengthened, palaces, temples and monasteries were built. The largest architectural structure of this time is the palace ensemble erected in the Forbidden City.

| ancient chinese architecture

ancient chinese architecture

Among the numerous and diverse cultural monuments of China, ancient Chinese architecture occupies a very important place. Outstanding examples of ancient Chinese architecture such as palace "Gugong", Sky Temple", yiheyuan park in Beijing, ancient the city of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, ancient living quarters in the southern part of Anhui Province and others have already entered the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

Kinds ancient chinese buildings very diverse: these are palaces, and temples, and garden structures, and graves, and dwellings. In their external appearance, these structures are either solemn and magnificent, or elegant, refined and dynamic. Nevertheless, they have a characteristic feature that somehow brings them closer to each other - these are the building ideas and aesthetic aspirations that are unique to the Chinese nation.

In ancient China, the most typical house design was considered frame-pillar using wood for this. Wooden poles were installed on an adobe platform, on which longitudinal transverse beams were attached, and on them - a roof covered with tiles.

In China, they say that "the wall of the house may collapse, but the house will not collapse." This is due to the fact that the weight of the house is supported by the pillars, not the wall. Such a frame system not only allowed Chinese architects to freely design the walls of the house, but also helped to prevent the destruction of the house during earthquakes. For example, in the northern province of China, Shanxi, there is a Buddhist temple over 60 meters high, the frame of which was wooden. This pagoda is more than 900 years old, but it is very well preserved until today.

Other feature of Chinese ancient architecture- this is the integrity of the composition, i.e. an ensemble of many houses is immediately created. In China, it is not customary to build free-standing buildings: be it palace buildings or private premises, they are always overgrown with additional buildings.

However, structures in an architectural ensemble are not necessarily placed symmetrically. For example, buildings in the mountainous regions of China or the premises of a landscape gardening complex sometimes deliberately allow violations of the symmetrical shape in order to create a richer variety of building compositions. The pursuit of such a variety of forms during the construction of houses led not only to the creation of a single building style in Chinese ancient architecture, but also demonstrated its diversity at the same time.

The ancient architectural structures of China also have another striking character: they are subjected to artistic development, giving them a specific decorative effect. For example, the roofs of houses were not even, but always concave. And in order to give the building a certain mood, the builders usually carved various animals and plants on the beams and cornices. Similar patterns were applied to engraved and wooden pillars of rooms, windows and doors.

In addition, ancient Chinese architecture is characterized by the use of paints. Usually the roofs of the palace were torn with yellow glazed tiles, the cornices were painted blue-green, the walls, pillars and courtyards red, the rooms were lined with white and dark marble platforms that sparkled under the blue sky. The combination of yellow, red and green colors with white and black in the decoration of houses not only emphasizes the majesty of the buildings, but also pleases the eye.

Compared to palaces, living quarters in southern China are very modest. The houses are covered with dark gray tiled roofs, their walls are covered with white flowers, and their wooden frames are in dark coffee color. Bamboo and bananas grow around the houses. Similar premises still exist in the southern provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian and others.

What is the architecture of China? The bowels of China are rich in numerous types of marble, granite, limestone. Construction forest - larch, spruce, pine, oak, etc. Korean cedar, Weymouth pine, and bamboo have found the greatest use in construction.

Since in ancient China the architects emphasized wood rather than other materials, therefore, relatively few monuments of ancient eras have survived to this day. The nature of the architecture of the Shang (Yin), Zhou, Qin and Han eras (before 25 AD) can be judged mainly from images on gravestones, models and remains of stone structures. Everything that is made in China is done according to Fe.

Models of buildings, as well as surviving images of buildings on stone relief from the Han period, show that Chinese architects built multi-storey buildings already 2000 years ago, crowned with multi-tiered roofs covered with cylindrical tiles, which along the edges of the roof slopes were decorated with circles with various images and inscriptions.

Architecture of residential buildings of ancient China.

The type of housing created by the Chinese over the millennia is not much different from its ancient prototypes. They were built of wood, raw brick and stone.. The walls of the house, as a rule, were not load-bearing structures. They filled the spans between the wooden supporting pillars, protecting the premises from the cold.

The main facade is south. It had an entrance and windows that filled the entire plane of the wall. There were no windows in the north. The southern wall was made in the form of a wooden lattice covered with oiled paper (invented in the 3rd century BC). The roof had characteristic wide overhangs that protected the walls from precipitation and direct sunlight. In front of the main facade, a covered gallery (Japanese: engawa - “gray space”) was often arranged. The gallery served as an outer corridor connecting all the rooms in the house, a place for receiving guests, an intermediate space between the inner and outer worlds.

Origin of the Chinese roof

There are many versions about the origin of this purely Chinese roof shape:

• the desire of architects to overcome, visually lighten the mass of a high steep roof;
• fixing the natural deflection of long truss beams with hinged supports at the ends;
• likening the roof to the curved branches of trees, the silhouette of a mountain range;
• providing a more gentle trajectory of drains, protecting the surface of the walls from wetting.

The internal layout of the Chinese house was subject to the principles of the founder of Taoism, the philosopher Lao Tzu (5th century BC).: "The reality of the building is not in the four walls and the roof, but in the inner space intended for life in it ...".

According to Chinese tradition, the house is an integral part of the surrounding landscape, a kind of screen through which nature invades the inside of the building, complements and enriches it. The building is only a temporary shelter on the long journey of human life. Its thin walls and partitions easily break under the pressure of a hurricane, but the lattice frame remains intact. After a hurricane, light walls and partitions are quickly assembled and assembled.

Features of Chinese architecture

Visual communication with the outside world is carried out with the help of wooden lattices and paper transformable partitions. If the house had strong stone walls, then they the surface was necessarily decorated with a picturesque landscape. This technique gained particular popularity in the 11th-12th centuries (the Sung school). In adobe or stone walls, door and window openings were cut in the form of leaves, flowers or openwork vases. Sometimes miniature gardens with trees - midgets were arranged in the house.

A mandatory accessory of a Chinese house, poor or rich, was a courtyard with a garden.. The estate was surrounded by a high wall. Usually, immediately after the entrance from the street, in the courtyard, an additional wall was erected. According to legend, she blocked the way for evil spirits who did not think to turn and go around her.

In ancient China, it was believed that spirits could only move straight or turn to the side at a right angle. That is why in the palace of Emperor Qin Shi-huangdi (3rd century BC) all entrances, internal passages in the building, paths in the park were curvilinear.
Forms of door and window openings in Chinese estates

Palace architecture in China

The edges of the palace roof were made curved so that evil spirits could not move along them. Often they were decorated with figurines of animals that acted as amulets against evil spirits.

An additional wall closed the inner space of the courtyard from the “evil eye”. By the way, we also meet people who know this, who put dolls and toys in the windows from the evil eye.

The appearance of buildings can be very different, however, the architecture of Ancient China is united by common aesthetic aspirations and building ideas that are unique to this nation. The most typical construction of the house is frame-and-pillar; wood was used to create it. Pillars made of wood were installed on the adobe platform, then transverse beams were attached to them. The top of the house was covered with a tiled roof. The strength of the buildings was ensured thanks to the pillars, so many buildings withstood numerous earthquakes. For example, in the province of Shanxi, a wooden one whose height exceeds 60 meters is still preserved. It was built almost 900 years ago, but has survived to this day.

The architecture of ancient China is characterized by a holistic composition
buildings, which are combined into a single complex, consisting of many
structures. Free-standing buildings in this country are still a rarity:
palaces and private houses are always surrounded by auxiliary buildings. And
courtyard buildings are absolutely symmetrical and evenly removed from the main
building.

Many examples of ancient architecture are included in the World Cultural Heritage Fund. These include Lijiang, which is located in Yunnat Province, Beijing's Yiheyuan Park, the Temple of Heaven and the Gugong Palace. The architecture has characteristic features that are unique to this country. For example, the roofs of buildings have always been made in a concave shape. Drawings of plants and animals were usually carved on cornices and beams. Similar patterns and ornaments also adorned wooden poles, doors and windows.

Architecture widely uses various natural dyes to decorate homes, and China is no exception. The roofs of the palaces, as a rule, were covered with golden glazed tiles, the cornices were painted with blue-green paint, the walls and pillars with a reddish tint. The floors in ancient palaces were covered with white and dark marble, which gave them majesty and monumentality.

The architecture of Ancient China reached its heyday during the reign of the Sunn and Tang dynasties (VII-XIII centuries). Cities were built in those days according to a clear plan with a clear geometry. The settlements were surrounded by deep ditches and high walls and were well-fortified fortresses.

Many pagodas of those times have been preserved, which resemble Indian temples with their roundness. In ancient Buddhist monasteries, pagodas were repositories of canonical books, statues and relics. The sculpture of Ancient China has much in common with the Indian. Some of the statues are up to 10 meters high. The aspirations of Chinese masters for harmony were embodied in proportionate forms and mathematical accuracy of the sculptures.

The first monuments were discovered in the 20s of the last century. These were artifacts from the Yangshao Dynasty (mid-3rd millennium BC). They are characterized by a special artistic style, unlike all the others. The unusually decorative and at the same time very solemn artistic style reflects the philosophical spirit that is inherent in all Chinese people.

The architects of China were at the same time builders, thinkers and poets with a heightened and sublime sense of nature and all living things. All palaces and residential complexes were built as if they were an extension of the landscape. The natural relationship between architecture and landscape was even described in numerous treatises that were characteristic of that time. The ancient monuments of Chinese architecture capture the entire history of this amazing country. The unique masterpieces of architecture, created many centuries ago, amaze with their perfection and harmony.